About AQI 999
AQI 999 is a free 3D flying game set over a stylised Delhi in smog season. You pilot a cleaning drone: suck the brown smog out of the sky, empty your tank at the smog towers, and put out the stubble fires burning in the fields to the north-west before their smoke drifts into the city.
The whole city reacts to the air. At an AQI of 450 the haze swallows the end of the street and the music sounds muffled; bring it under 100 and the sky turns blue, the sun comes out and you can see India Gate, Qutub Minar and the Lotus Temple sharp in the distance. Glowing wind currents give you a free ride and carry smog with them.
The season has six days, from the first haze to Diwali night and the worst air of the year, each with an AQI target to beat by sunset. Credits buy better suction, a bigger tank, more water, a faster engine and new smog towers. Then try the endless season. The drone and the figures are made up; the air problem is real.
How to play
- Suck up smog: fly into a brown cloud and hold suck (left mouse button or J; SUCK on a phone). The cloud shrinks and the AQI drops.
- Empty the tank at a smog tower (the blue beacons) when it fills. That also earns credits.
- Put out stubble fires: a burning field puffs smoke into the city for about a minute. Hover over it and hold spray (right mouse button or K). Refill your water by skimming low over the Yamuna or the lake.
- Beat the target by sunset: each day sets an AQI target. The lower you finish, the more stars. If the AQI reaches 999, it's an emergency and the day is lost.
- Ride the wind: the glowing currents push you along fast. Boost with B on long trips.
- Upgrade between days: suction, tank, water, engine, and two more smog towers.
Controls
| W / S | Forward and back |
|---|---|
| A / D | Turn |
| Space / Shift | Climb and dive (or Q / E) |
| Left mouse or J | Suck smog |
| Right mouse or K | Spray water |
| B or Tab | Boost |
| Esc | Pause |
| Phone | Stick to fly and turn, a slider to climb and dive, SUCK, SPRAY and boost buttons |
FAQ
Is AQI 999 free?
Yes. It runs in your browser on computers and phones (in landscape), with nothing to install.
Is this real Delhi?
It is a stylised Delhi with some of its landmarks: India Gate and Kartavya Path, Connaught Place, Qutub Minar, the Lotus Temple, the metro and the Yamuna. The drone, the smog towers' figures and the days are made up.
Why does the music sound muffled?
On purpose. The music is filtered by the air quality: the worse the AQI, the more muffled it sounds. Clean the air and it opens up.
How long does it take?
Each day is about two and a half minutes. The six days of the season take 15 to 20 minutes with retries, and the endless season lasts as long as you can hold out.
How do I get on the leaderboard?
Create a free account (18+). Your season score (your best score on each day you cleared, added up) and your best endless run are saved.
A parody and fiction inspired by real events. Not news or advice, and not affiliated with or endorsed by anyone in the game. Legal & privacy