# Play Mode

Source: https://docs.arcweave.com/introduction/quick-tour/play-mode
Section: Introduction > Quick tour
Description: Quick tour of Play Mode, where you play through your story as a player would and use its top menu

Arcweave includes a built-in **Play Mode** to simulate your interactive experience directly.

![An orange arrow pointing at the Play Mode button of an Arcweave project's top menu.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-button.Cx3qNU9M.png)

While still in _The Castle,_ click the ▶️ **Play Mode** button in the top menu (left side, right after the project and current board name) to enter Play Mode.

![A split screen view of an Arcweave project and its Play Mode. The focus in both sides is the starting element, and it is clear that the connection's label (saying "Enter the castle") in the board corresponds to the Play Mode button with the same text.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-split.CKbt7P3b.png)

Play Mode opens in a separate browser tab and **updates automatically** with any edits you make. If your screen size permits it, you can place the two browser tabs side by side for more control.

## Play

Context: Arcweave docs > Introduction > Quick tour > Play Mode > Play

You can now play through the example story.

![A split-screen view of an Arcweave project and its Play Mode, with both sides focusing on the starting element. Orange rectangles and arrows highlight how the element's cover becomes the featured image in Play Mode, and how the connection's label appears as an option button.](https://docs.arcweave.com/assets/play-split-arrows.Bffgc1CY.png)

As the story flow moves from element to element, you'll notice the following:

- The current element's **cover** appears as a prominent image above the **text content**.
- The **connection labels** render as **option buttons** below the text.
- The **audio attachments** play when their element loads.

Click the option buttons to progress the story.

## Top menu

Context: Arcweave docs > Introduction > Quick tour > Play Mode > Top menu

Play Mode holds more features, but it's too early to go through them all. If you're feeling curious, explore its **top menu**, which includes the following. On desktop, the menu hides a few seconds after your cursor leaves it; hover near the top of the window to show it again.

- **Restart**: Resets everything and restarts the story.
- **Enter full screen**: Shows Play Mode in full screen.
- **Share**: Lets you [share](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/share) your project and control its public access.
- **Audio**: Controls the [playback volume](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#control-audio-volume) of your project's audio.
- **Localization**: Lets you [choose the story's language](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#choose-language) (Team workspaces only).
- **Edit content**: Lets you [edit element and option text, as well as reorder option buttons](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/using-play-mode#edit-content-in-play-mode) while playtesting. Changes are saved automatically.
- **Style Editor**: Lets you [style](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/style-editor) Play Mode's appearance through direct CSS editing.
- **Debug**: Opens the [Debugger](https://docs.arcweave.com/project-tools/play-mode/debugger), where you can inspect the current board, current element, and variable changes.

**Edit content**, **Style Editor**, and **Debug** are available only to owners and editors.