How to play Desert Runner
In Desert Runner you guide a fox sprinting across an endless desert. The fox runs by itself; you decide when it jumps and when it ducks. Press Play and the run begins. Your score is the distance covered, shown in metres.
Obstacles come in from the right. Cacti and rocks sit on the ground and must be jumped. Small cacti and rocks are easy to clear, tall cacti need a fuller jump, and cactus clusters are wide, so jump a touch earlier for those. After about 220 metres, birds start to appear. A low-flying bird skims just above the sand and must be jumped. A bird at head height can be passed by ducking underneath it.
To jump, press Space, the Up arrow or W, or tap the track on a touchscreen. The longer you hold, the higher and longer the jump, so a quick tap gives a short hop. To duck, hold the Down arrow or S, swipe down on the track, or hold the Duck button on mobile. Pressing duck while in the air pulls the fox down quickly, which is handy for landing early.
The fox slowly speeds up the further you run, up to a top speed, and the sky gradually shifts from day to dusk to night and back again. A single collision ends the run. Your best distance is saved on this device.
Controls
| Desktop | Space, Up arrow or W to jump (hold for a higher jump); Down arrow or S to duck; P or Esc to pause |
|---|---|
| Mobile | Tap the track to jump (hold for higher), swipe down on the track or hold the Duck button to crouch; the Jump button also jumps |
Tips and strategy
Jump late, not early
The most common mistake is jumping too soon and landing on the obstacle. Wait until the obstacle is fairly close to the fox, then jump. As the speed increases, the ideal moment moves a little earlier, so keep adjusting.
- Use short taps for small cacti and rocks; you will be back on the ground sooner and ready for the next one.
- Hold the jump for tall cacti and wide clusters.
- If you are about to land in front of an obstacle, a quick duck in mid-air drops you faster so you can jump again.
Read birds by height
- A bird close to the ground is treated like a cactus: jump it.
- A bird at the fox's head height is easiest to duck under. Hold duck until it has fully passed.
- Do not panic-jump at a high bird; you may land right in the path of the next cactus.
Watch the space, not the fox
Your eyes should be on the right half of the screen, where new obstacles appear. The fox always stays in the same place, so you do not need to look at it. Spotting a pair of obstacles early tells you whether to take them with one long jump or two short ones.
Use the right controls
- On a keyboard, keep one finger on Space or Up and another on Down.
- On a phone, the big Jump and Duck buttons are the most reliable. Tapping the track also works well for jumps.
Treat night as a milestone, not a threat
The day and night cycle only changes the colours; the obstacles behave exactly the same. Stay relaxed when the sky darkens and keep your rhythm steady.
About Desert Runner
Endless runners are games in which the character moves forward automatically and the player focuses on reacting to what comes next, usually by jumping, sliding or switching lanes. The format became very popular on mobile phones because it fits one-handed play and short sessions, and a simple side-scrolling version with a single jump button has become a familiar way to pass a spare minute in a web browser.
The genre works because it strips the platform game down to its most exciting part: timing. There is no map to learn and no level to finish, only a rising pace and the question of how far you can get before a mistake.
Desert Runner is PlayNook's own original endless runner, designed and coded from scratch. Its fox hero, desert scenery, bird and cactus obstacles, day and night cycle and duck mechanic were all created by us for play in the browser on computers and phones.
Frequently asked questions
How do I jump higher?
Hold the jump key or keep your finger on the screen. A quick tap gives a small hop, and holding lets the fox rise higher and stay airborne for longer.
When should I duck?
Duck under birds flying at head height. Low birds that fly near the ground must be jumped instead. Ducking in mid-air also makes the fox drop faster.
Does the game get faster?
Yes. The fox gradually speeds up the further you run, until it reaches a top speed. Obstacles are spaced to give you time to react at every speed.
Does night time change anything?
No. The day and night cycle is purely visual. The obstacles and controls work exactly the same in every part of the cycle.
