About the game
T-Rex Runner is an endless side-scrolling runner where you control a pixelated dinosaur sprinting across a desert landscape. Cacti appear on the ground and pterodactyls fly at varying heights. You must jump over the cacti and duck under the pterodactyls. The game has no finish line — it just keeps getting faster until you hit something.
Originally hidden inside Google Chrome as an offline Easter egg, T-Rex Runner became one of the most-played browser games in the world. This standalone version faithfully recreates the experience with the same pixel art style, increasing speed curve, and day-night cycle.
How to play
- Press the Space bar or tap the screen to start.
- Press Space or ↑ to jump over cacti on the ground.
- Press ↓ to duck under pterodactyls flying at head height.
- The game gradually speeds up — your score (distance) increases the longer you survive.
Controls
| Jump | Space or ↑ |
| Duck | ↓ |
| Start | Space or tap |
| Touch screens | Tap to jump, swipe down to duck |
Five beginner tips
1. Don't jump too early
Wait until the cactus is close before jumping. Early jumps often land you on the next obstacle.
2. Duck for low flyers
Pterodactyls appear at three heights. If it's at mid-height, duck — don't try to jump over it.
3. Watch the speed changes
The game jumps in speed at fixed score milestones. Expect a brief difficulty spike each time.
4. Night mode is a trap
The day-night cycle reduces visibility. Stay focused — the obstacles are the same size, they are just harder to see.
5. High scores reset with the page
Your best score is saved locally. Clearing your browser data resets it.
Why you'll like it
It is the world's simplest endless runner — one input to jump, one to duck, zero menus. The game respects your time: a full run is under a minute, and you can play it anywhere, even offline.
Frequently asked questions
Does this need internet?
No — once loaded, T-Rex Runner works entirely offline.
How do I duck on mobile?
Swipe down on the screen to duck, or tap the down-arrow button if shown.
Is there a maximum score?
Theoretically no — the game speeds up indefinitely. In practice, most runs end around 1000-3000 points.
Game credit: Open-source re-creation of the Chrome offline dinosaur game. MIT licence.