How to play Lynx Run
A complete guide: the controls, every obstacle on the path and how to get past it, what berries, shields and the magnet do, what waits in each of the four lands, and the habits that make a run last longer.
In one paragraph. You are a young lynx running to the right along an endless path. The lynx runs by itself and a little faster all the time; you decide when it jumps and when it slides. Rocks, logs, stumps and gaps have to be jumped, hanging vines and low birds have to be slid under. One crash ends the run - unless a shield takes it for you. The further you get, the better: your score is the distance in metres.
The rules
- The lynx runs on its own. It speeds up slowly for the first two kilometres and then keeps a steady, fast pace.
- Jump what is on the ground. Rocks, logs, stumps and gaps in the path need a jump. The tall stacks of boulders need a double jump.
- Slide under what hangs low. Vines hanging from a bough can only be passed by sliding under them, and sliding is the safe way past birds flying at head height.
- One crash ends the run. Running into an obstacle or missing the far edge of a gap stops the lynx, unless it has a shield.
- Distance is the score. The metres run are shown at the top and your best distance is kept.
Controls
On a phone or tablet
- Tap anywhere on the field to jump. Tap again while the lynx is in the air for a double jump.
- Swipe down to slide. Keep your finger on the screen to stay low for longer; let go and the lynx gets up again. A swipe that starts with a tap does not waste a jump - the little hop turns straight into the slide.
- Swipe down in the air and the lynx dives back to the ground and slides as soon as it lands.
- Pause is under the field. The game also pauses by itself when you switch apps or lock the phone.
On a computer
- Space, ↑ or W jump (press again in the air for a double jump); a click on the field does the same.
- ↓ or S slide - hold the key to stay low.
- P or Esc pauses and resumes.
The obstacles
| Obstacle | How to pass it | From |
|---|---|---|
| Rock, log | Jump | the start |
| Tree stump | Jump - it is taller, so do not jump too late | 60 m |
| Gap with a stream | Jump across - falling in ends the run | 100 m |
| Hanging vines | Slide under them | 160 m |
| Bird at head height | Slide under it (or jump over it) - it flies at you faster than the path moves | 260 m |
| Two rocks close together | One jump over both | 350 m |
| Stack of boulders | Double jump | 700 m |
Berries, shields and the magnet
- Berries lie along the path, under the vines and in arcs over the obstacles - the arc shows the path a good jump takes. Run or jump through one to collect it.
- The berry basket in the top left corner fills with every berry. At 25 berries it turns into a shield: a bubble around the lynx that takes one crash. If the lynx already has a shield, the full basket waits and becomes a new one right after the old one breaks.
- A shield takes any crash. Run into an obstacle and the bubble bursts while the lynx blinks safely through it; fall into a gap and the bubble bounces the lynx back out.
- Power-ups float above the path every few hundred metres - jump to take them. The blue shield lasts 14 seconds (its timer is shown in the corner) and the red berry magnet pulls in every berry nearby for 9 seconds.
The four lands
| Land | From | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Pine Forest | 0 m | A sunny day among pines. Rocks, logs, stumps, the first gaps and vines. |
| Birch Glade | 400 m | Golden hour, white birches and falling leaves. Crows start to fly at you. |
| Snowy Pass | 1000 m | Snow on the path and the mountains, owls instead of crows, stacks of boulders. |
| Northern Lights | 1800 m | Night under the aurora. After 2800 m the path leads back into the forest and the lands go round again. |
The speed and the distance between obstacles stop changing at about two and a half kilometres, so a good runner can keep going as long as they like.
Continuing a run
After a crash you can start a new run, or tap Continue. The lynx is waiting where it stopped, with the same distance and berries and a moment of blinking. The path right in front of it is cleared, and it starts again with your next tap. You can continue twice in one run.
Tips
1. Jump a little early rather than late
The lynx stays in the air for quite a while, so an early jump still clears most obstacles, while a late one lands it on top of them. As the run speeds up, move your timing earlier with it.
2. Follow the berry arcs
An arc of berries over an obstacle is drawn along a good jump. If you collect the whole arc, your timing was right.
3. Save the second jump
Do not double jump out of habit. Keep it for the stacks of boulders - and for the moment you realise a jump over a gap was too short.
4. Slide early and hold
Birds come at you faster than everything else. Start the slide as soon as you see one and keep your finger down until it has passed; the same works for a long curtain of vines.
5. Dive to save time
A swipe down in the air brings the lynx straight back to the ground. Use it when a jump went too high and the next obstacle is already close.
6. Collect berries on the way
A shield is worth a lot, but berries are placed where you run and jump anyway. Chasing ones that are off your line is how most runs end.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lynx Run free?
Yes. The game is free, with no account and no purchase. The site is paid for by the advertising described in our Privacy Policy.
Does the run ever end?
No. The path is endless and the four lands repeat. The speed stops rising at about two and a half kilometres, so the run lasts as long as you avoid crashing.
Why did the lynx crash under a bird when I jumped?
Birds fly towards you, so a jump that starts too early can come down right into one. Sliding under a bird is always safe.
Is my best distance saved?
Yes, in your browser's local storage, together with the number of runs and all the berries you have ever collected. Clearing your browser data or playing in private mode erases it.
Can I play offline?
Once the page has loaded, the game needs no connection - everything runs in your browser. Only the advertising and the measurement need the network.