Nightmare Runners

About Nightmare Runners

Nightmare Runners is a knockout race run after dark. Everyone sprints the same course, the course is full of traps and monsters that you do not see coming the first time, and the only thing that matters is getting through each race without being eliminated. Learning where the traps are is most of the skill.

You can run it against online or bot opponents on your own, or take the two-player mode and share one keyboard with a friend — which is where the eliminations start to feel personal. Coins earned along the way unlock new skins and characters.

How to play

Playing alone, move with W A S D or the arrow keys and jump with the space bar. In two-player mode, Player 1 moves with W A S D and jumps with G, while Player 2 moves with the arrow keys and jumps with L. Advance through each race without being eliminated by the traps, obstacles and monsters on the course.

Controls

• 1 Player — W A S D or Arrows, Space to jump
• Player 1 — W A S D move, G jump
• Player 2 — Arrow keys move, L jump

Tips to win

• First run of a course is reconnaissance — the traps are learnable, so treat an early elimination as cheap.
• Do not lead the pack on an unfamiliar stretch; let somebody else find the trap for you.
• Jump early rather than late; landing short is survivable, jumping into a trap is not.

Nightmare Runners strategy guide

Your first run on any course is reconnaissance. The courses are full of traps and monsters you do not see coming the first time, and learning where they are is most of the skill. Treat an early elimination as information rather than failure. Next time you will know what is waiting and where. The traps are learnable, so every attempt makes the following one safer, and a course that felt impossible at first soon becomes routine.

Do not lead the pack on an unfamiliar stretch. In a knockout race, the runner in front is the first to find each trap. Letting someone else go first shows you where the danger is without costing you the race. Once you know the course, you can push to the front with confidence.

Jump early rather than late. Solo players jump with the space bar; in two-player mode Player 1 jumps with G and Player 2 with L. Landing a little short is usually survivable, while jumping late can drop you straight into a trap. Give every jump a small margin.

Survival matters more than speed. The goal is to get through each race without being eliminated by the traps, obstacles and monsters on the course. A careful clean run beats a fast run that ends in a knockout. Slow down on stretches you have not mastered yet.

Use coins and two-player mode to keep it fresh. Coins earned along the way unlock new skins and characters. You can race online or bot opponents alone, or share the keyboard with a friend, with Player 1 moving on W A S D and Player 2 on the arrow keys. Racing a friend makes every elimination feel personal.

Nightmare Runners FAQ