Temple Run is the game that defined the endless runner genre on mobile and its browser version captures the core experience well. You swipe (or use arrow keys and WASD in the browser version) to turn left and right, jump over obstacles, duck under barriers, and tilt to collect coins as you run from a demonic monkey through a jungle temple. Here's how to run forever.
The Basic Controls
In the browser version, left and right arrows turn your runner at corners. Up arrow jumps. Down arrow slides. A and D keys also work for turning. The most important thing to internalize is that turns happen at specific corners — you turn when you hit the edge of the path, not whenever you want. Missing a turn kills you instantly, so reading upcoming corners early is crucial.
Look Ahead, Always
The single most important skill in Temple Run is looking ahead. The game shows you the upcoming path for several seconds before you reach it. A player who reacts to obstacles as they arrive will die constantly. A player who reads obstacles three to five seconds ahead and prepares their inputs in advance will run indefinitely. Train yourself to scan the full visible path ahead of your character rather than focusing on your character itself.
Turns Kill Most Players
The most common death in Temple Run is missing a turn. The path branches left or right at corners and you need to swipe/press the correct direction as you hit the corner. Late inputs (turning after the corner) send you off the edge. Early inputs (turning before the corner) also fail. The timing window is tight enough that memorizing the visual cue for "corner coming up" is worthwhile — a slight camera shift and a visible edge in the path appear a half-second before you need to input.
Power-Ups and Upgrades
Coin Magnet is the most valuable power-up in the game — it automatically collects coins in a large radius, meaning you can ignore coins (and the risky movements collecting them requires) when it's active. Upgrade Coin Magnet first. Shield is second priority — it saves you from one obstacle or turn error, effectively giving you an extra life. Boost (speed boost) is fun but less strategically valuable than Magnet and Shield.
Coin Collection Strategy
Chasing coins takes you to the edges of the path, which is where obstacles and drops are most common. In the early game (first 500 meters), stay in the center of the path and only collect coins that are directly in your line. Use Coin Magnet power-ups for aggressive coin collection rather than manual collection. Staying safe earns more coins in the long run than risky detours for coin clusters that might kill you.