The offline dino game is famous for being easy to start and hard to master. You control a single dinosaur that runs on its own; your only job is to jump and duck at the right moment. This guide covers every control on desktop and mobile, then walks you through your very first run.
The controls
| Action | Desktop | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Start / jump | Space or ↑ | Tap the screen |
| Higher jump | Hold Space slightly longer | Press and hold briefly |
| Duck | Hold ↓ | (low birds appear later) |
| Restart after a crash | Space | Tap the screen |
Your first run, step by step
- Press Space to begin. The dino starts running to the right and the score counter starts ticking up.
- Watch for cacti. These are the first obstacles. Tap jump a fraction of a second before you reach one — not when you are on top of it.
- Listen to the speed. Every few seconds the game gets a little faster. Your timing has to tighten as it does.
- Duck the birds. Once your score passes a few hundred, pterodactyls appear. If one flies low, hold the Down arrow to slide under it instead of jumping.
- Keep your eyes forward. Beginners stare at the dino; strong players look at the gap ahead so they can plan the next jump.
Common beginner mistakes
- Jumping too early. A big early hop leaves you landing right on the next cactus. Wait a beat.
- Panicking at birds. Not every bird needs a jump — high ones you simply run under, low ones you duck under.
- Holding jump the whole time. Tapping gives you a short, controllable hop; holding sends you sailing into trouble.
Once the basics feel natural, move on to our high-score tips to learn the rhythm tricks that carry runs past 10,000.