Giftgallop

Giftgallop is an endless runner set in a snowy valley. Santa runs with a sack on his back, you steer him between five lanes, and every gift pack you pick up adds to your score.

How to play

1. Press play on the start screen and read the two hint cards, then press the tick to start running.
2. Move: press the up or down arrow key to change lanes. On a touch screen, tap above or below Santa, or swipe up or down.
3. Score: run through the gift packs on the lanes. Each pack adds points, and the counter sits at the top left.
4. Power-up: collect one and Santa passes through obstacles for about 5 seconds.
5. Avoid: rocks, tree stumps and logs end the run, and so do the wobbling snowmen.

What you see on screen

• Start screen: the GIFTGALLOP title, Santa with his sack and a row of snowmen.
• Five lanes: dark cobbles between strips of snow, with Santa on the left.
• Score counter: a wooden sign at the top left that shows your points.
• Game Over card: shows your score and your highest score, with buttons to go home or run again.

Tips

• Do not stand still in the first lane. In our test, all 3 runs with no input ended with 0 points, between 7.6 and 18.2 seconds in.
• Dodge first, collect second. The 2 runs that lasted about a minute were the ones that kept moving away from obstacles, and they scored 17 and 36.
• Points come only from gift packs, so a long run that skips them still scores 0.
• Read our Santa runner game tips for the numbers behind these tips.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change lanes?

Press the up or down arrow key, tap above or below Santa, or swipe up or down on a touch screen.

How do I score?

Run through the gift packs on the lanes. Rocks, stumps, logs and snowmen do not score; they end the run.

What does the power-up do?

For about 5 seconds Santa passes through obstacles without ending the run.

Does the game get faster?

Yes. The track speeds up in five steps, about every 15 seconds, until it reaches its top speed.

Is my score saved?

Your highest score is kept in your browser on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Can I play on a phone?

Yes. The game scales to the screen and works with taps and swipes. Turn the phone sideways for the widest view.

Is Giftgallop free to play?

Yes. You can play it in your browser on Yes This Game with no download and no sign-up.