Glidewave

Glidewave is a one-button arcade game that runs in your browser. You guide a small arrow through neon tunnels: hold to climb, release to drop, and slip between spikes and walls. Every crash is over in seconds, and every restart is one press away.

How to play

1. The first time you open the game, a short tutorial explains the control. Read it, or press Skip Tutorial at the top.
2. Hold the mouse button, W, Space or the up arrow to fly up, and release to go down. The tutorial also mentions sliding along the ceiling.
3. On the start screen choose Classic, Endless or Race and press Start.
4. Touch a spike or a wall and the run ends. A Game Over screen shows your score and highscore; press Space or Restart to go again.
5. Collect lightning bolts and spend them in the Shop on new arrow shapes and trails; the gift button on the start screen opens a daily reward wheel.

The three modes

• Classic: reach the finish of each level; a progress bar shows your percentage and a Select Level button picks a level.
• Endless: go as far as possible and set a highscore in metres.
• Race: reach the finish before others; an arrow switch changes the difficulty, which starts at Easy.

What you see on screen

• Start screen: three cards for the modes, plus Skin, Settings and a gift button.
• Course: a coloured tunnel with spikes and blocks; the colour changes between runs.
• Top bar: a pause button and a percentage bar in Classic mode.
• Game Over: your score, your highscore, a home button and Restart.

Tips

• Do not just hold the button. In our Endless test, holding Space ended at 8 metres and pressing nothing ended at 11 metres, so short, timed presses matter.
• Learn the first obstacles in Classic mode: our no-input run crashed at 9 percent both times we tried.
• Use the shop. Arrows and trails change how your run looks, and a daily reward wheel adds bolts.
• Read our wave runner tips for the test numbers behind these tips.

Frequently asked questions

Which buttons do I press in Glidewave?

Hold the mouse button, W, Space or the up arrow to fly up and release to drop.

How many game modes are there?

Three: Classic, Endless and Race.

What do the lightning bolts do?

They are the game’s coins. You spend them in the Shop on arrow shapes, trails and colours.

How do I restart after a crash?

Press Space or click Restart on the Game Over screen.

Can I play on a phone?

The game is played with a mouse or keyboard keys. On a phone, turn the device sideways to see the game; we have not tested touch play.

Is Glidewave free?

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