Typing Race

How to play

You stand on the start line of a running track with three rivals in the lanes next to you. After a 3-2-1 countdown the starting gun fires. Type the text at the bottom of the screen to run: every correct letter moves you forward, and the finish line is the last letter.

1. Your WPM is your speed. The number above the text is your words per minute over the last three seconds. Above 60 WPM, speed lines rush past.
2. Mistakes trip you. A wrong letter turns red and you stop moving until you delete it with Backspace.
3. Watch the race. Rivals ahead run down the track in front of you, rivals level with you run alongside, and anyone behind shows up in the rear-view mirror. The bar at the top shows every runner between start and finish.
4. Finish first. Places are decided by who crosses the line first. If the top two finish less than half a second apart, you get a slow-motion photo finish from beside the line.

If you still look down at your hands, start with the typing lessons and come back when you know the home, top and bottom rows.

Rivals and lineups

Each rival has a set speed and a racing style, so the lead changes during a race even when your average speed is close to theirs.

Steady runners hold the same pace from start to finish. Sprinters like Sue and Bea shoot out of the blocks, tire in the middle, try one more push and fade again. Comeback runners like Kai and Leo save their energy and finish with a fast final sprint. Rocket Rin runs fast but sometimes stops for a moment after a typo.

On your first visit you can run a 30-second placement race. It measures your speed and picks a lineup for you. You can change it at any time.

Race modes and length

• Daily Race gives everyone the same text and the same rivals for the day, so you can compare times with friends.
• Free Race picks one of 24 classic texts at random.
• Short, Standard and Marathon take about one, two and four minutes at 50 WPM. The texts are taken from public-domain classics, with capitals and punctuation.

Your best time for each lineup and length is saved on this device. From then on, a see-through Your Best ghost runs your best race in the lane next to you, so you are also racing yourself.

Race my ghost

When you cross the line you get a 9:16 highlight video of the last seconds of the race and a story card with a podium of the top three. On a phone, Share opens the share sheet; Save downloads the file. The video is recorded in your browser and never uploaded, and you can switch recording off in the menu.

Copy "race my ghost" link makes a link that records how far you ran each second. When a friend opens it, your ghost lines up against them on the same text with the same rivals. Add a name of up to 12 letters or numbers.

Tips

• Accuracy beats bursts. One typo can cost more time than you gain by rushing a word.
• Don't panic when you are passed. Comeback runners are meant to catch you late. Keep your rhythm and you may pass a tired sprinter back.

FAQ

Is Typing Race free?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no download and no sign-up.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Tap the track to open your phone's keyboard. The view shrinks to fit above the keyboard so you can still see the track and the text. A physical keyboard is faster.

How does the leaderboard work?

After a Daily or Free Race, pick a nickname (3 to 12 letters, numbers or underscores) and press Submit to leaderboard. Daily Race times go on today's board and on the all-time board for that text. Only your nickname, WPM, accuracy, time and your progress through the race are shown publicly. Open the Leaderboard tab in the menu and press Race next to any run, or Race the top 3, to race their ghosts. Ghosts replay each player's real run, second by second.

Is this a multiplayer game?

The rivals are computer runners, but ghost links let you race a friend's real run on the same text.