Swell Rider
Swell Rider is an endless surf runner. You ride down the line of a big breaking wave. Switch between three lines on the face, launch airs off the lip, duck the gulls and ride under the curl when it goes hollow. Behind you the wave keeps breaking, so clip anything from the side and the whitewater catches up.
How to play
| Move | Phone | Keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Switch line | Swipe left or right, or tap either side | ← → or A D |
| Air / trick | Swipe up or tap the middle | ↑, W or Space |
| Duck (or drop fast in the air) | Swipe down | ↓ or S |
| Pause | ❚❚ button | P or Esc |
The wave
The wave changes as you ride it. Sets come through bigger and smaller, sections steepen as you reach them, and some sections go hollow, with the lip throwing out over the top line. Offshore wind blows spray back off the crest, and the lip explodes where it lands. Ride the top line under a hollow section for more than a second to get barreled. The longer you stay in, the bigger the bonus.
Hazards
- Driftwood and jellyfish are low. Jump them.
- Gulls fly at head height. Duck.
- Buoys, reef, other surfers, sharks and jet skis block the whole line. Switch lines.
- Piers have pilings in two lines. Find the gap and shoot the pier.
Power-ups
| Power-up | What it does |
|---|---|
| 🧲 Magnet | Pulls coins in from every line. |
| 🐬 Dolphin Fins | Much bigger airs, so you can clear more and land bigger tricks. |
| 2× Double Score | Doubles your multiplier. |
| 🚤 Jet Ski Tow | Tows you faster and smashes through anything in your way. |
| 🏄 Spare leash | Adds a leash. Use one after a wipeout to keep going. |
Scoring
You score for distance, coins, tricks, snaps and barrels, all times your multiplier (the yellow ×1 badge at the top right). Finish all three missions to raise the multiplier for good. Coins carry over between runs. Spend them on new boards, longer power-ups and leashes.
Questions
Is Swell Rider free?
Yes. Swell Rider is free to play with no sign-up and no ads, and every board and upgrade can be earned with coins. The optional Board Pass, a one-time $2.99 upgrade, unlocks all boards straight away, doubles the coins you earn and adds four Pass-only boards. Your coins, boards and best score stay in this browser.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Swipe or tap to play. Add it to your Home Screen for full screen. If it runs slowly, the game lowers its graphics level on its own, or you can pick Low in Settings.
The camera makes me feel queasy.
Open Settings and turn on Calm camera. It removes shake, roll and zoom and keeps the view steady. It is on by default if your device asks for reduced motion.
Where does the music come from?
The surf-rock soundtrack and all the sound effects are made live in your browser. No audio files are downloaded.