Tips
io games tips: survive longer and climb the leaderboard
The habits that keep you alive in any io arena, plus specific tips for snake, blob, territory and tank games.
3 min read
Turf Rush
Draw loops out of your land to claim the arena square by square, cut through rivals’ trails and guard your own.
Your racer turns toward the mouse pointer at the next square. You can also steer with the arrow keys or W, A, S and D. You cannot turn straight back. P pauses and resumes. M turns sound on or off. F switches full screen. On a touch screen, drag anywhere on the arena in the direction you want to go.
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About Turf Rush
Turf Rush is an io-style territory game. You start with a small square of land in a big arena shared with computer-controlled rivals. Step off your land and you leave a trail behind you; get back home and the loop you drew, with everything inside it, becomes yours.
The bigger the loop, the more you claim, but the longer your trail is exposed: anyone who crosses it knocks you out. Cut rivals off the same way and watch their land vanish. It is single-player and runs in your browser on desktop and mobile.
How to play Turf Rush
- Pick how fierce you want the rivals and a colour, then press Play.
- Your racer never stops. Steer with the mouse, the arrow keys or W, A, S and D. On a touch screen, drag anywhere in the direction you want to go.
- Leave your land to draw a trail, then come back to your land to claim the loop and everything it surrounds.
- Cross a rival’s trail to knock it out. Keep others away from your own trail while it is out.
- The round ends when you are knocked out. Your result is the most land you held.
Turf Rush controls
| Steer | Move the mouse, or press the arrow keys or W, A, S, D |
|---|---|
| Start or play again | Enter or Space |
| Pause and resume | P (Esc also pauses) |
| Full screen | F |
| Sound on or off | M |
| Steer | Drag anywhere on the arena, like a joystick |
|---|---|
| Pause and resume | Pause button in the top corner |
Turf Rush rules
Moving
The arena is a square of 100 by 100 squares. Everyone moves at the same steady speed, one square at a time, and turns happen as you reach the next square. You cannot stop or turn straight back.
Claiming land
You start with a 7 by 7 square of land. Outside your land you leave a trail. When you reach your land again, the trail and every square it encloses become yours, including squares that belonged to rivals.
Your score is the share of the arena you own, shown as a percentage.
Getting knocked out
You are out if anyone runs into your trail, if you run into your own trail, or if you run off the edge of the arena.
If two racers meet head-on, the one on its own land survives; anywhere else, both are out. A racer whose land is all taken is out too.
When a racer is out, its land and trail disappear and the squares become free again.
Rivals
Every other racer is controlled by the computer and marked AI on the arena leaderboard. Chill has 7 rivals that draw small loops and seldom chase anyone. Normal has 10 that draw bigger loops and cut trails they can reach. Fierce has 13 that hunt trails and rarely leave their own exposed.
A rival that is knocked out is replaced by a newcomer a few seconds later.
Best land
Your result is the most land you held at once during the round. The best result for each rival level is saved in this browser.
Tips and strategy
- Short, quick loops are safer than one giant one. Head home before a rival gets close to your trail.
- Loop along the edge of your own land: you claim strips with very little trail showing.
- A rival far from home with a long trail is an easy knockout. Cross its trail anywhere.
- Watch the corner map. It shows everyone’s land and where each racer is heading.
- Never run back over your own trail. Plan the turn home before you need it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turf Rush multiplayer?
No. Turf Rush is single-player. Every other racer is a computer-controlled rival, marked AI on the leaderboard, and nothing is sent over the network while you play.
Is Turf Rush free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser with no account, download or payment.
Why did my racer not turn around?
Racers cannot turn straight back. Turn to one side first, then turn again to head the other way.
Can I play on a phone or tablet?
Yes. Drag anywhere on the arena in the direction you want to go. The game pauses automatically if you switch apps or tabs.
Does Turf Rush save my best result?
Your best land share for each rival level is stored in this browser on this device. It is not uploaded or shared, and there is no online leaderboard.
Guides and tips
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