Monster Truck

Monster Truck is a side-view driving game built around a big-wheeled truck with long-travel suspension. Each of the 12 levels is a dirt course of hills, ramps, jumps and parked cars, and your job is to reach the checkered flag before the fuel runs out. Crush cars, catch air and land flips to raise your score. You can play this monster truck game free in your browser with no download, on a keyboard or a phone’s touch screen.

How to play

The green bar in the top-left corner is your fuel, and the blue bar in the top-right shows how far you are from the flag.

• Gas and brake: hold the right arrow or D to accelerate. The left arrow or A brakes, and once the truck has stopped it reverses. On a phone, use the Brake and Gas pedals under the game, or press the left or right half of the game itself.
• Tilt in the air: when all four tires leave the ground, the same pedals rotate the truck. Gas tilts it back (nose up) and brake tilts it forward (nose down). The up and down arrows, or W and S, also tilt the truck.
• Land on your wheels: the springs absorb big drops, but if the roof touches the ground or the truck ends up resting on its side, it is wrecked and the attempt ends.
• Watch your fuel: holding the gas burns fuel, and a little drains even when you coast. If the tank runs dry before the flag and the truck rolls to a stop, you are out of fuel.

Crushing cars

Rows of parked cars sit on the course. A single car is low enough for the big tires to climb straight onto, and it flattens under the weight of the truck as you roll across. Stacks two cars high are too tall to drive into, so each has a ramp in front. Drive up it onto the roofs, or land on a stack from a jump, and the cars crumple one at a time. Every crushed car is worth 100 points.

Scoring, stars and coins

• Distance: one point per meter you travel.
• Airtime: a jump that keeps all wheels off the ground for about half a second or more scores 120 points per second in the air when you land it.
• Flips: a full backflip or frontflip scores 500. A double scores 1,250. The flip only counts if you land it without wrecking.
• Coins on the course: each gold coin you drive through is worth 25 points and one coin for the garage.

Finishing a level earns one star. Beating that level’s score targets earns a second and third star. You also earn coins for every finish: one for each coin you picked up, plus one for every 40 points you scored. Finishing a level unlocks the next one, and your stars and best scores are saved in your browser.

Garage upgrades

Spend coins in the Garage on three parts, each with three upgrade levels that cost 40, 90 and 160 coins:

• Engine: more acceleration and a higher top speed.
• Suspension: stiffer, better damped springs with more travel, so hard landings are less likely to bottom out.
• Tires: more grip, which helps when you climb steep hills and ramps.

Tips

• Level out before you land. Tap brake or gas in the air to bring the truck back flat. Touching down rear wheels first or front wheels first is fine. Landing on the roof is not.
• Commit to flips early. A flip needs a high jump. Hold gas the moment you leave a big ramp, then let go a little before the truck comes back upright, because it keeps turning for a moment.
• Save fuel on downhills. Coasting burns far less fuel than holding the gas, so let gravity do the work on long descents.

FAQ

Is Monster Truck free to play?

Yes. It runs in your browser with no account and nothing to install. Press Play on the title screen to start the first level.

Does it work on phones and Chromebooks?

Yes. On a phone or tablet, use the on-screen Brake and Gas pedals, which also tilt the truck in the air. Touching the game area does not scroll the page. On a laptop or Chromebook, use the arrow keys or WASD.

How many levels are there?

There are 12 levels, from Dirt Yard and Car Crusher to Big Air, Mountain Pass and Grand Finale. Each one has three stars to earn.

Can I pause or restart?

Press P or Esc, or use the Pause button. The game also pauses if you switch tabs. Press R or the Retry button to restart the current level.

Want more physics driving? Try Dirt Bike Hill Climb for endless hills on two wheels, or Drift to slide a car around corners.