QWOP

There are many challenges in finding the right browser game to kill some time. Casual players and hardcore gamers are always looking for games that can be launched in a tab and are still engaging. Enter QWOP, a famed physics-based running game which makes a standard 100-meter dashes one the most side-splittingly challenging skill games on the web.

About QWOP

QWOP is a sports sim with a twist. Rather than moving your athlete with the arrow keys or a controller joystick, you have to move the runner’s legs by pressing four keyboard keys – Q, W, O, and P.

A separate key targets a different group of muscles. The athlete's thighs are controlled by the Q and W keys, while the calves by O and P. While it sounds simple in theory, to do those moves with the force of gravity and momentum is extremely complex. After advancing only a fraction of a meter, an errant keystroke can send your runner plummeting face-first into the track. It’s this brutal, physics-enabled difficulty that that caused the game to become an instant viral hit.

How to Play

In order to win, you will need to discard your gaming instincts and concentrate only on your coordination and balance through rhythm.

Know the Mechanics Basics:

• Q: Slides the right thigh forward / left thigh back
• W: Slides the left thigh forward / right thigh back
• O: Flexes the left calf, extends the right.
• P: Flex the right calf, extends the left.

Develop a Smooth Strategy

Newbies are prone to just mashing the keys as quickly as they can. This method results in a catastrophic, instantaneous rupture. Rather, tap lightly and intentionally and concentrate on getting into a rythym. Keep your Runner leaning a little bit forward to keep moving forwards but not too much or you will end up sliding in an unstoppable split. The only authentic route ahead in this title is to go slow and go strong.

Top Tips to Run Farther

If you want to make it out of the first few meters and actually cross the finish line, consider these expert tips:

• Focus on Rhythm Not Speed: Don’t rush; speed will come automatically once you get into a rhythm.
• Don't Take Long Strides too Early: Take short, light strides and stay relaxed until you can feel your moving waists shifts the weights.
• Recover Carefully: If your athlete stumbles or you start to lean too much back, cease pressing forward and lightly tap the thigh keys to bring your center of gravity back.
• Patience Is the Name of the Game: The best runs are the ones that come out of complete patience, not the ones that come from reacting at breakneck speeds.

Start Your Sprint Today

Ultimately, QWOP demonstrates a game doesn't have to have dazzling visuals or intricate storylines in order to be memorable. Its unwieldy layout, unforgiving physics and hilarious consequences have made it a cult classic of casual browser gaming.