Pilot a jet up an endless river, blasting boats and grabbing fuel before your tank runs dry.
River Strike is a vertical shooter in which your jet flies forward nonstop over a long, twisting river. Red boats cross the water, dark green blocks stick out from the shore and yellow fuel depots float along the stream. You steer, shoot and control your speed, but the thing that really keeps you on edge is the fuel gauge. It drains every second you are in the air.
Everything is drawn with flat, simple shapes, so it is easy to tell what is a threat and what is a refill at a glance.
How a run works
The jet moves up the screen on its own. You can only steer left and right, and you must stay over the water, since clipping a bank ends the run instantly. Push up to fly faster, pull down to slow down, and release to return to cruising speed.
Shooting a boat earns 50 points, and blasting an obstacle earns 25. Flying into either one means a crash. Fuel depots are the exception. You can fly straight through them safely, and each one fills almost half your tank and adds 100 points.
Your fuel bar sits beneath the score at the top of the screen. When it hits empty, an “out of fuel” message appears and the run is over.
The fuel question
Should you shoot a depot or fly through it? You get the same 100 points either way, but only flying through it gives you fuel. Shoot one only when your tank is already full and it is in your way.
Speed matters too. The jet is always burning fuel, and the faster you go, the quicker it burns. Flying at normal speed or slower stretches every tank further, and going faster does not earn extra points per target.
Strategy notes
- Keep the trigger held on long straight stretches. The gun repeats fast, so constant fire knocks out boats before they slide in front of you.
- Ease off the speed in tight bends. Flying slower buys extra time to squeeze through the narrow sections.
- Once the fuel bar dips below half, plan your route toward the next yellow depot.
- Each boat moves sideways across the water and reverses when it reaches the shore, so aim where it is heading, not where it is now.
Good to know
Press Esc or tap the menu icon in the top right to pause. Restarting after a crash takes only a second, so it is easy to try again.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steer left and right | Left and Right arrows, or A and D | — | Push the left stick sideways |
| Speed up or slow down | Up and Down arrows, or W and S | — | Push the left stick up or down |
| Fire (hold to keep shooting) | Space | — | Lower button on the right |
| Restart the run | Enter | — | Lower button on the right after a crash |
| Pause | Esc | Menu icon, top right | Menu icon, top right |
River Strike FAQ
Can I play River Strike on a Chromebook or phone?
Yes. On a Chromebook, steer with the arrows or A and D, change speed with Up and Down or W and S, and hold Space to fire. On a phone or tablet, a stick appears on the left after your first touch, with fire on the lower right button. Gamepads work too.
How does a run end?
Three things can end it. Touching a riverbank, crashing into a boat or obstacle, or running out of fuel. The screen freezes after a crash or an empty tank, and pressing Enter or the fire button starts a new run immediately.
Is it a one-player game?
Yes. You fly a single jet and chase your own high score. There is no second player, so every run is just you, the river and the fuel gauge.
Is every river the same?
No. A random seed generates a fresh river for each run, which means the curves and the spots for boats, blocks and fuel all change from one game to the next.
