Stampede Evolution

The pitch

A 3D nature platformer where you lead a growing herd of animals. Walk your camp to level up and evolve from a squirrel to a lion, then run and jump through hand-built biomes (flower meadows, autumn woods, rainy marshes, frozen rivers, night forests) while your herd throws food at the predators that hunt it. Steer into the good gates to grow the herd, pick upgrades, beat bosses and earn three stars on every level. Or try Stampede: an endless auto-run that keeps getting faster and wilder.

Controls & how it runs

Desktop: WASD or the arrow keys (or drag with the left mouse button) to move, Space or right-click to jump, P to pause. Mobile: left thumb is a joystick, tap JUMP or the right side of the screen to jump. Your herd throws food at predators automatically. Steer into green gates to grow your herd and avoid red ones, steer into blue boards to pick an upgrade, and reach the finish arch with as many animals as you can. Walk around camp to level up, then evolve into bigger animals. In Stampede you run forward on your own: dodge walls and water and go as far as you can.

Getting a run going takes exactly one press: Press start, up top, and the game boots inside this page — nothing downloads in the background and no form wants your details before the first jump. The cabinet is drawn for a flexible screen and listens to mouse, keyboard or touch, whichever the game prefers. It reshapes itself for tall and wide screens alike, so phone, tablet and desktop all get the full picture. Given a fullscreen button, use it — scores look better at full size, that's just science.

Stampede Evolution — quick-fire questions

Does Stampede Evolution cost anything to play?

Not a token. The cabinet is free from the first run to the five-hundredth — no wallet, no sign-up, no toll booth hiding three levels in. The adverts around the page are what keep the floor's lights on.

What sort of game is Stampede Evolution?

It stands on our 3D row — that's the family it plays most like. The pitch above is the publisher's own rundown of what it throws at you and what it hands back.

Can I play Stampede Evolution on my phone?

Happily, yes. It runs inside the browser on phones and tablets the same way it does on a computer. It reshapes itself for tall and wide screens alike, so phone, tablet and desktop all get the full picture.

Do I need to install anything first?

Nothing whatsoever. Stampede Evolution is an HTML5 game: hit the start button and it boots on this page, and shutting the tab sweeps the cabinet clean behind you.

Before you wander off

Personal best banked, or still chasing it? Either way the full 3D row is powered on and waiting — A hundred and nineteen cabinets with depth — jumps you can misjudge in three dimensions and racetracks that fall away under you. Everything on this row has a horizon.