How to play Marshmallow Run
Keep a marshmallow moving through campfires, flying sticks, chocolate bars and graham crackers. The run gets faster as your distance grows; good timing matters more than tapping constantly.
Your first run
You can continue without saving to try the game. Choose Classic Mallow or the free Pink Mallow, then start at level 1. Focus on clearing the first campfires before chasing every coin. Without protection, one collision ends the run and toasts your character.
Jump, then decide whether to jump again
- Phone or tablet
- Tap the game area to jump, or swipe up. Tap again while airborne for a second jump. Swipe down to cut the upward motion short and drop sooner.
- Keyboard
- Space, Up Arrow or W jumps. Down Arrow or S cuts a jump short. Most characters have two jumps; Mint Puff has three.
Save the second jump for a hazard that would otherwise meet you in midair. Using both jumps immediately can leave you with no way to adjust when the next obstacle arrives. A downward swipe helps you return to the ground, but does not make landing on a campfire safe.
Read the trail, not just the coins
Campfires sit on the ground. Flying sticks and approaching chocolate bars and graham crackers add airborne hazards from level 3 onward. Rain showers douse the campfires — they are safe to run past while it rains and reignite the moment it stops. Watch the right edge for snack warnings: jumping higher is not always the safest answer when the danger is already above the trail.
Coins appear in short rows and arcs. Leave a coin behind if collecting it would put your landing in danger. Cocoa Dip makes collected coins worth double; a longer surviving run still gives you more chances to collect them.
Choose protection or speed
Shield · from level 1
A collected shield lasts 8 seconds and absorbs one hit. A manually activated shield charge absorbs two hits without a timer. Golden Mallow's starting shield is the timed, one-hit kind. Watch the shield indicator rather than assuming every shield works the same way.
Slow-mo · from level 2
For 5 seconds, world speed drops to 55% of normal. This gives you more time to judge crowded obstacles. Be ready for the normal pace to return when the effect ends.
Speed Boost · from level 4
Doubles speed for 9 seconds. It is a speed boost, not a protective shield: obstacles still matter, and your reaction window becomes shorter.
Hot Cocoa Boost · from level 5
Combines double speed with invincibility for 20 seconds. Obstacles burst on contact while it is active. Prepare to dodge again as soon as the effect wears off. Toasted's longer-power-up ability extends timed effects.
After you get toasted
The “You Want S'more??” screen marks the end of a run. You can retry, return home, or check the leaderboard. Signed-in players can continue from the level where they crashed. Guest progress is stored on that device and can be lost if its app or browser data is removed.
For your next attempt, change one thing: hold your second jump longer, ignore a risky coin, or choose a slower character. AARP Mallow runs at 75% of normal speed; Airport Ramp Worker runs at 125%. See the character guide for the trade-offs, or the 20-level guide to plan the next stretch.