How Monkey Run works

What is it?

Monkey Run is a controller-free jungle runner for children aged 5 and up. There are no buttons and no gamepad. Instead, your phone's front camera watches how your child moves their body, and the friendly monkey on screen copies them — running down a three-lane jungle path, collecting bananas and dodging logs and branches.

It's designed to get kids up and moving, and to be gentle and forgiving: there's no "Game Over". If the monkey bumps into something it simply tumbles, sees stars, and hops right back up.

How to play

Stand where the camera can see you from head to knees, then move your body:

🏃Run on the spot — march or jog without going anywhere to make the monkey run forward. The faster you go, the faster it runs.
🦘Jump — hop up with both feet to leap over fallen logs.
🦆Duck — crouch down low to slide under branches and vines.
👈Lean left — lean your body left to move into the left lane.
👉Lean right — lean right to move into the right lane.

First-time players get a short tutorial that teaches each move one at a time, so nobody has to guess. You can replay it any time from the “How to play” button in the game.

Play on your TV 📺

Want a bigger screen? Open Monkey Run on a TV and choose “This is a TV”. It shows a QR code — scan it with your phone and the two connect automatically. Your phone becomes the motion controller and the game plays on the TV. Only your movements are sent to the TV; the camera picture never is.

Safety 🛡️

Clear your space first. Before each session, move furniture, toys and pets out of the way and give yourself room to run, jump and lean.
Play somewhere bright, on a non-slip floor, wearing shoes — not socks on a smooth floor.
Take breaks. Running on the spot is real exercise. Rest whenever you get tired and drink water.
Gentle by design. No move asks a child to lunge, spin or reach in a way that could cause a fall, and the game pauses if it can't see the player.
Grown-ups nearby. Younger children should play with an adult keeping an eye on the space.