The rules
One start page, one destination, and only Wikipedia's links in between. Here's what counts, what's blocked, and what changes with each mode.
The game (Classic mode)
- Two random Wikipedia articles are drawn on the edition you chose, English or French. Every player gets the same pair.
- The destination opens first, read-only, for a 10-second countdown. Then the start page opens for everyone at the same instant.
- Reach the destination by clicking links. The first player to land on it wins. Time and clicks are recorded.
- A game lasts 30 minutes at most; after that, it ends as “Time's up”.
- In solo, you play alone, on a random pair and under the same rules.
What counts as a move
- A click on a link that lands on an article, a category page or a portal. Each one counts: one click, one link of route length. Pages about the wiki itself, Special: tools, other language editions and anything outside Wikipedia are out of play — the extension blocks the click instead of letting you lose.
- The back button is allowed. It counts as a click, but your route, counted in links, gets one link shorter.
- Cmd+F or Ctrl+F on the page is allowed in Classic mode.
What gets you disqualified, immediately
- Typing an address, using a bookmark or the address bar suggestions.
- Using the Wikipedia search box or a search results page.
- Reaching another language edition of Wikipedia other than through a link (typed address, bookmark…).
- Opening a link in a new tab, or leaving Wikipedia in the game tab through a typed address or a bookmark. A link to another site or another edition is simply blocked.
- A forbidden page reached through a link is not a disqualification: the extension brings you back and blocks it, and nothing is counted.
Leaving and coming back
- If you close the game tab, you have 60 seconds to come back. A red banner and a notification offer a Resume button.
- After 60 seconds you forfeit and your opponent wins.
Fair play
- Your opponent sees how many clicks you have made and how far from the start you are, never which page you are on.
- Searching in another window or on another device cannot be detected. It is on your honour. Play fair.
Daily challenge
- One pair of pages per edition and per day, the same for everyone, from noon to noon (Paris time).
- One attempt per edition and per day: giving up, going over the 30 minutes or being disqualified uses it up.
- The ranking goes to the shortest route first — the number of links followed, categories and portals crossed included — and the earliest arrival breaks a tie. Routes are checked against Wikipedia's links before they are listed.
- You can play as a guest, without an account; only accounts appear in the ranking, and a guest is shown the rank they would hold.
Premium modes (coming soon)
Premium- Shortest pathSoon
The clock will be limited, and the shortest route will win.
- Fewest clicksSoon
Fewest clicks will win, back button included.
- HardcoreSoon
Ctrl+F will be blocked: you'll have to read.
- PolyglotSoon
Language links will be allowed. The start page and destination will stay the planned ones, in the chosen edition.
- Page optionsSoon
You'll be able to switch categories, portals, lists, years, disambiguation pages and hub pages (countries, big cities…) on or off.
- Custom rulesSoon
Countdown, time limit, back button… You'll be able to save your settings as presets and share them.