How to play
A wiki race (also called the Wikipedia game or a Wikipedia speedrun) is simple: you start on one Wikipedia article and race to another using only the links inside the articles. Fewest clicks wins.
The rules
- You land on the start article. The target is shown at the top of the screen the whole time.
- Click links inside the article. No search box, no typing a URL, no external sites. Links to categories, files and other wikis are disabled.
- Reach the target. The moment its article opens, you're done. The lowest number of clicks wins, and ties go to the faster time.
What counts as a click
Every article you open counts as one click, including going back with the Go Back button. Jumping to a section inside the same article is free.
Time limits
| Difficulty | Time | What the pair is like |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 2:30 | Well-known topics that are about two clicks apart. |
| Medium | 5:00 | Topics from different areas with no direct link between them. |
| Hard | 10:00 | No two-click route exists. You'll need a plan. |
Fair play
- Leaving the tab gets you one warning, then a +1 click penalty each time.
- Find in page (Ctrl/⌘+F) doesn't work on links, so you have to actually read.
- Every multiplayer route is checked against Wikipedia's real links, and finishes that are impossibly fast get flagged.
Tips from fast racers
- Go broad, then narrow. Countries, cities, centuries and big subjects ("United States", "World War II", "Biology") link to almost everything.
- Think backwards. Ask what article would definitely link to the target, then aim for that.
- Use the first paragraph and the infobox. The most useful links are usually near the top.
- Don't over-read. In a race, scanning beats reading. Back-tracking costs a click, so commit once you spot a good hub.
Game modes
Quick match drops you into a public room with other players. Private rooms let you race up to 8 friends with a room code (how it works). Solo lets you practise at any difficulty, and the Daily challenge gives everyone the same hard pair each day (past dailies).