QWOP
Four keys, two legs, 100 metres.
About QWOP
QWOP is a 2008 Flash game by Bennett Foddy that turns the simplest sport in the world into a test of coordination. You play Qwop, an athlete at an Olympic-style 100-metre race. Instead of pressing a key to run, you control his legs directly: Q and W swing his thighs, O and P move his calves. Getting those four muscles to work together in a running motion is the entire game – and it is much harder than it sounds.
Most first attempts end within a few metres, with Qwop on his back, in the splits or face down on the track. The physics are exaggerated just enough to make every fall funny, so failing is never frustrating for long. The distance counter at the top tells you how far you got, and somewhere around 50 metres a hurdle waits to undo all your progress.
How to play QWOP
| Keys | Body part |
|---|---|
| Q and W | The thighs – each key swings them in opposite directions |
| O and P | The calves – each key bends the lower legs the opposite way |
Click inside the game first. Press the space bar to restart after a fall.
A cult classic
QWOP became a cult classic and Bennett Foddy went on to make other deliberately difficult games. For more "one more try" games, visit the launch & upgrade box, or try The World's Hardest Game if you prefer your frustration in maze form.
Stuck? Hints, gentlest first
Hint 1 – slow down
Frantic mashing makes QWOP flip over. Press the keys slowly and deliberately, one pair at a time.
Hint 2 – the knee-scoot
A classic beginner strategy is to drop onto one knee and shuffle forward by alternating W and O. It is slow and ugly, but it reliably gets you down the track.
Hint 3 – find a rhythm
For a real stride, alternate Q+P and W+O in a steady rhythm, keeping the body leaning slightly forward. Small, regular strides beat big lunges.
QWOP appeared in 2008 on Bennett Foddy's website and became one of the internet's favourite jokes about game controls. Watching a friend's runner collapse into the splits after three metres was half the fun, and getting past the hurdle felt like winning gold.
FAQ
What do the QWOP keys do?
Q and W move the runner's thighs, O and P move the calves. You have to combine them into a running motion yourself.
Who made QWOP?
QWOP was created by Bennett Foddy, who later made the climbing game Getting Over It.
Can I still play QWOP in 2026?
Yes. Adobe stopped supporting Flash in 2020, but QWOP runs on this page through a Flash emulator built into the player. Press Play and it starts in a few seconds.
Do I need Flash Player to play QWOP?
No. You don’t need to install Adobe Flash Player, a plugin or any download. QWOP runs in any modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari.
Can I play QWOP on my phone?
QWOP was made for a keyboard, so it plays best on a computer. Mobile browsers can load it, but without a keyboard the controls are hard to use.
Who made QWOP?
QWOP was made by Bennett Foddy and released in 2008. The game belongs to its creator; FlashAttic only embeds it so it can still be played.
Does QWOP save my progress?
FlashAttic remembers that you played QWOP and for how long on this device. Whether the game saves your level depends on the game itself – many Flash games use level codes or their own save slot.
