RunMan: Race Around the World

What Is RunMan: Race Around the World?

RunMan: Race Around the World is a free indie platformer developed by Tom Sennett and Matt Thorson, released in 2009. The game follows RunMan, a goofy anthropomorphic creature, as he sprints through hand-drawn levels spanning real-world locations like Mexico, the Amazon, and the Sahara. Built around momentum-based movement, vibrant crayon-style art, and a lively jazz and ragtime soundtrack, it has become a beloved cult classic in the indie speedrunning community.

Gameplay Overview

The core loop is simple but addictive: run as fast as possible from the start of each level to the finish line. RunMan can sprint, jump, and unleash a powerful dash attack that smashes through enemies, walls, and obstacles. Levels are short, replayable, and designed to reward memorization, route optimization, and bold risk-taking.

Controls

• Arrow Keys – Move left and right
• Z – Jump (hold for higher jumps)
• X – Dash attack (your main offensive and traversal tool)
• Shift – Run faster
• Escape – Pause and access menu

World Map and Levels

The game is structured around a global map divided into themed regions. Each region contains several stages capped off by a boss or special challenge level. Themes include tropical jungles, snowy mountains, deserts, and bustling cities, each with their own enemies, hazards, and musical accompaniment.

Tips and Tricks for New Players

• Keep moving – Momentum is everything; stopping kills your flow and your time.
• Master the dash – The dash attack destroys obstacles and gives you a brief speed boost. Use it constantly.
• Chain dashes mid-air – You can dash after jumping to cover more ground and skip sections of levels.
• Learn enemy patterns – Some enemies block paths or counter your dash; knowing when to jump over them saves seconds.
• Replay levels – Beating your own time is the real game. Each stage hides shortcuts that only emerge with practice.
• Watch speedruns – The community has documented optimal routes for nearly every level.

Soundtrack and Art Style

RunMan is famous for its handcrafted aesthetic. The visuals look like they were drawn with crayons on construction paper, giving every level a charming, homemade feel. The soundtrack features public-domain jazz, swing, and ragtime tunes that perfectly match the frantic, joyful pace of gameplay.

System Requirements

RunMan is extremely lightweight and runs on virtually any Windows PC made in the last fifteen years. It requires no installation, has a tiny file size, and works well even on older laptops or low-spec machines. The game is freeware and was originally distributed directly through the developers' website.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Completely free to play
• Tight, satisfying movement and dash mechanics
• Charming hand-drawn art and excellent licensed music
• Highly replayable with strong speedrun appeal
• Runs on almost any machine
• Pick-up-and-play friendly with short levels

Cons

• Relatively short main campaign
• No native controller support without third-party tools
• Windows-only; Mac and Linux users need workarounds
• No longer actively updated by the developers
• Dated UI and menus by modern standards

Is RunMan Still Worth Playing?

Absolutely. Despite its age, RunMan: Race Around the World holds up as one of the most joyful and original platformers of its era. Its blend of speed, style, and personality continues to influence indie developers today, and it remains a fantastic introduction to the speedrunning genre for newcomers.