Start with a little practice
- Launch the game and choose your language in the menu.
- Play the tutorial to learn driving, aiming, swapping seats and getting out of the truck.
- Start a solo run with an AI companion, or choose couch co-op to share one screen.
- For online play in the Steam desktop build, open a friend lobby and invite one friend.
These instructions describe the current development build. Menu wording and available features may change before release. Check the Steam listing for release availability and system requirements.
Two clowns, one escape
Crackers and Giggles share an ice-cream truck: one drives while the other works the cannon. Swap seats whenever you want; an empty seat is covered automatically. Shooting the Specter buys time. Your goal is to survive until dawn with both clowns aboard.
- Stay together. A clown left alone is vulnerable. Leaving a companion behind can end the run for both of you.
- Watch the dawn countdown. If someone is outside at dawn, the short return timer is your last chance to get them back into the truck.
- Care for the truck. Crashes and attacks reduce its condition. Collect parts to repair it; a wreck moves much more slowly.
- Recover your route. The lower road has ramps back up. If you are stuck, return to the checkpoint.
Keyboard & mouse · solo and online
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Accelerate / brake / steer | W / S / A D · arrow keys also work |
| Drift / boost | Space / Shift |
| Aim / fire | Mouse / left mouse button; click the game to capture the pointer |
| Switch weapon / flash cracker | Q or right mouse button / E |
| Swap seats / exit or enter truck | F / G |
| Horn / return to checkpoint | H / R |
| First-person view / invite a friend | V / I |
| Pause menu / mute / graphics | Esc or P / M / O |
On foot, G also interacts with nearby funfair rides. E uses a flash cracker against little ghosts. Keep an eye on the contextual prompt.
Standard gamepad
| Action | Input |
|---|---|
| Steer / aim | Left stick / right stick |
| Accelerate / brake | RT / LT |
| Drift / boost | A / X (L3 also boosts) |
| Fire / switch weapon | RB / LB |
| Flash cracker / swap seats | Y / B |
| Exit or enter truck | R3 |
| Checkpoint / horn | View or Back / D-pad down |
| Pause / confirm / go back in menus | Start / A / B |
Labels follow the standard Xbox-style layout. Controller mappings can vary by device and Steam settings. Two gamepads can be used for couch co-op.
Couch co-op · share the screen
Choose couch co-op for two local players. Seats are roles, not fixed player assignments: you can trade driving and shooting.
| Role | Player 1 · keyboard | Player 2 · mouse |
|---|---|---|
| Driving | WASD; Space drift; Shift boost | Move mouse left/right to steer; left button gas; right button brake |
| Shooting | WASD aims turret; Space fires; Shift switches weapon | Mouse aims; left button fires; right button switches weapon |
| Swap seats | F | Mouse wheel or Enter |
| Exit / enter | G | Backspace or right Ctrl |
| Flash cracker | E | Middle mouse button |
| Horn / checkpoint while driving | H / R | ] / \ |
Two connected standard gamepads are another option. Each player uses B to swap seats. Keyboard and mouse prompts may reflect your keyboard layout.
Bring a friend along
- Use the Steam desktop build with Steam running. Start a run or open the online menu.
- Press I or use the pause menu to open a friend room, then request the Steam invitation window.
- Invite one friend. If the overlay does not appear, enable it in Steam or share the copied lobby ID / Steam invitation link.
- Your friend joins the lobby and takes over the companion clown. A solo run does not need to restart.
Online play keeps running when you pause. Your clown is covered automatically while the menu is open. Accepting an invitation to another lobby ends your current run; check the confirmation carefully.
Only the host can invite from the current room. To leave, use the pause menu and confirm. If a connection fails, check Steam connectivity, game versions and the invitation before trying again.
A tempting detour
Purple light beams mark chests that you reach on foot. Supplies can include parts, weapons and flash crackers. The funfair has rides and booths with rewards, but it is not a safe zone: the Specter and little ghosts remain a threat.
Use the tutorial again whenever you need a refresher. Read the health notice before playing and the FAQ for saves, languages and support.