How to take a quick break with the Surf game on Microsoft Edge

As a seasoned tech enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I must say that discovering hidden gems like “Surf” in Microsoft Edge has always been a thrill. I remember back in 2019 when I was part of the Windows Insider program, and the Easter Egg game was first introduced. It was quite an adventure to follow the challenges and finally unveil the new Microsoft Edge icon.


On various platforms like Windows 11, 10, macOS, Linux, and more, Microsoft Edge has a hidden feature – a fun game that you can engage with at any moment.

What’s Surf?

The title of the game is “Surf,” which is reminiscent of the classic “SkiFree” game for Windows. In this game, you get to select a surfing character and navigate them through the water, dodging obstacles and taking on various tasks as you progress.

During the gameplay, it’s essential to gather hearts which will help prolong the surfer’s life and boost their speed.

How to play Surf on Edge?

The Surf game can be found in various locations based on your current location. For instance, on Microsoft Edge, it functions somewhat like a hidden feature, activated by typing “‘edge://surf’” and hitting ‘‘Enter’‘ in the address bar. (It’s playable even without an internet connection.)

I discovered that if I navigate to the URL using any browser like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, I can indeed play the game, but it’s a more restricted version. To experience the complete game, though, I found out that I need to utilize Microsoft Edge on either my desktop or mobile device.

To begin the game, choose one of the available surfing characters. Among them is an adorable penguin.

From the upper right corner, you can access the main menu (icon resembling a gear) to adjust your game settings. You have options to set it as an infinite loop (default setting), a timed challenge, or a zig-zag mode.

The “endless” mode lets you surf for as long as possible.

In the “‘time-trial’ mode“, you engage in a speed challenge aimed at completing the course in the shortest time. You can gather coins along the way which help reduce your total travel duration.

The “zig zag” mode offers a course with many gates to travel.

In addition, you can turn on high visibility, and there’s an option to reduce the surfing speed.

When prepared, you may initiate play by pressing the spacebar, navigate left or right using the arrow keys, and halt with the upward arrow key.

Additionally, you have the option to utilize a mouse. To initiate and navigate its movement, simply double-click, then guide the cursor in the desired direction for the surfer to travel.

On a touchscreen device, you can initiate by doubling your tap, followed by adjusting your direction on the screen’s specific areas for navigation.

In my study, I’ll ensure that at the outset, the game clearly displays the remaining health points and the distance traveled, conveniently positioned at the top of the screen for easy access.

Ultimately, the game offers compatibility with various gaming peripherals such as Xbox and Xbox Adaptive Controllers, PlayStations, and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers.

It’s worth mentioning that the browser will save your scores for each mode. Should you establish a new high score, you will be alerted within the browser.

As a bystander, I recall that the game wasn’t entirely unfamiliar even to some users, given its debut in the year 2023. During the initial setup process of systems back then, it was one of those games displayed during the Out-of-box Experience, designed for passing time while the system got ready for use.

Since my last installation of Windows 11, I’ve completed numerous setup processes and haven’t noticed a ‘play’ option during any of them. When you need to reinstall the OS again, you might find the play option then. If not, simply type “‘edge://surf’” into your web browser as an alternative solution.

What’s the backstory of Surf?

Microsoft initially intended Surf game as a hidden feature (Easter Egg) rather than developing it as a standard game for Edge. This secret creation was done in 2019 with the intention of boosting interest in the newly launched browser, even though access to it wasn’t widespread at the time.

Initially, testers navigated through multiple hurdles, culminating in the appearance of the Surf game. Ultimately, the revamped Microsoft Edge icon was unveiled to the users.

Following the conclusion of the company’s Easter Egg event, there was a surge in user demand for the game, which ultimately shaped it into the popular game we know today.

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2024-09-20 14:09