🚀 Star Cruiser Run
Steer through the gate with the right answer.
How to play
- Pick a sector and a tier, then click Launch.
- A math fact appears at the top, and numbered gates fly toward you.
- Steer through the gate showing the answer with the arrow keys, WASD, or by dragging on the screen.
- Or press 1-4, or tap an answer button, and autopilot flies you to that gate.
- Wrong gate or a miss? No crash, the right answer is shown and the next wave comes.
- Earn ✨ stardust for every correct gate to unlock new trench sectors.
A space-flight math game where the answer is a place you fly to
Star Cruiser Run is a free addition and subtraction game built like an arcade space shooter, minus the shooting. Your star cruiser races down a glowing trench, a math fact like 8 + 5 appears on screen, and a wave of numbered gates rushes toward you out of the distance. Fly through the gate showing the right answer before the wave reaches you. The trench is drawn in real 3D perspective, so the camera swings and banks as you steer, the walls stream past faster after every correct gate, and each gate shows its number big and clear even as it grows toward you.
Steering is optional on purpose. Some kids love flying and some just want to answer, so every wave also shows its choices as big answer buttons under the screen. Tap one, or press its number key, and autopilot takes the cruiser straight to that gate. Either way, the math is what decides the result, not reflexes. A wrong gate or a missed wave never ends the run: the correct answer lights up green, the fact is shown with its answer, and the next wave arrives a moment later. Only your streak resets.
Six tiers from sums to 10 up to two-digit regrouping
Tier 1 keeps every sum at 10 or less for early first graders. Tier 2 mixes in missing addends like 7 + ? = 10, the make-ten facts that underpin mental math, plus sums up to 20. Tier 3 practices subtraction within 20, and Tier 4 mixes both operations. Tier 5 moves to two-digit addition and subtraction without regrouping on four gates, and Tier 6, the Championship, adds carrying and borrowing with faster waves. Wrong answers are chosen to be believable, like off-by-one and off-by-ten mistakes, so the right gate has to be worked out rather than guessed from the odd one out.
Every correct gate earns stardust, with a bonus every fifth answer in a row, and stardust unlocks new trench sectors: Nebula Run, Ice Moon, Solar Forge, Emerald Rift, and the golden Royal Void. Best streaks are saved for each tier, so there's always a record to chase. It's free, runs in any modern browser on computers, tablets, and phones, works with keyboard, mouse, or touch, needs no download or account, and keeps its progress only in your own browser. See the Parents & Safety page for privacy details, or explore the rest of the Math Games hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play Star Cruiser Run?
Read the math fact at the top of the screen, then fly your star cruiser through the gate showing the answer before the wave reaches you. Steer with the arrow keys, WASD, or by dragging on the screen, or tap an answer button to let autopilot fly there.
Do I need to be good at steering?
No. Every wave also has answer buttons under the screen and number keys 1 to 4. Choosing one sends the cruiser to that gate on autopilot, so the math is what matters, not flying skill.
What happens if I fly through the wrong gate?
Nothing bad. There is no crash and no game over. The right gate lights up green, the answer is shown, and the next wave comes. Only your streak resets.
What math does it cover?
Addition and subtraction from sums to 10 up to two-digit problems with regrouping, including make-ten missing addend facts like 7 + ? = 10. It fits roughly first through third grade.
How do I unlock new sectors?
Every correct gate earns stardust, with a bonus for every fifth correct answer in a row. Collecting enough stardust unlocks new trench sectors, from Nebula Run up to the Royal Void.