Edge Surf Game: How to Play Microsoft Edge's Hidden Game (2026)

Last checked: October 2026.

Your Wi-Fi drops, the page won't load, and you've got ten minutes to kill. If you're in Microsoft Edge, there's a little surfing game hiding inside the browser for exactly that moment. No download, no account, no app store.

I've pulled everything below from Microsoft's own pages: the Edge feature page, the Microsoft Edge blog post that launched the game, the Edge learning centre and Microsoft's admin documentation. Where Microsoft doesn't say something, I've left it out rather than guess.

What is the Edge surf game?

It's a free, built-in arcade game in Microsoft Edge. You steer a surfer down an endless ocean, dodge islands, ships and other surfers, grab hearts and speed boosts, and try to stay ahead of the kraken. Microsoft describes it as a game for when you're offline, but you can open it any time you like.

It sits in the same family as the Chrome dinosaur. If you've ever played that, my guide to the Chrome dinosaur game on Android covers Google's version.

How do you open the surf game in Edge?

There are two ways in, and neither needs anything extra installed.

1. Open Microsoft Edge and make sure it's up to date, because Microsoft says features can vary by browser version.
2. Click in the address bar at the top of the window.
3. Type edge://surf and press Enter.
4. The game loads straight away, and the on-screen prompt tells you how to start.
5. No connection? Edge shows its offline error page, and Microsoft says it gives you a handy link to the game from there.
6. Open the settings menu inside the game to change mode, switch on accessibility options or read the controls for your input method.

Typing edge://surf works whether you're online or not, so you don't have to wait for the Wi-Fi to fail.

Which game modes does Edge surf have?

Microsoft lists three modes, and you switch between them in the game's settings menu:

• Endless: surf as far as you can while avoiding obstacles and the kraken.
• Time trial: reach the end of a fixed course as fast as you can. The course is the same every time, so it's good for beating your own best run.
• Zig zag: surf through as many gates in a row as you can. Miss a gate and your streak resets, and you keep going until your lives run out.

Your high score is saved separately for each mode, and Edge tells you when you set a new record. You can reset your stats from the settings menu. Microsoft's learning centre also hints that doing unexpected things can open up secret modes, without saying what they are, so that one's yours to discover.

What are the controls for the surf game?

The game works with a keyboard, a mouse, touch and gamepads. Microsoft names Xbox, PlayStation and Switch Pro controllers plus the Xbox Adaptive Controller, and the game supports controller rumble.

Input	How you play	Where Microsoft says it
Keyboard	Left and right arrows steer, up accelerates, down brakes	Edge learning centre
Mouse	Supported; see the in-game settings for the controls	Microsoft Edge blog
Touch screen	Supported on touch devices	Edge feature page and blog
Gamepad	Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro, Xbox Adaptive Controller	Microsoft Edge blog
No internet	Works offline; Edge links to it from the error page	Microsoft Edge blog

Can you play Edge surf without internet?

Yes. That's the whole point of it. The game is part of the browser itself, so once Edge is installed there's nothing to download. Microsoft's admin documentation even describes the game as something people play when the device is offline or when they type edge://surf.

If you want a bigger offline line-up for a laptop, I've rounded up free offline game downloads for Windows laptops that don't need a connection once they're installed.

Does the surf game work on phones and Macs?

Microsoft's policy documentation for the game lists support in Edge on Windows and macOS, and more recently on iOS. The same page says Android isn't supported for that policy. Microsoft's feature page adds that availability can vary by device type, market and browser version.

So on a Mac, edge://surf behaves the same as on Windows. On an iPhone or iPad, update Edge first and try it. Microsoft doesn't publish separate mobile steps, so I won't invent any.

What accessibility options does the game include?

• High visibility mode: highlights the hit boxes around objects so obstacles are easier to see and avoid.
• Reduced speed mode: slows the whole game down for a more relaxed pace. Handy for younger kids, too.
• Screen reader and high contrast support: Microsoft's launch post mentions both.
• Xbox Adaptive Controller: fully supported.

How can IT admins switch the surf game off?

Schools and workplaces often want it gone. Microsoft gives admins a policy called Allow surf game (AllowSurfGame). If an admin disables it, people can't play the game offline or by typing edge://surf. If it's enabled or left alone, the game stays available.

• Group Policy: Administrative Templates, then Microsoft Edge, then Allow surf game, set to Disabled.
• Windows registry: AllowSurfGame as a REG_DWORD under SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge, with a value of 0.
• Mac and iOS: the preference key AllowSurfGame set to false.
• Good to know: the change needs a browser restart, and it applies per profile.

If you're a parent rather than an IT admin, Microsoft says you don't need to spend anything to play, and there's nothing to install, so it's an easy one to leave on. For screen-free alternatives on a long car trip, my list of pen and paper games for kids and adults is a good backup.

I keep every related walkthrough in the Free Games to Play Offline and Online: Every Guide in One Place (2026).

Frequently asked questions

Is the Microsoft Edge surf game free?

Yes. It's built into Microsoft Edge, so there's nothing to install or buy. Type edge://surf into the address bar and it opens.

Why won't edge://surf open for me?

Update Edge first, because Microsoft says availability can vary by browser version, device and market. On a work or school computer, an admin may have switched it off with the Allow surf game policy.

Can I play the surf game with an Xbox controller?

Yes. Microsoft lists Xbox, PlayStation and Switch Pro controllers plus the Xbox Adaptive Controller, and the game supports rumble.

How do I change the mode in Edge surf?

Open the game's settings menu and pick Endless, Time trial or Zig zag. The same menu shows the controls and the accessibility options.

Does the surf game save my high score?

Yes. Edge keeps a high score for each mode and shows a notice when you beat it. You can reset your stats from the settings menu.