Gorilla Tag: Complete Guide

Everything a new or returning monke needs: how the paid Steam version relates to the free Quest version, how the arm-based movement works, the main modes and maps, Shiny Rocks and the V.I.M. membership, and the techniques that make you hard to catch.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the Good Monke Mall revamp (September 4, 2026) and V.I.M. Appreciation Week (September 18, 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Paid on Steam, Free-to-Play Elsewhere: What's Going On?

This confuses a lot of players, so it goes first.

• On Meta Quest, Gorilla Tag is free to play. This is the version most players use, and it is what Another Axiom means when it says "Gorilla Tag is free to play and always will be" (from its September 2026 V.I.M. Appreciation Week post).
• On Steam, it is a paid purchase. Gorilla Tag was in Steam Early Access from February 2021 and left Early Access on January 1, 2023. The Steam store lists it as a paid game (not free-to-play), and every purchase includes 5,000 Shiny Rocks (the store calls this "a $20 value"). Another Axiom has not publicly explained why the Steam version is paid, so treat any reasoning you see online (including "it's really a currency pre-purchase" or "it keeps cheater alt accounts down") as player speculation, not official policy. Regional prices vary; check the store page for yours.
• Everyone plays together. The Steam store advertises crossplay ("play with anyone on any platform"), so a Steam player and a Quest player can be in the same lobby. The game is also on PlayStation VR2 (launched November 8, 2024).
• Money on either platform is optional. Cosmetics, bundles, and the V.I.M. (Gorilla Tag Fan Club) membership are all extras. Core tag, infection, and the maps are playable without spending.

Which should you get? If you own a Quest, play the free Quest version standalone. Buy on Steam only if you mainly use a PC VR headset (the Steam version is VR-only and needs SteamVR or Oculus PC).

Quick Start

• No sticks, no buttons for movement. You move by pushing your hands against the ground and walls. Push down and back to go forward; push hard for bigger jumps.
• Keep your hands low and moving. Short, quick pushes against the floor are faster than big, slow swings.
• Do the Stump first. The Stump is the hub/spawn area and was refreshed in September 2026 to feel closer to the original. Get comfortable there before jumping into public tag lobbies.
• Casual lobbies are for learning. No tagging pressure. Practice climbing trees and walls in Forest.
• Infection is the main public mode. Get tagged and you join the taggers; the round ends when everyone is caught.
• Claim your free stuff. Shiny Rocks come from daily logins and occasional free event cosmetics. Steam buyers start with 5,000.
• Use private rooms with friends. You can make up your own games, which is how much of the community plays.
• Report and mute. Public lobbies are full of kids and trolls. Mute anyone ruining your session and use the in-game report tools.
• Take breaks. The game is a real arm workout. Warm up and clear your play space.

How Movement Works

Gorilla Tag's movement is physics-driven. Your gorilla has no legs; your hands are the only things that touch the world.

Action | How to do it

Walk/run | Push both hands against the ground and sweep them back, alternating or together

Jump | Push down hard and fast; the faster your hands move, the higher and farther you go

Climb | Grab a surface with both hands (squeeze) and pull yourself up, per the official store description

Wall run | Alternate quick pushes along a wall while moving forward

Turn | Physically turn your body, or use snap/smooth turn in settings if available

Key ideas:

• Speed comes from your arm speed at contact. Fast, short strokes beat slow, long ones.
• Momentum carries. Once you are moving, small pushes keep you going.
• Surfaces matter. Some materials are slippery (for example, ice and certain slides); you will slide further and have less grip.
• Do not mod your reach. "Long arms" mods that stretch your reach are a common cheat in public lobbies and a common way to get banned.

Modes

Mode | What happens

Casual | No objective. Hang out, explore, chat.

Infection | One or more players start as "lava monkes." Tag others to convert them. The last survivors win.

Hunt | Everyone has a specific target to chase while someone else hunts them; tagged players become faster "Ice Monkes".

Paintbrawl | Team slingshot battle; pop the other team's balloons.

Super Infection | Infection with gadgets you can grab and use.

SUPER modes in Space | Added in August 2026; lets players spawn gadgets and mess with gravity on the Space map.

Gravity Dash | An experimental mode in the VIM-O-VATOR (from the July 2026 update).

The store also lists newer experiments: Ghost Reactor, Hoverboard Racing, Monke Ball, and Prop Hunt, along with Monke Blocks (a building mode). Rotating and experimental modes come and go, so check the in-game boards.

Maps

The original tag maps named on the Steam page are Forest, Canyon, Mountain, and Beach, plus Cave and others. Newer areas include:

• City — home to the cosmetics store with a rotating inventory. It also hosts event content and stage shows.
• Space — added July 10, 2026, with strange gravity zones. SUPER modes arrived there in August 2026.
• Good Monke Mall — introduced September 4, 2026 as part one of a long-requested revamp. Several maps were moved here.
• Destinations — the new name for Virtual Stump, the home of player-created maps (built with the official modding tools). It now has its own spot in the Good Monke Mall.
• Floor is Lava — a destination that started as a V.I.M. feature and became available to everyone in June 2026.

Map tips:

• Forest is the best place to learn climbing and tree-hopping.
• Canyon and Mountain reward long jumps and planned routes.
• Beach has water and open space; staying on high ground helps when running.
• In any map, learn two or three escape routes from common tagger positions. Runners who panic go in straight lines.

Shiny Rocks, Cosmetics, and V.I.M.

Shiny Rocks are the in-game currency. You get them from:

• daily login rewards,
• the 5,000-rock bundle included with the Steam purchase,
• purchases in the store.

Cosmetics are purely visual (hats, outfits, handheld items). Some are interactive toys, such as the ghostly pirate gear and the Ghost Medallion from the August 2026 Pirates update. Bundles rotate on a timer. The September 4 batch was only available for two weeks instead of the usual four, with a new batch on September 18, so if you want something, buy it while it is up.

GTFC / V.I.M. is the optional paid membership (the Gorilla Tag Fan Club; members are called V.I.M.s). According to Another Axiom's own posts, features often launch for V.I.M.s first and later roll out to everyone. Recent examples:

Feature | Status (September 2026)

Alarm Clocks | Available to everyone since July 2026

Body tracking for Quest 3/3S | Available to all Quest 3/3S players

Extra friend slots, outfit slots, Monke Block saves | Expanded for everyone in June 2026

Floor is Lava destination | Available to everyone

High-quality voice chat | V.I.M. members

Time and Weather controls in private rooms | V.I.M. early access (hosts in supported maps)

Fossil Hunt dig zone | V.I.M. experience

V.I.M. Appreciation Week (from September 18, 2026) added a thank-you cosmetic, a 20% discount on new bundles for members, and decorations. The same post teased the Moon Faction and the Galactic Gorilla Guardians (GGG) in City.

Spending advice: Nothing you buy makes you faster or better at tag. Buy cosmetics you like, skip the rest, and do not trust anyone offering free Shiny Rocks or "free V.I.M." outside the official store. Those are scams.

Tagging and Running Tactics

As a runner

• Break line of sight. Go around trees, up walls, and over ledges. Taggers chase what they can see.
• Change height. Going up or down a level forces the tagger to re-plan.
• Juke late. Wait until the tagger commits to a direction, then push the other way.
• Stay near complex terrain. Open ground favors the tagger because there is nowhere to break momentum.
• Watch other runners. Taggers usually chase the easiest target. Do not be it.

As a tagger

• Cut angles, do not follow. Predict where the runner will land and go there.
• Team up in Infection. Two taggers from different directions trap runners easily.
• Use high ground. Seeing the whole area lets you pick the weakest runner.
• Tag with an extended hand. Your hand is your reach, so lead with it on the final lunge.

Movement Techniques Worth Learning

• Branch/tree climbing: grab and push rhythmically; do not stall on a surface.
• Wall running: small, fast pushes along a vertical surface while leaning into your direction of travel.
• Long jumps: build speed on the ground, then one strong push off an edge.
• Mid-air corrections: touching a wall mid-jump lets you redirect.

Players often trade terms for advanced skills (like "flicks" for quick direction changes). Names vary by community; watch a few tutorials for your map of choice, then practice in Casual or private rooms.

Safety, Settings, and Comfort

• Play space: clear at least your arm span in every direction. You will swing hard.
• Wrist straps: use them. Thrown controllers break TVs.
• Motion sickness: if you feel queasy, stop immediately. Short sessions help your body adapt.
• Voice chat: mute individuals or disable chat entirely. There are a lot of young players in public lobbies.
• Report tools: use the in-game report features for harassment and cheating.
• Mods: Another Axiom has a Mod and Fan Content Policy (linked from the Steam page). Mods that give gameplay advantages in public lobbies are a fast route to a ban.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Slow, big arm swings. Quick, short pushes are faster.
• Running in straight lines. Break line of sight and change height.
• Jumping into competitive lobbies on day one. Spend an hour in Casual first.
• Falling for Shiny Rock or V.I.M. giveaways from strangers. Only buy through the official in-game store and platform stores.
• Using cheat mods in public lobbies. It gets accounts banned.
• Ignoring the bundle timer. Rotating items leave, sometimes in two weeks instead of four.
• Playing in a cramped room. You will hit walls, furniture, and people.

Advanced Tips

• Learn one map deeply. Knowing every climbable ledge in Forest beats knowing all maps a little.
• Use private rooms for drills. Have a friend chase you; practice the same escape route until it is automatic.
• Try Destinations. Player-made maps now support gravity zones (from the July 2026 Space update) and size changers, and some are designed for movement practice.
• Follow the official update cadence. New cosmetics and events land roughly every few weeks, often announced on Steam and social channels, with live events scheduled at specific times (for example, the Beach treasure event on August 8, 2026).
• Save outfits. Extra outfit slots are available to everyone now; build a few looks and swap quickly.

FAQ

Why does Gorilla Tag cost money on Steam if it's free-to-play? The Quest version is free. The Steam version has been a paid purchase since leaving Early Access on January 1, 2023, and every purchase includes 5,000 Shiny Rocks, which the store values at about $20.

Can Steam and Quest players play together? Yes. The game supports crossplay between PC and Quest.

Is Gorilla Tag on PlayStation? Yes, on PlayStation VR2 since November 2024.

Do I need V.I.M. to have fun? No. V.I.M. adds perks and early access to some features. Many of those features later come to everyone.

How do I get Shiny Rocks for free? Daily logins. Steam buyers also start with 5,000. Anything else claiming free rocks is almost certainly a scam.

What is Virtual Stump / Destinations? Destinations (formerly Virtual Stump) is where player-created maps live. It sits in the Good Monke Mall as of September 2026.

Can I play without VR? No. The Steam page lists the game as VR only.

Sources

• Gorilla Tag on Steam
• Steam news for Gorilla Tag (official announcements)
• Gorilla Tag on Wikipedia
• Another Axiom