Gather Speed Codes: What They Are & How to Use

Gather speed codes are short alphanumeric strings that let you set or modify your character’s movement speed in the online multiplayer game Gather.town. You enter them in the game’s developer console or through a URL parameter to change how fast your avatar walks, which is useful for testing large maps or just moving around more quickly. This article explains what these codes are, how they work, and how to use them safely.

What Are Gather Speed Codes?

Gather.town is a video-call-based virtual office platform where users move pixelated avatars around a 2D map. The game does not offer a built-in settings slider for movement speed, but it does expose a JavaScript API that developers and power users can access. Speed codes are snippets of that API that override the default walking pace. They are not official features listed in the user interface; instead, they are community-discovered commands that work because the game’s client accepts JavaScript input via the browser console.

The most common speed code is:

• game.setSpeed(2) – sets your avatar’s speed multiplier to 2× normal.
• game.setSpeed(0.5) – sets speed to half normal.
• game.setSpeed(1) – resets to default.

These codes are entered in the browser’s developer console (usually opened with F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I on Windows, Cmd+Option+I on Mac) while you are in a Gather.town map.

How Speed Codes Work in Gather.town

Gather.town is built with web technologies, and its client runs in the browser. The game exposes a global object called game that contains many methods for interacting with the current map and your avatar. The setSpeed method takes a single number that acts as a multiplier on the base movement speed. The base speed is defined in the game’s internal configuration, typically around 2 tiles per second, but the multiplier lets you go faster or slower without changing the map’s physics.

When you call game.setSpeed(2), the game immediately adjusts the speed of your local avatar. Other players will see you moving at that speed, but the change is not persisted – if you refresh the page or leave the map, the speed resets to normal. You can also set speed via a URL parameter by adding ?speed=2 to the map’s URL, but this only works if the map’s developer has enabled that feature; it is not a universal trick.

How to Enter Speed Codes Safely

To use a speed code, follow these steps:

1. Open Gather.town in a desktop browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari).
2. Join the map where you want to change speed.
3. Press F12 (or Ctrl+Shift+I / Cmd+Option+I) to open the developer console.
4. Click on the “Console� tab if it is not already selected.
5. Type game.setSpeed(2) and press Enter.
6. Close the console (press F12 again) and move your avatar to feel the new speed.

If the console shows an error like game is not defined, it means you are not on a Gather.town page or the game’s script has not loaded yet. Wait a few seconds and try again. Also, be aware that some browsers block console input on certain sites for security reasons; if that happens, try a different browser or disable any console-blocking extensions.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that speed codes work on the mobile app. They do not – the mobile app does not expose a JavaScript console, so the codes only work in the desktop browser version. Another misconception is that speed codes are a form of cheating that could get you banned. In practice, Gather.town is a collaborative tool, not a competitive game, and the developers have not publicly stated that using speed codes is prohibited. However, using them to disrupt others (e.g., zooming around during a presentation) might be considered impolite.

Another issue is that the speed multiplier affects only you, not other players. If you want everyone to move faster, you need to change the map’s settings in the Gather.town editor (the “Mapmakerâ€�) by adjusting the “Player Speedâ€� property under the map’s “Advancedâ€� settings. That is a permanent change that applies to all visitors.

Speed Codes vs. Mapmaker Settings

There are two ways to change movement speed in Gather.town: via the console (temporary, per-user) or via the Mapmaker (permanent, for the whole map). The table below summarizes the differences:

Method	Scope	Persistence	Difficulty
Console code	Only your avatar	Resets on refresh	Easy
Mapmaker setting	All players	Permanent until changed	Moderate

If you are a map creator, you might prefer the Mapmaker approach because it does not require users to open a console. However, if you just want to move faster for your own convenience, the console code is quicker.

Alternatives to Speed Codes

If you do not want to use the console, there are a few other ways to get around faster in Gather.town:

• Use the “teleportâ€� feature in the Mapmaker to place portals that jump you across the map.
• Ask the map creator to increase the base speed in the map settings.
• Use the “followâ€� feature to automatically move toward another player, which can be faster than manual movement in large maps.

None of these are as flexible as a speed code, but they are more user-friendly for non-technical people.

Is It Safe to Use Speed Codes?

Using speed codes is generally safe because you are only changing a client-side variable. You are not modifying the game’s files or sending malicious data to the server. The worst that can happen is that the game behaves oddly – for example, if you set a very high speed like game.setSpeed(100), your avatar might clip through walls or become stuck. To avoid that, stick to moderate multipliers like 1.5 to 3.

There is also a risk of accidentally typing a command that does something else, so only use codes you understand. If you ever feel unsure, refresh the page to reset everything to normal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default speed in Gather.town?

The default base speed is approximately 2 tiles per second, but the exact value can vary depending on the map’s settings. The multiplier from setSpeed is applied on top of that base.

Can I use speed codes on the mobile app?

No. The mobile app does not have a developer console, so the codes only work in the desktop browser version of Gather.town.

Will speed codes work for other players?

No, they only affect your own avatar. To change speed for everyone, the map creator must adjust the map settings in the Mapmaker.

Do I need to re-enter the code every time I join a map?

Yes, because the speed resets when you refresh the page or leave the map. There is no way to make it permanent without editing the map itself.

Can I get banned for using speed codes?

Gather.town is not a competitive game, and there are no public reports of bans for using speed codes. However, using them to harass others could lead to being reported by other users.

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