Coyote time
What is coyote time? The grace period that lets you jump just after running off a ledge, why platformers like Celeste use it, and where the name comes from.
Coyote time is a short grace period, typically a few frames, in which a jump still works after the character has run off a ledge. It makes up for human reaction time and lets players feel they jumped at the last possible moment rather than just too late.
Where the term comes from
The name comes from Wile E. Coyote, the Looney Tunes character who hangs in mid-air for a moment after running off a cliff. No early use of the term has been documented.
Examples
Each game links to the source that describes it using the mechanic.
- Celeste
- Hollow Knight, made with Unity
- Super Meat Boy
Related terms: Input buffering, Game feel (juice), Hitstop.
Sources
Checked .
- Glossary of video game terms — Wikipedia
- Coyote Time — GDQuest
- Coyote Time — GameDesign.gg