Portaalihyppy

Portaalihyppy is a Finnish term used to describe a technique in portal-based video games, most commonly in the Portal series, where a player uses two linked portals to propel themselves through space. The method is employed to solve puzzles, reach otherwise inaccessible areas, or achieve fast travel in speedrun contexts. The term translates to "portal jump" and is widely understood in Finnish gaming communities.

Mechanics of the technique rely on the game’s portal physics. The portal gun creates two portals on surfaces that are connected; when a player moves into one portal and exits through the other, velocity is transformed according to the portals’ orientation. This can result in a momentum boost, allowing the player to launch across gaps, ascend vertical sections, or traverse obstacles that would be impossible with ordinary jumping. Mastery involves precise placement of portals, careful timing, and exploiting gravity and map geometry to maximize speed and distance. Variants focus on different launch directions, such as horizontal flings or vertical boosts, depending on the map design.

Historically, portaalihyppy emerged from the Portal speedrunning and puzzle-solving communities after the games’ releases in 2007 and 2011. It is a well-documented tactic in community guides and fan-made maps, and it continues to appear in challenge runs and demonstrations. While highly situational, the technique is not essential to all playthroughs but remains a recognized and discussed aspect of portal-based gameplay.

See also Portal (video game); Portal gun; Momentum; Speedrunning.