A twister roller coaster is a roller coaster whose track forms a tight circuit within a relatively small area, doubling back on itself several times over its course. It generally feels less like a journey than a typical circuit roller coaster, and the feeling of the ride is substantially different, with more surprise turns and drops and fewer large drops. Twister roller coasters often feature a high number of loops and rolls, keeping their riders upside-down or disoriented for much of the ride.

The circuit repeatedly turns back within a compact footprint. Its tightly wound plan distinguishes it from the broader journey of a circuit roller coaster.

Loops and rolls are possible track features rather than the defining plan. The repeated doubling back within a small area gives the twister its spatial arrangement.