Overview & Capabilities
Free endless running game
Subway Surfers
is a free-to-download endless
running game
in the vein of titles like
Temple Run
. Players find themselves in the stylish shoes of Jake, a young graffiti artist. Caught in the act by a tenacious police inspector and his dog, Jake is forced to ride the rails to make his escape.
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In Subway Surfers, you’ll
dodge oncoming trains, collect coins,
and
use quick reflexes
to stay one step ahead of the law. Run away on foot or use an arsenal of custom hoverboards and jetpacks to evade your pursuit. You can do this all without spending a dime, as the
arcade
game is entirely free to download and install.
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Ride the rails in vivid color
A far cry from drab and lifeless, Subway Surfers introduces players to a
vibrant, colorful world
full of eye-catching environments and unique characters. Playing as Jake, you’ll need to use your swiping skills to make it through an endless gauntlet of subway rails and grind trains to
escape the clutches of the law.
The gameplay is pretty standard for an endless runner—Jake will keep running forward while you
swipe left and right to dodge obstacles in your path.
The swipe-to-move mechanic is a welcome change from screen-tilting mechanics in competitors like Temple Run, giving you way more
precision and control over your movements.
It’s an ostensibly small difference but leads to a much better game feel overall. This improved game feel is then aided by the game’s slate of power-ups. You’ll gather coins as you run, which you can
cash in on power-ups
like jetpacks or hoverboards that will get you farther and help dodge obstacles.
Another unique style change is the ability to customize the power-ups as well, using unique skins like the Jive Outfit that can be unlocked during gameplay. You’ll also be able to
unlock new characters
like Tricky and Fresh, and there’s an entire library of custom cosmetic content to select from. Though the game is of course
totally free,
players who want to spend real-life currency can buy additional in-game cosmetics and power-ups.
Though paying up does make the game slightly easier, you won’t be missing much if you’d rather save your cash. The real-money aspects of the game aren’t at the forefront and it
avoids the pay-to-win feel
that some other free-to-play apps fall into.
A unique makeover for endless runners
It’s definitely safe to say that Subway Surfers’ major strong point is the visual style. The
cartoonish HD graphics
and bright environments
are a huge draw, making it easy to lose yourself in the world.
There’s always something new and engaging to look at, and you’ll want to keep on playing just so you can keep taking in those eye-catching visuals seeing all the new characters and content that you can unlock. You’ll take to the chase and escape from the law all in gorgeous
HD graphics
.
Visuals aside, the
simple controls
also set the game apart, making for a much more intuitive experience. Easier controls mean you can stay alive longer, and thus, keep on playing. Both of these factors contribute to how
addicting
this game is. It’s easy to play in short bursts if you’ve got a bit of time on your hands, but you might also find yourself getting lost in
long binging sessions
as you dodge the oncoming trains and ride the rails over and over.
You’ll want to keep on going so you can unlock that next item or character. The game’s rotating slate of
daily challenges
will also keep you coming back for more. The challenges put the focus on endurance, so you’ll want to keep on running.
In addition to the challenge modes, you can also take a loose approach and give the
Arcade Mode
a try. As an added bonus,
Snapchat
users should check out a
multiplayer mode
available via the app. You can get a crew together with your friends and compete for the highest score.
Significant stumbles
Subway Surfers does have quite a lot going for it as a free downloadable app, but that surface style masks a few major flaws. Chief among these flaws is the game’s
framerate issues.
Otherwise, this may be a minor gripe, but framerate issues in an endless runner can seriously detract from gameplay. Jumpy frames may lead to an unintended and
frustrating game-over,
or keep you from finishing a daily challenge if you miss a dodge due to a framerate issue.
Beyond that, the game isn’t hugely difficult. There isn’t really a skill curve, so once you get the hang of playing, there’s
no real sense of challenge
to keep the game itself engaging. You may want to keep playing to unlock new items, but the gameplay itself isn’t really much to write home about.
After a while, playing becomes more of an endurance test than anything. After a time, you’ll start to recognize the game’s patterns, which removes any real sense of skill or urgency.
The game’s
monotonous soundtrack
certainly contributes to the feeling of an endurance test. It consists of a single looping track. This lack of variety in the music is a bit disappointing given the variety present in the game’s other aspects. Especially for an endless runner, engaging music is important given that the objective is to stay alive for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, you’ll probably find yourself muting the music entirely to keep from being driven completely crazy. This isn’t a great alternative, because playing an endless runner without any sort of beat in the background isn’t all that fun.
The Hollywood update
Subway Surfers’ has rolled out its latest update,
World Tour: Hollywood
. It’s the
183rd world tour entry
of the game, bringing with it three new surfers
Glorgalax
,
Ventura
, and
Rudy Rascal
. There are four additional boards introduced as well, and these are
Glarx 3000
,
Standing Ovation
,
Sporty Summer
, and
Risky Ride
. Meanwhile, Vivienne gets a new outfit named
Hollywood Glam
.
For a
limited period
, the Classic Mode will take place on the Classic map. Tag Time Attack and Summer Run will both happen in Venice Beach, Mystery Hurdle will take place in Buenos Aires, and the No Floor Challenge will be available for Plant Invasion and Floor Is Lava. Of course, the Season Challenge will take place on the
shiny new Hollywood map
. Finally, the Season Hunt tokens are
Clapper Boards
.
Substance takes a backseat to style
There’s no denying that Subway Surfer is gorgeous to look at. The game’s
eye-catching visuals and engaging style
set it apart in a crowded field. However, at the end of the day, these visuals don’t do much to mask the game’s main flaws. It’s
certainly worth a try,
especially since it is free, but it might not keep you coming back for more like other titles in the genre.