Endless runners aren’t quite the big business apps that they were in 2015 but they’re still some of the most popular games on Android. They’re all built on much the same platform with similar game mechanics but some are infinitely better than others…
1. Despicable Me: Minion Rush is easily a contender for the best endless runner ever. Based on the popular movies of the same name, the aim of the game is to collect bananas, complete missions and, obviously, beat your top score by running further than you’ve ever run before. The graphics are pretty much on a par with the movie and the controls are responsive but not overly so, which can be a major problem in most endless runners. They recently got rid of their regular endless runner mode and replaced it with levels but it still functions pretty much the same, just with goals and milestones. You run as a minion, which you can customize with costumes which giving various advantages, such as boosting powerups.
2. Temple Run is probably one of the most well-known endless runners out there. The graphics aren’t spectacular and there’s only a very minimal storyline but the gameplay is fun and addictive. There are a few different characters that you can play as and weekly quests to complete.
3. Subway Surfers has an arcade vibe going on with blocky, cartoonish graphics and an obnoxiously repetitive soundtrack. Nonetheless, the controls are responsive and easy to master. The location changes with each update: currently it’s set in San Francisco. You can play as one of three characters, racing along subways around the world to escape “the grumpy Inspector and his dog”, occasionally riding a skateboard (or surfboard if the location happens to be somewhere like Hawaii).
4. Sonic Dash is Sega’s contribution to the genre. He is the world’s fastest hedgehog so why wouldn’t he have an endless runner game? It has a limited but great soundtrack, classic Sega graphics and you can play as a wide variety of characters, including all your old favorites. It makes for a great nostalgia trip and makes good use of motion controls to add some interesting new mechanics.
5. Pac-Man 256: Endless Maze clearly isn’t your average endless runner. It’s another great nostalgia trip and a clever twist on the genre, taking Pac-Man’s iconic maze to the next level. With fifteen ridiculous power-ups, a solid art style and masterful gameplay, it’s a must for classic Pac-Man fans and lovers of arcade games everywhere. Take on a new gang of revived retro ghosts, including Funky and Spunky, and stay ahead of the game’s ominously named supervillain, The Glitch. Pro-tip: string a 256 combo for a “super special surprise”.
What’s your favourite endless runner to play?
