And we ran, we ran so far away...
Forest Gump did it. Heck, Lola had her own movie about running all over the streets of Berlin. There's something quite liberating and fun about running, and it doesn't matter if you're just doing it for fun or because your have rabid monkeys on your tail. You may not reach any endgame in an endless runner, but it's that desire to replay it and challenge yourself to do better that makes them so popular and easy-to-play.
We've put together a list of some of the best endless runners available for your iOS and Android devices. The amount of title in this genre is about as endless as the games themselves, so we hope our list helps you narrow down the ones you should play. Best of all, they're all free.
10. Whale Trail (Free)
Whale Trail feels a lot like a trip back to a decade of flowers and peace signs. The games mellow soundtrack just makes you want to smile as you soar through the sky with your flying whale avoiding grumpy thunderclouds that can shock you. All you have to do is fly for as long as possible and collect different colored bubbles to make your ride a lot easier, but its the many in-game challenges that turn this otherwise casual runner into one whale of a ride.
9. Mini Ninjas (Free)
Mini Ninjas takes the adorableness from its console games and turns it into an exciting runner that features more than just running and jumping. Enemies need to be disposed off, so you can use your nifty sword to take them out or call on your ninja buddies to do the job for you. Spells like tornadoes and meteors mix things up and help you blast through the more tricky parts of the game. With lots of outfits and other unlockables to collect, Mini Ninjas is anything but mini.
8. Run Sheldon! (Free)
If the tale of the Tortoise and the Hare taught us one thing, its that slow and steady wins the race. But try telling that to Sheldon as he runs past evil bunnies bitter over their first loss. Using power-ups that let him zoom past his rivals, fly over traps, and jump higher than ever, you need to help this little tortoise run as far as he can. Its colorful landscapes and comical animations put a whole new spin on Aesops classic fable.
7. Subway Surfers (Free)
Subway Sufers shows the repercussions to defacing public property as you dodge trains and barricades to escape a police officer and his dog on your tail. Its colorful visuals makes this simple runner a joy to play and the task of collecting coins to unlock more characters and upgrades lets you challenge yourself even more each time. Power-ups like a jetpack and skateboards rev up the speed of things so you never get bored of running along the same old train tracks. If do ever get into a real-life predicament and need to run away from the cops, do yourself a favor and dont enter an active rail yard.
6. Runbot (Free)
Running away from the cops is one thing, but running away because you dont want to be a weapon of destruction is a whole other story. Featuring parkour-inspired platforming, Runbot is a test of your reflexes as you need to be quick when deciding whether your robot will jump over something, slide underneath it, or simply move to the side. To add to the challenge, your robot is constantly losing power, so you also need to pick up batteries before he shuts down. With lots of different power-ups and upgrades to unlock and many fun challenges to complete, Runbot is one futuristic runner you should play.
5. Sonic Dash (Free)
Sonic is known for his speed so its a no-brainer that the blue hedgehog has his own endless runner. Just like in his usual games, Sonic Dash has you running through familiar courses collecting as many rings as possible and avoiding baddies and obstacles along the way. Classic Sonic power-ups make the experience even more enjoyable. You can also upgrade your characters stats, unlock Tails and the rest of the gang, and even enter community challenges for more rewards. If you think about, Sonics the very definition of an endless runner.
4. Despicable Me: Minion Rush (Free)
Whether you watched the Disney film or not, Minion Rush is a charming title that pulls you into its world and refuses to let you go. What makes this runner so much fun to play is how it keeps things fresh and introduces new challenges the longer you survive. Youll run through peoples houses, maneuver through underground tunnels, and even battle some bosses all in an effort to be the next Minion of the Year. Colorfully detailed environments and hilarious animations make this game even more fun to play through. You might even forget it's tied to a movie.
3. Temple Run 2 (Free)
If you had a murderous monkey chasing after you, youd haul ass too. Temple Run 2 brings our favorite archaeologist back for another run through perilous environments that are just as challenging as in the first game. The addition of new power-ups and zip-lines makes his escape even more fluid and fast, and the longer you run, the more things will speed up. Visually pleasing, this runner has a surprise waiting for your around every corner.
2. Jetpack Joyride (Free)
Tempted by visions of a better life, everyman Barry Steakfries breaks into a secret lab and steals a jetpack. Of course, the problem is getting out, and laser beams, robotic guards, and a plethora of other security measures are what stand between Barry and his dreams of relaxation. Besides jut flying around, you can also hop into mechas and robotic serpents to zoom right past your foes. Dont forget to collect plenty of coins and upgrade Barrys arsenal too, or else face going back to the rigors of a 9-5 desk job.
1. Rainbow Unicorn Attack 2 (Free)
Rainbow Unicorn Attack 2 may look like something out of a Lisa Frank catalog, but this runner packs much more than just rainbows and sparkles. In addition to its catchy 80s-inspired soundtrack and vibrant worlds, the game features countless ways to customize your robot unicorn to ensure your next run lasts even longer. Deck him out with some new wings, equip him with some better turbo boosters, or just give him a shiny new horn. Community challenges also let you choose sides and root for either Team Rainbow or Team Inferno, rewarding you with currency if you chose the winning team. With "rainbow" in the title, you'd be a fool not to side with Team Rainbow, right?
We couldn't get away
So there you have it. What's your favorite endless runner? We couldn't imagine playing one without some Flock of Seagulls in the background. Could you?
Curious about what other Google Play games you should check out? Be sure to check out our list of the 25 Best Android Games or let us know what games youll be playing on your Nexus 5. Or if you're iOS person, check out our 25 Best iOS Games list instead.
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