Why We Like It: The granddaddy of all iOS endless runners. Who It’s For: Gaming purists who want a fair challenge, and those who enjoy the music of Danny Baranowsky. It’s just as fun today as it was in 2012, and the developer Grumpyface knows how to make a game that looks great in motion. Digging through the earth to escape the mole police is the game here: collecting series of gems to get speed boosts to burst through obstacles and stay going down is key to success. Why We Like It: Here’s an endless runner for those who prefer to travel down the y-axis. Who It’s For: People who enjoy humorous games, and want something different from the standard crop of endless runners. It’s a slower game, with plenty of creepy crawlies that get creepier and crawlier as the game goes longer, and an ambient synthesizer soundtrack that creates a sensation of impending dread while going for a high score. Why We Like It: At least one Flappy Bird homage had to wind up on this list, and Madgarden’s take is worthy of note for taking the Cthulhu theme to heart. Who It’s For: People who like their endless runners with a high level of challenge and some horror! Plus, the many character cameos and its fantastic soundtrack add to the enjoyment outside of actually playing it. But its added speed and more dangerous elements, along with that time-rewinding mechanic, make it worthy of existing outside of its inspiration. Why We Like It: It owes a significant debt to Tiny Wings, yes. Who It’s For: People who can’t get enough Tiny Wings, and enjoy cameos from other games. It takes some time to master, but it’s designed impeccably. As well, tricky bounces through gates and portals are always rewarded handsomely. Why We Like It: This may be more of an endless bouncer, but what makes Noodlecake’s runner stand out is its risk-reward gameplay: bounce off the ground near mines to increase the multiplier, but hit them and it’s game over. Who It’s For: People who like taking risks in games, and being rewarded appropriately. Why We Like It: Andreas Illiger’s magnum opus may be known for its charming bird protagonist and watercolor landscapes, but the reason why millions bought this game and thousands of developers imitated it? The perfect feel, the way that the physics of the birds were easy to pick up on, to get those long airtimes and cloud touches, but difficult to keep doing over time. Who Is It For: Casual players who want a charming, friendly game that also won’t take it easy on them. While its goofy concept and upgrades were meant to appeal both initially and over time, the heart of the game never changes: it’s about finding ways to command the floating Barry Steakfries, and be smart enough to never be in a bad position, even as the game gets impossibly fast. Why We Like It: The ‘helicopter game’ that has distracted millions of students on Flash websites was elevated by Halfbrick here. Who It Is For: People who like games that get incredibly fast, and enjoy character customization and upgrade systems. The game keeps evolving over time, but the changes never take away from the core fun of the game. Why We Like It: The 3D endless runner craze took off with Imangi’s series, and it remains one of the best at being incredibly accessible, extremely tense as it gets faster, and delivering that satisfaction of beating a friend’s high score. Who It’s For: High score aficionados and people who enjoy fair free-to-play will love this. But these are ten varied games that all provide endless fun. There are many worthy candidates to choose from – and some games with elements of endless runners that just didn’t quite fit. Making a good one either takes a lot of luck, or time and effort to craft a game with just the right feel. Making one isn’t necessarily difficult for a developer. The endless runner may be the most oft-imitated genre on mobile.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |