Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Temple Run vs Subway Surfers

Temple Run 4.7★ · Free to download 45
Winner Subway Surfers
Subway Surfers 4.6★ · Free + IAP 70

Subway Surfers offers a more consistent and widely praised experience, despite its ad presence, while Temple Run is plagued by significant technical issues and a perceived shift in gameplay style.

Full reviews: Temple Run · Subway Surfers

Subway Surfers is a long-standing favorite, lauded for its entertainment value and offline play, though many users are frustrated by frequent ads and in-app purchase prompts. Temple Run, in its current iteration, struggles with numerous bugs, crashes, and a perceived departure from its original gameplay, making it a less reliable choice.

Head to head

Features and Gameplay edge: Subway SurfersR2R6R7R9
Temple Run Temple Run's current version, 'Temple Run Legends,' introduces levels and new scenes, including underwater segments, which some users enjoy R2. However, many long-time players feel it deviates too much from the original, becoming more linear and less challenging, and some even compare it unfavorably to Subway Surfers R7R9. There are also complaints about a lack of new challenges and repetitive gameplay R6R40.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers is praised for being fun, entertaining, and addictive, with users enjoying character unlocking and general gameplay . It offers offline play, which is a significant advantage for travel R65R98R102. However, some users find the game repetitive and wish for more challenges, free characters, and designable characters R79. The frequent updates that change locations and music are also a point of contention for some, who prefer the classic experience .
Ease of Use and Controls edge: Subway SurfersR16R45R74R99
Temple Run Temple Run users report issues with controls, stating that they are the same as native Apple controls for minimizing apps, leading to accidental closures R16. Some levels are only winnable with specific character upgrades, which can be frustrating R16. There are also reports of tutorial text getting stuck and covering essential buttons R45.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers is generally considered easy to play, with many users finding it accessible and enjoyable R74. However, some users mention that the game can go too fast, making it difficult R99.
Reliability and Performance edge: Subway SurfersR13R16R18R21
Temple Run Temple Run suffers from significant reliability issues. Many users report the game crashing frequently, sometimes immediately upon launch or after the first level R21. Bugs include characters falling through levels, glitches in counting jumps/slides, and frozen character selection screens R16R18R25. Some users also report specific level bugs, like missing treasure chests or unjumpable platforms R13R38.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers generally performs well, with users praising its stability for long play sessions . However, some users do report occasional glitches R66. There are also specific complaints about leaderboards not updating correctly after beating high scores .
Price and Value edge: Temple RunR2R26R63R66
Temple Run Temple Run is free to download, but reviews do not explicitly mention in-app purchases or ads. One user suggests being able to watch an ad to continue a level R2, implying this is not currently an option. Another user mentions not wanting to pay for black characters R26.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers is free to download but heavily relies on in-app purchases and ads. Many users complain about the excessive number of ads, which interrupt gameplay and are often repetitive R66R67R81. There are also complaints about the game being 'pay to win' and constantly pushing bundles and ways to spend money R63R66. Users wish for more free characters and easier ways to acquire items without spending money .
Support and Updates tieR13R25R38R39
Temple Run Temple Run users report that developers have stopped responding to bug reports R25. Updates have introduced new glitches, such as stuttering performance and freezing character selection screens R39. There are also unaddressed complaints about missing features or bugs in specific levels R13R38.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers frequently updates with new locations and events, which some users appreciate for keeping the game fresh . However, others dislike the constant changes to music and backgrounds, preferring the classic experience . There are also complaints about rewards from watching ads not being given and lost accounts after updates .
Pick Temple Run if

You are looking for a free-to-download game with a more traditional endless runner feel, are willing to overlook significant technical issues, and prefer a game with fewer explicit ad complaints in reviews R2.

Pick Subway Surfers if

You want a highly popular, consistently entertaining, and generally reliable endless runner that can be played offline, and you are willing to tolerate frequent ads and in-app purchase prompts R65R98.

Evidence note: Temple Run's reviews are heavily skewed towards recent negative experiences, primarily due to bugs, crashes, and a perceived change in gameplay from its original versions. Subway Surfers, despite its massive number of ratings, also shows a significant number of recent negative reviews focusing on ads and in-app purchases, but its core gameplay is still widely praised.

Frequently asked

Which game has better graphics?
Temple Run is praised by some users for its graphics, with one reviewer specifically loving the graphic quality R32. Subway Surfers reviews do not explicitly mention graphics quality as a primary point of praise or criticism.
Can I play these games offline?
Yes, Subway Surfers is confirmed by multiple users to be playable without WiFi, making it suitable for travel or areas with no internet R65R98R102. Temple Run reviews do not explicitly state whether it can be played offline.
Do these games have ads?
Subway Surfers has a significant number of ads, which are a major point of frustration for many users, interrupting gameplay and often being repetitive R66R67R81. Temple Run reviews do not frequently mention ads, though one user suggests an option to watch an ad to continue a level R2.
Which game is more challenging?
Subway Surfers is described as challenging by some, especially at higher levels, but also as repetitive and sometimes boring by others who desire more difficulty R79R99. Temple Run, in its current 'Legends' version, is criticized by long-time players for feeling less challenging and more like a 'straight line simulator' compared to older versions R6R9R40.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] Temple Run 4/5 · US I love this action-packed game!: I love this game I was looking for an action-packed game and came across this one and made it all the way to level 40. I will keep this game it’s fire. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I feel like they should let you watch an ad to be able to continue where you left off if you lose a level once. I love the fact that you can skip a level once a day that
  2. [R6] Temple Run 3/5 · US Give us something to work for.: So I just wish you would give us challenges. And it gets kinda boring. You just do the same thing.
  3. [R7] Temple Run 1/5 · US This feels like a candy crush bootleg: The way the team introduced 'levels' makes this feel cheaply made. Also, the new cartoony designs make this feel less like the originals. The levels are also pretty short
  4. [R9] Temple Run 3/5 · US Straight lines: I like this game but it feels like a straight line simulator in the older temple runs you needed to swipe left or right but now you’re pretty much going dead straight every level pls fix this
  5. [R16] Temple Run 2/5 · US Fun But Buggy and Aggravating: Be prepared for some fun and aggravation with this game. Certain levels are only winnable with specific character upgrades. That’s when your character isn’t falling through a level or you don’t accidentally close the game. Who decided to make the controls the exact same as the native Apple controls for minimizing and switching apps? At the very least give us the opti
  6. [R45] Temple Run 3/5 · GB Not very polished: Did no one QA this game? The tutorial ‘turn left’ text was stuck on the screen so I couldn’t progress because it was covering the ‘continue’ button.
  7. [R74] Subway Surfers 5/5 · US Trains: You might think the trains are bad at first but if you play a little it will be fun
  8. [R99] Subway Surfers 3/5 · GB Super fun: Super fun, but it goes too fast
  9. [R13] Temple Run 1/5 · US Emerald Level 10 there is no 3rd treasure chest.: How do you get three stars without a third treasure chest. I am not the only one. There is a whole reddit page dedicated to complaining about it.
  10. [R18] Temple Run 3/5 · US Good but: buggy.
  11. [R21] Temple Run 3/5 · US I keep getting kicked from the game: It seems like a fun game but after level one it keeps dumping me out of the game.
  12. [R26] Temple Run 5/5 · US Pls read DO NOT IGNORE: So I was reading reviews and learned that the only Black man didn’t have a change of clothes. . I’m Black and I hate this . The person who made this game fix it . Also , you ignored the other person who said something about this , but you completely ignored them. I’m assuming you’re not Black but I don’t care. So please either make more black characters (and don’t charge m
  13. [R63] Subway Surfers 3/5 · US Too much "pay to win": It sucks
  14. [R66] Subway Surfers 3/5 · US Good but a lot of ads: Btw pls read!!! This game has a lot of ads but it’s a good idea for long car rides! Sometimes it is super glitchy tho and is constantly playing the same ads and asking me to buy the bundles! A good idea for this game is to have a starter pack for first timers so they can get like 10,000 coins 30 keys and like a couple of boards and characters!! In the showdown races I for s
  15. [R25] Temple Run 2/5 · US Quality Control?: Developer stopped responding to a bug I reported and latest version character skin zaps monkey in front of you then you still die. Too buggy for me until Developer takes it seriously and starts using some QC.
  16. [R38] Temple Run 5/5 · US Level 215 has a bug. There's also a treasure chest in level 260 that I can't find. In level 215, there's a jump pad in a pit that I can't get out of; it's a bug. I hope the developers see this and fix it quickly. I've tried multiple times, and nothing is blocking it, but it keeps happening. · translated
  17. [R39] Temple Run 3/5 · GB Was great, but…: Was great on release but latest update has introduced stuttering which can be a pain with a game where precision is required, but more irritatingly it’s no longer possible to switch characters without the game freezing making the available perks of using a different character depending on the level hazards unusable. Was a 5* before the update, currently a 3*, hopefully a 5* agai
  18. [R32] Temple Run 5/5 · US 5 stars: I love the graphic! this is bringing me lots of joy you should totaly try this IM RICH
  19. [R65] Subway Surfers 5/5 · US Best game ever!!! 👍👍👍: This is the best game ever so much fun and WiFi free so perfect for traveling!!!
  20. [R98] Subway Surfers 4/5 · US Love this game: I love this game so much I love that you don’t even need internet to play great
  21. [R102] Subway Surfers 3/5 · GB Ok: Been playing this game for over two years now and let’s just say I’ve not been a fan but I’m not saying it’s really bad that I weigh too many ads and like I never get the stuff I want and it’s so hard when it gets to good levels and I just find it really hard and way too many ads but it’s good for like planes plane journeys car ridesXXX
  22. [R67] Subway Surfers 1/5 · US Ads: Ads are horrible I’d rather have the option to turn them off completely so my daughter can play uninterrupted! This is absolutely ridiculous.
  23. [R81] Subway Surfers 3/5 · GB So fun but YOU NEED TO FIX THE ADDS: It’s a great way to kill time in a no Wi-Fi space the only thing is the adverts they annoy me and make me not want to play the game anymore because your hyped up and like yes I’m gonna beet my high score and then pop an advert for an app I already have or and advert for an AI game it’s ridiculous If you are going to show an advert at least make it real not
  24. [R40] Temple Run 1/5 · US Bad: Repeat over and over in a loop it is lame
  25. [R79] Subway Surfers 1/5 · US Boring 🥱: I so wish this game were more harder and challenging. All it is is running, which is super Duper boring you just dash left and right left and right superduper boring seriously people get some more ideas maybe even add characters from movies or shows. FOR ADS

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store