endless runner

Endless runners can be side-scrolling, as in the genre's early titles, top-down, or 3D, but the player is placed in a neverending level in which the character automatically moves forward. The player's only form of control is to have the character dodge obstacles, either by moving out of the way or using a specific button.{{Cite web|last=Pocket Gamer staff|title=Top 25 best endless runner games for Android phones and tablets|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/android/best-auto-runner-games/|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Pocket Gamer|language=en|archive-date=2022-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171251/https://www.pocketgamer.com/android/best-auto-runner-games/|url-status=live}} Some form of points, currency, or other rewards are gained over time by maneuvering in the level or simply staying alive longer. The game progressively increases in difficulty as time goes on. The player has a game over if they are hindered enough by the obstacles that they are "caught" by whatever is chasing them and die.

The genre has its origins in the vertically scrolling video games of the 1970s, primarily racing games. The player always moves forward, avoiding obstacles and other vehicles. Taito's Speed Race, released in 1974, was the first. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the same concept was used in skiing games.

Vehicle-oriented platform games, like Jump Bug (1981) and Moon Patrol (1982), added both jumping and shooting as ways to deal with obstacles in continually scrolling levels. The home game B.C.'s Quest for Tires (1983) uses the forced-scrolling and jumping gameplay of Moon Patrol.

The idea of being chased relentlessly by an indestructible obstacle, monster, or boss to enforce forward progression was greatly influenced by the boulder scene from the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. This theme appeared in games like Draconian (1984) in which the player must avoid obstacles while being pursued by an invincible giant dragon. This would become a recurring theme of endless running gameplay.

177 (1986), a controversial adult game for the PC-88, has endless running from a 2D side-scrolling perspective. The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner (1987), a Squaresoft rail shooter for the Nintendo Entertainment System, has endless running from a pseudo-3D third{{nbh}}person perspective. Atomic Runner Chelnov (1988), an arcade run-and-gun shooter, has several hallmarks of a modern runner with forced scrolling and long jumping onto platforms to avoid hazards. The 1990 Amiga and TV show game Hugo has sequences of pseudo-3D endless running. In Genji Tsuushin Agedama (1991), the player is constantly running in a forced scrolling environment.

Battletoads (1991) has several forced scrolling areas where the player is required to avoid hazards and obstacles.{{cite web|last1=Harnett|first1=Craig|title=The Toads are Back in Town: Celebrating Battletoads|url=http://www.nintendojo.com/features/editorials/the-toads-are-back-in-town-celebrating-battletoads| url-status=live | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211111/http://www.nintendojo.com/features/editorials/the-toads-are-back-in-town-celebrating-battletoads| archive-date=2021-11-11|publisher=Nintendojo|access-date=27 September 2015|date=17 August 2015}}{{cbignore}} SkiFree (1991) by Chris Pirih and released in Microsoft Entertainment Pack 3 was inspired by the 1980 Atari 2600 cartridge Skiing.{{Cite web |url=https://ski.ihoc.net/ |title=SkiFree homepage |access-date=2023-12-16 |archive-date=2023-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208070058/https://ski.ihoc.net/ |url-status=live }} The player skis down an endless slope with procedurally generated obstacles, pursued by large indestructible yetis. Score is based on distance traveled. The pinball machine Doctor Who (1992) includes a video mode with forced running and avoiding obstacles.

The special bonus stages in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) for the Sega Mega Drive were early examples of endless runner gameplay from a pseudo-3D third-person perspective.{{cite news |last1=Price |first1=Leigh |title=10 Best Mini-Games In The Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise |url=https://gamerant.com/sega-sonic-hedgehog-best-mini-games/ |access-date=30 March 2025 |work=Game Rant |date=27 June 2022}} The first two stages of Disney's Aladdin (1994) for the Master System and Game Gear featured endless runner gameplay from a 2D side-scrolling perspective.{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Roberto |title=Disney's Aladdin (Sega Master System review) |url=https://www.retrogamesreview.co.uk/2020/10/disneys-aladdin-sega-master-system.html |website=Retro Game Reviews |access-date=30 March 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Roberto |title=Disney's Aladdin (Game Gear review) |url=https://www.retrogamesreview.co.uk/2016/06/disneys-aladdin-game-gear-review.html |website=Retro Game Reviews |access-date=30 March 2025}} SFCave (1996) is a Windows 3.1 game that involves flying through an endless cave without hitting the walls.

Pepsiman (1999) for the PlayStation is a 3D endless runner predating the mobile trend. The player character, Pepsiman, automatically runs forward through levels and must avoid obstacles along the way.{{cite web |title=Pepsiman |url=https://www.hardcoregaming101.net/pepsiman/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018134402/www.hardcoregaming101.net/pepsiman/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=30 March 2025 |date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=2017-10-18}}

The emergence of the touchscreen on smart phones and tablets paved the way for the type of simplistic game controls which gave birth to the modern genre.

Doodle Jump (April 2009), a vertical scroller, was one of the first mobile titles to be endless, with game only ending when falling to the bottom of the screen or hitting an obstacle. It was to pave the way for even more popular titles.{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2009/10/02/canabalt-run-for-your-life/ |title='Canabalt' – Run For Your Life! |last=Hodapp |first=Eli |date=October 2, 2009 |website=TouchArcade |accessdate=July 18, 2013 |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820221937/http://toucharcade.com/2009/10/02/canabalt-run-for-your-life/ |url-status=live }}

The prototypical endless runner, building on Doodle Jump's success, was Canabalt (Though a common misconception is that Canabalt was the first modern endless runner but Ovenbreak was added to the App Store in June of 2009 but Canabalt was added to the creators website on August 2009),{{cite magazine |last=Parkin |first=Simon |date=June 7, 2013 |title=Don't Stop: The Game That Conquered Smartphones |url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/06/the-revival-of-a-long-lost-gaming-genre.html |magazine=The New Yorker |accessdate=July 17, 2013 |archive-date=June 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612233033/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/06/the-revival-of-a-long-lost-gaming-genre.html |url-status=live }} an indie game developed by Adam Saltsman in which the player flees from a city being destroyed by giant robots that is procedurally generated and infinite. Cannabalt used distance gained as the main scoring system. These were both common elements of subsequent runners. The 2D scroller limited movement to leaping and dodging obstacles simply by touching the screen, overcoming control limitation of touchscreen devices.[https://www.stuff.tv/features/weekend-read-how-canabalt-jumped-indie-game-jam-museum-modern-art/ How Canabalt jumped from indie game jam to the Museum of Modern Art] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626050824/https://www.stuff.tv/features/weekend-read-how-canabalt-jumped-indie-game-jam-museum-modern-art/ |date=2023-06-26 }} by Craig Grannell 12 June 2015 Adult Swim Games soon asked Saltsman for permission to adapt Canabalt's design into their own title, and released Robot Unicorn Attack (2010). It became an internet meme due to Adult Swim's larger audience and its quirky themes.

Within just months, the App Store was full of 2D endless runner clones. Some of the more popular 2D mobile titles included Tiny Wings (February 2011), Jetpack Joyride (September 2011), Punch Quest (2012) and Flappy Bird (2013). Running with Friends (2013) is notable in its effort to integrate with Facebook to support social multiplayer running.

Endless runners became known for the addictiveness of their gameplay. This also led to them being monetized using the Free to Play model. Monetization tactics used in endless runners included virtual currencies (using In app purchases on mobile and support for:[https://gameanalytics.com/blog/monetizing-an-infinite-runner-guest-post/ How to Monetize an Infinite Runner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704053124/https://gameanalytics.com/blog/monetizing-an-infinite-runner-guest-post/ |date=2023-07-04 }} by Michail Katkoff for Game Analytics 22 February 2013

1. Fast-track progress (so as to avoid having to repeat early stages of the game)
2. Credit to extend the run (such as with extra lives) and avoid game over (however this is often considered cheating)
3. Customisation or unlocking of new main characters
4. Social score comparison
5. Advertising

Hugo featured 3D endless running already in 1990.

Bit.Trip Runner (2010) added rhythm game elements and was also one of the first in the genre to be rendered in 2.5D.

Another of the earliest 3D titles in the genre was Temple Run (August, 2011), introducing an over-the-shoulder viewpoint.{{Cite magazine|last=Parkin|first=Simon|date=2013-06-07|title=Don't Stop: The Game That Conquered Smartphones|url=https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/dont-stop-the-game-that-conquered-smartphones|access-date=2022-01-01|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920163626/https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/dont-stop-the-game-that-conquered-smartphones|url-status=live}} Temple Run was followed by numerous clones and 3D innovations. Among the more popular third person 3D titles were Subway Surfers and Agent Dash (2012). Subway Surfers went on to become the most popular game of the 2010s, the first game to reach 1 billion downloads and with a total of 2.7 billion downloads achieved revenues of over $80 million through monetization.[https://www.androidauthority.com/subway-surfers-gets-record-1-billion-downloads-google-play-store-846397/ Subway Surfers gets record 1 billion downloads on Google Play Store] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626045721/https://www.androidauthority.com/subway-surfers-gets-record-1-billion-downloads-google-play-store-846397/ |date=2023-06-26 }} By C. Scott Brown 16 March 2018

During the 2010s, numerous large franchises adapted their gameplay into endless runner mobile spin-offs. These included reboots of classic video games as endless runners including the notable titles: Pitfall! (2012), Rayman Jungle Run (2012), Rayman Fiesta Run, Sonic Dash and Pac-Man Dash! (2013), Crossy Road (2014), Lara Croft: Relic Run{{Cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=2015-05-28|title=Lara Croft makes the leap to mobile today with an endless runner|url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/28/8681699/lara-croft-comes-to-mobile-today-with-an-endless-runner|access-date=2022-01-01|website=Polygon|language=en-US|archive-date=2022-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170848/https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/28/8681699/lara-croft-comes-to-mobile-today-with-an-endless-runner|url-status=live}} and Pac-Man 256 (2015).[https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pac-man-256-launches-on-mobile-today/1100-6429902/ Pac-Man 256 Launches on Mobile Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626045721/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pac-man-256-launches-on-mobile-today/1100-6429902/ |date=2023-06-26 }} By Zorine Te 19 August 2015 Original titles were often lost in the sea of generic titles, rare exceptions were Race The Sun (2013) and Alto's Adventure (2015) which received positive reviews.[https://www.thexboxhub.com/race-sun-review/ Race The Sun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626052441/https://www.thexboxhub.com/race-sun-review/ |date=2023-06-26 }} By Neil Watton 1 May 2017

Google's Dinosaur Game (2014) was released at the height of the endless running craze with developers in September 2018 revealling that it had been played approximately 270{{nbsp}}million times monthly.{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2018 |title=As the Chrome dino runs, we caught up with the Googlers who built it |url=https://blog.google/products/chrome/chrome-dino/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908043120/https://www.blog.google/products/chrome/chrome-dino/ |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |access-date=June 18, 2021 |website=The Keyword}} Microsoft was later to do the same with Surf (2020).

Post 2010s the format has been criticised for being uninspired, particularly the adapted franchises, and a genre lacking ongoing innovation.[https://www.ccn.com/crash-bandicoot-mobile-leaves-a-beloved-game-tainted-by-the-endless-runner/ Crash Bandicoot Mobile Leaves a Beloved Game Tainted by the ‘Endless Runner’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628030602/https://www.ccn.com/crash-bandicoot-mobile-leaves-a-beloved-game-tainted-by-the-endless-runner/ |date=2023-06-28 }} by Max Moeller 22 April, 2020[https://www.thegamer.com/doesnt-sony-have-any-better-ideas-for-mobile-games/ Doesn't Sony Have Any Better Ideas For Mobile Games?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626045721/https://www.thegamer.com/doesnt-sony-have-any-better-ideas-for-mobile-games/ |date=2023-06-26 }} BY ERIC SWITZER 24 February 2023

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{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/remembering-skifree-and-the-yeti-that-still-haunts-our-dreams/ |title=Remembering SkiFree, and the Yeti that still haunts our dreams |first=Brittany |last=Vincent |website=PC Gamer |date=April 7, 2018 |access-date=December 16, 2023 |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112055603/https://www.pcgamer.com/remembering-skifree-and-the-yeti-that-still-haunts-our-dreams/ |url-status=live }}

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