Temple Run 2 has been on people’s phones since January 2013, and most of the gameplay loop is still the same: swipe to turn, tilt to grab coins, dodge the Demon Monkey. The maps and characters keep rotating, but long-time players notice the formula has barely moved. The other complaint we keep seeing in store reviews is the ad load on the free version, with players hitting an interstitial after almost every run unless they buy the ad-removal pack.
If that is where you are with the game, here are 7 Temple Run 2 alternatives worth installing. We picked across three buckets: free-to-play runners that scratch the same itch, side-scroller variants that change the pacing, and a premium pick for players who want a one-time purchase with no ads at all.
Why people leave Temple Run 2
- The core gameplay has not changed in a decade. Reviewers and players keep noting that Temple Run 2 plays the same as it did in 2013, with map and character drops rather than new mechanics.
- Ads are heavy on the free version. Imangi sells a one-time Ad Removal in the in-game store, but free players see an interstitial at the end of most runs.
- In-game economy can stall progression. Some maps and characters require gems or rare drops, which slows progress for players who do not want to spend.
- Performance varies on older phones. Long runs and the heavier visual effects in newer maps can stutter on older Android hardware, especially mid-tier devices a few generations old.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free to play | Standout feature | Ads |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway Surfers | Direct replacement | Yes | Monthly World Tour cities | Yes |
| Sonic Dash | Sonic IP and speed | Yes | Boss fights with Eggman and Zazz | Yes |
| Alto’s Odyssey | Calm, premium experience | Free on Android, paid on iOS | No ads or IAP on iOS | iOS no, Android yes |
| Crossy Road | Bite-sized hopper sessions | Yes | 300+ collectible characters | Yes (removable) |
| Talking Tom Gold Run | Family-friendly cat runner | Yes | Build and upgrade character homes | Yes |
| Jetpack Joyride | Side-scroller variant | Yes | Random vehicles and crazy gadgets | Yes |
| Vector | Parkour storyline runner | Yes | Cascadeur-animated parkour moves | Yes |
Which Temple Run 2 alternative should you pick?
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Subway Surfers if you want the closest gameplay match to Temple Run 2 with constant fresh content. The World Tour rotates the city every few weeks, and the lane-based controls feel familiar within seconds.
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Sonic Dash if you grew up with Sega and want speed-focused running with classic IP. Boss fights against Dr. Eggman and Zazz break up the runs, and the Sonic universe gives the game a personality Temple Run 2 lacks.
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Alto’s Odyssey if you want a calm, premium endless runner with no ads. The iOS version is a one-time purchase with zero in-app purchases, and the desert biomes look gorgeous on a modern phone.
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Crossy Road if you want short, pick-up-and-play sessions. Each round is a minute or two, the controls are tap-to-hop instead of swipe, and the character collection is enormous.
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Talking Tom Gold Run if you are looking for a family-friendly runner. The chase-the-robber loop is closer to Subway Surfers, with home-building and side-world skating layered on top.
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Jetpack Joyride if you want something that looks nothing like Temple Run 2. The side-scrolling jetpack format and random vehicle drops give it a totally different rhythm to a third-person 3D runner.
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Vector if you want a parkour runner with a story. The silhouette art style, level-based progression and Hunter Mode make it more like a parkour platformer than an endless runner.
If you only play Temple Run 2 because the controls feel right and you do not mind the ads, stay on Temple Run 2. None of the picks below match its tilt-and-swipe feel exactly, and your high scores carry meaning only on the game you have been playing. The case for switching gets strongest when fresh content matters more to you than nostalgia, or when you specifically want a runner without ads.
Want more detail? Each app has its own breakdown below.
1. Subway Surfers, the closest direct replacement
Subway Surfers is the runner most Temple Run 2 players already know by reputation. SYBO and Kiloo released it in 2012, and it became the first mobile game to cross one billion downloads on Google Play in March 2018, and the first to pass four billion downloads across the App Store and Google Play. The lane-based three-track gameplay is Temple Run 2 with the camera over Jake’s shoulder and the temple swapped for a subway.
The hook that keeps players coming back is the World Tour, which moves the action to a different real-world city every few weeks. Critics and store reviewers regularly call out the constant updates as a key reason the game still feels fresh after more than a decade. There are over 100 characters and 150 hoverboards to collect, plus seasonal events that swap in themed obstacles and rewards.
Where it falls short: Subway Surfers leans hard on coin doublers, hoverboards and revives, which makes for a grindier loop than Temple Run 2. The interstitial ads between runs are also frequent unless you make any in-app purchase or buy the ad block pack. And the controls are simpler than Temple Run 2, with no tilt component, which some long-time runner fans find shallow.
Pricing: Free to play, with optional purchases for coins, hoverboards and ad removal.
Platforms: Android, iOS, web.
Advantages:
- Closest feel to Temple Run 2 on a much larger active player base
- Fresh content every few weeks via the World Tour
- Massive character and hoverboard collection
- Plays offline and works well on older phones
Disadvantages:
- Lane-based controls without tilt feel simpler than Temple Run 2
- Frequent interstitial ads on the free version
- Coin doublers and revives push toward in-app purchases
- Endless format means no real story progression
Bottom line: The default pick if you want what Temple Run 2 does, with constant content updates and a much bigger global player base.
2. Sonic Dash, best for Sega fans
Sonic Dash is Sega Hardlight’s endless runner built around the Sonic universe. The game launched in March 2013, passed 100 million downloads in 2015, and has since added boss fights, regular character drops, and event tracks based on the wider Sonic franchise. If Temple Run 2’s appeal is the chase, Sonic Dash trades the Demon Monkey for Dr. Eggman and Zazz, with periodic boss runs that break up the standard endless format.
The game pulls in tracks inspired by classic Sonic levels like Green Hill Zone, complete with loop-de-loops and corkscrews, alongside newer zones tied to current Sonic media. Character variety is the other draw: there are dozens of unlockable runners from Tails and Knuckles to limited-time event characters tied to whatever Sonic project is current that quarter.
Where it falls short: Sonic Dash is heavily monetised. Reviewers regularly point out that Red Star Ring prices for new characters keep going up, and revives cost more on each death within a single run. The game also leans on luck-based card pack systems for unlocks, which can feel grindy if you do not pay. The ad load on the free version is also significant.
Pricing: Free to play, with optional Red Star Rings and ad-free play via in-app purchase. A separate Sonic Dash+ exists on Apple Arcade with no ads or in-app purchases.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Advantages:
- Authentic Sonic IP with classic and modern character roster
- Boss fights with Eggman and Zazz break up the run loop
- Familiar Sonic level themes like Green Hill Zone
- Sonic Dash+ on Apple Arcade is fully ad-free for subscribers
Disadvantages:
- Heavy monetisation on revives and character unlocks
- Card pack systems lean toward grind
- Ads on the free version are frequent
- Some events feel timed to push spending
Bottom line: The right pick if Sonic is the draw. The runner formula underneath holds up, and Sega keeps adding new characters tied to recent Sonic media.
3. Alto’s Odyssey, best for a calm, premium experience
Alto’s Odyssey is Snowman’s sequel to Alto’s Adventure, swapping snowboarding for sandboarding in a procedurally generated desert. The game won an Apple Design Award in 2018, and the iOS version is a one-time purchase with no ads and no in-app purchases. The pacing is closer to a meditative side-scroller than a frantic chase: tap to jump, hold to backflip, chain combos for points, and unlock six characters as you complete goals.
What sets it apart from the rest of this list is the design philosophy. Alto’s Odyssey leans into atmosphere, with dynamic lighting, sandstorms, shooting stars, day-night cycles, and a soundtrack designed to be played with headphones. The Zen Mode strips out scoring and power-ups completely, leaving just the character and the desert. For Temple Run 2 players who want something low-stress, this is the most distinctive option here.
Where it falls short: the Android version is free-to-play with ads and in-app purchases instead of the iOS one-time price, which has been a source of frustration for cross-platform players. The gameplay is also shallower than a traditional endless runner, with one-touch controls and no lane-based mechanics. Some players find the difficulty curve too gentle once you unlock a few characters with stronger abilities.
Pricing: iOS is a one-time purchase, free on Android with ads and in-app purchases. Available ad-free on Apple Arcade as Alto’s Odyssey — Remastered.
Platforms: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, Android.
Advantages:
- One-time purchase on iOS with no ads or in-app purchases
- Apple Design Award winner with a focus on atmosphere
- Zen Mode for low-stress play
- Procedurally generated terrain so no two runs are the same
Disadvantages:
- Android version is free-to-play with ads, unlike iOS
- One-touch side-scroller is shallower than 3D third-person runners
- Easier difficulty curve once strong characters are unlocked
- Soundtrack and visuals matter most, so headphones are recommended
Bottom line: The pick when you want to put your phone down feeling calmer than when you picked it up. If you have an iOS device and do not want ads in your runner, this is the obvious choice.
4. Crossy Road, best for short sessions
Crossy Road is Hipster Whale’s modern take on Frogger. Released in November 2014, the game earned over $10 million and 50 million downloads in its first three months, won a 2015 Apple Design Award, and now sits at over 250 million players worldwide. It is less an endless runner and more an endless hopper, with tap-to-hop controls instead of swipes and a top-down 8-bit voxel art style.
The depth comes from the character collection. There are over 300 characters to unlock, each with its own world, obstacles and visual flourishes, ranging from a chicken to a flea to crossover characters from games like Pac-Man. Sessions are short, often under a minute, which makes Crossy Road one of the easier runners to play in queues or on a bus ride. Same-device multiplayer is included if you want to pass and play with someone next to you.
Where it falls short: Crossy Road’s gameplay is one trick. If you want the speed and chase intensity of Temple Run 2, the slow turn-based hops will feel underwhelming. Ad load on the free version is high, although a one-off Ad Block pack or any in-app purchase removes ads forever. Duplicate characters in the gacha unlocks are a recurring complaint in store reviews.
Pricing: Free to play, with optional in-app purchases. The Ad Block pack permanently removes ads.
Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, tvOS, web.
Advantages:
- Hundreds of characters and worlds to collect
- Sessions fit a one-minute window
- Same-device multiplayer for pass-and-play
- One-time Ad Block pack permanently removes ads
Disadvantages:
- Slower turn-based pacing than a true endless runner
- Gacha duplicates frustrate completionists
- Free-version ad load is heavy without the Ad Block pack
- Visual style is divisive, you either like the voxels or you do not
Bottom line: Pick this if your problem with Temple Run 2 is time, not gameplay. The two-minute Crossy Road run scratches the same “one more try” itch in a fraction of the session length.
5. Talking Tom Gold Run, best for family-friendly running
Talking Tom Gold Run is Outfit7’s Subway-Surfers-style runner set in the Talking Tom universe. The conceit is straightforward: Roy Rakoon has stolen the gold, and Tom (or Angela, Ginger, Ben, Hank or Becca) chases him through worlds like Venice Canals, Winter Wonderland and China Dragon World. The game has crossed 500 million downloads on Google Play and is PRIVO-certified for child privacy compliance, which makes it one of the safer picks for younger players.
The hook beyond the runner loop is the home-building meta. As you collect gold, you upgrade homes for each character, which unlocks new worlds and increases your score multiplier. Side worlds with skateboards and time trials add variety, and boss fights against Roy Rakoon punctuate the standard runs. Frequent themed events like Halloween and Lunar New Year drop limited-time outfits and rewards.
Where it falls short: the ad load on the free version is the most consistent complaint in store reviews, with players hitting a video on almost every menu interaction. The progression also slows considerably once you have built out the early character homes. And paid skins for premium characters like King Tom can run high enough to surprise parents whose kids picked the game up because it looked friendly.
Pricing: Free to play, with optional in-app purchases for gold, skins and premium characters.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Advantages:
- Familiar Talking Tom characters appeal to younger players
- Home-building meta gives a longer progression hook than pure runners
- PRIVO-certified for child privacy compliance
- Skating side worlds add variety to the basic running loop
Disadvantages:
- Heavy ad load on the free version
- Premium character prices can be steep
- Progression slows once early homes are built
- Limited number of “main” worlds compared to the seasonal cycle in other runners
Bottom line: A solid pick if you are sharing a phone with kids or want a runner with cute characters and a build-something meta on top. Adults who just want a fast Temple Run replacement are better served by Subway Surfers.
6. Jetpack Joyride, best for a side-scroller variant
Jetpack Joyride is Halfbrick’s side-scrolling endless runner from 2011, where you tap and hold to lift Barry Steakfries through a laboratory full of lasers, missiles and zappers. Wikipedia notes that within five months of its 2011 release the game had been downloaded over 13 million times, and the App Store listing now claims more than 750 million players. It is the runner on this list that looks and feels least like Temple Run 2, and that is the point.
The variety comes from the random vehicle drops. Pick up a token mid-run and you might end up in a giant mechanical dragon, a money-firing bird, a profit-launching motorcycle or a dozen other one-shot vehicles, each of which changes how you handle the obstacles around you. There are no levels in the traditional sense; you chase missions like “travel 500m in the Profit Bird” or “knock over 10 scientists” to climb ranks and unlock new gear.
Where it falls short: there is no third-person 3D format, so if the chase camera is what hooks you on Temple Run 2, this is a different game. The free version has frequent ads and a long unlock path for premium gadgets and outfits. Jetpack Joyride 2 exists but is currently an Apple Arcade exclusive on iOS, although Halfbrick has signalled an Android release once the Apple contract expires.
Pricing: Free to play, with optional in-app purchases for coins and cosmetics. The original Jetpack Joyride Classic and Jetpack Joyride 2 are available without ads or in-app purchases via Halfbrick+ subscription or Apple Arcade.
Platforms: Android, iOS.
Advantages:
- Random vehicle drops keep runs feeling different
- Mission system gives a clearer progression than pure scoring
- One of the longest-running mobile games still actively updated
- Halfbrick+ and Apple Arcade options for fully ad-free play
Disadvantages:
- Side-scrolling layout is a different rhythm to Temple Run 2
- Free version has frequent ads
- Some events skew toward chasing limited-time event tokens
- Newer Jetpack Joyride 2 is iOS-only on Apple Arcade for now
Bottom line: Pick this if you want an endless runner that looks nothing like Temple Run 2. The vehicle gimmicks and side-scrolling format keep the loop fresh long after most 3D runners feel samey.
7. Vector, best for a parkour storyline
Vector is Nekki’s silhouette parkour runner, originally released in 2012 and remastered for current devices. It is the only entry on this list with a clear narrative hook: a free runner breaks out of an Orwellian system and uses parkour to escape Big Brother’s surveillance, level by level. Cascadeur animation tools give the parkour moves a distinctive lifelike feel that other side-scrolling runners do not match.
Unlike a true endless runner, Vector is structured as a level-based campaign, with three main locations and over 40 levels to clear, each rated in stars. The Hunter Mode flips the format: you play as the chaser instead of the runner, hunting down the silhouette protagonist with a taser. The Google Play listing reports over 100 million downloads and a strong 4.7-star rating across 3.69 million reviews, which is unusually high for a runner of its age.
Where it falls short: Vector is fundamentally a story-mode runner, so if you want a randomly generated endless track, this is not the same shape of game. Reviewers note that the remastered version has more aggressive monetisation than the original, with trick unlocks tied to in-game currency. There is also a separate paid Vector Classic edition for users who want the original, ad-free experience.
Pricing: Free to play with ads and in-app purchases. Vector Classic is a separate one-time purchase with minimal microtransactions.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows.
Advantages:
- Distinctive silhouette art and Cascadeur-driven parkour animations
- Level-based structure with stars and a clear story arc
- Hunter Mode flips the perspective for variety
- Vector Classic offers an ad-free, low-IAP option for a small one-time fee
Disadvantages:
- Not a true endless runner if procedural levels are what you want
- The remastered free version has noticeable monetisation
- Levels can feel repetitive after a few hours
- Requires more reflex precision than typical runners, which can frustrate casual players
Bottom line: Worth installing if you want a runner with a clear arc and parkour-specific moves, rather than a procedurally generated lane game. Pick Vector Classic if you can spare a dollar to skip the ads.
How to choose
Pick Subway Surfers if you want the closest gameplay match to Temple Run 2 with a constant cycle of new content.
Pick Sonic Dash if Sonic, Knuckles and Eggman are the draw and you want a runner with regular boss fights.
Pick Alto’s Odyssey if you want a calm, premium endless runner without ads and you have an iOS device.
Pick Crossy Road if your sessions are short and you want a top-down hopper instead of a third-person sprint.
Pick Talking Tom Gold Run if you are sharing a phone with younger players and want a runner with cute characters and a building meta.
Pick Jetpack Joyride if you want an endless runner that looks completely different to Temple Run 2.
Pick Vector if a story-mode parkour campaign appeals more than infinite procedurally generated runs.
Stay on Temple Run 2 if your high scores and characters feel like progress to you, and the ad load is tolerable. Nothing here exactly replicates the tilt-and-swipe feel of the original.
FAQ
What is the closest game to Temple Run 2?
Subway Surfers is the closest free alternative in feel, pacing and global player base. Both are third-person endless runners with three lanes, swipe controls and seasonal content. The main difference is that Subway Surfers does not use tilt for sideways coin grabs, and the World Tour rotates the city setting every few weeks.
Is there a Temple Run 2 alternative without ads?
Yes. Alto’s Odyssey on iOS is a one-time purchase with no ads or in-app purchases. Sonic Dash+ on Apple Arcade is also fully ad-free. Jetpack Joyride 2 on Apple Arcade and Vector Classic via a small one-time purchase are other ad-free options across iOS and Android.
Which endless runner has the best graphics?
Alto’s Odyssey is widely cited as the best-looking endless runner on mobile, winning a 2018 Apple Design Award for its art direction and atmospheric lighting. Subway Surfers is the most polished free option, with frequent visual refreshes. Sonic Dash and Temple Run 2 are comparable on raw fidelity, but neither is as distinctive as Alto’s Odyssey.
Do these alternatives work offline?
Most of them do. Subway Surfers, Temple Run 2, Sonic Dash, Crossy Road and Jetpack Joyride all support offline play, although some events and leaderboards need a connection. Alto’s Odyssey on iOS works fully offline thanks to its premium model. Talking Tom Gold Run and Vector require occasional connectivity for events and rewards.
Is Temple Run 3 out?
Temple Run 3 launched on Android in October 2025, but it is a separate release and is not as widely available as Temple Run 2. Most players still use Temple Run 2 because it has the larger map and character library, the longer-running save data, and broader platform availability. The alternatives in this article all work alongside Temple Run 3 if you want a different runner format.
