Subway Surfers
Released 24 May 2012 Developer SYBO Games, Kiloo Publisher SYBO Games
An endless-runner game in which you play a graffiti artist running along train tracks, swiping to dodge trains and obstacles while collecting coins and power-ups. The setting changes to a new city about every month. It is simple, colourful and aimed at a general audience that includes children.
Money health
HarmfulChance, compulsion or exploitation
Addictive design
Very high5 of 5 — counts the hooks designed in
Average price
Freefree to download
Spending ceiling
No ceilingRepeat purchases, no limit
Australian rating
Online interactivity, Chance-based in-game purchases
How it makes money
Harmful: chance, compulsion or exploitation
Subway Surfers is free to download and earns money from both advertising and in-app purchases. After a crash you can revive by spending keys or by watching an ad, and the daily video and Mystery Boxes also use ads. Coins and keys can be bought: the Australian App Store lists coin packs from A$1.99 (7,500 coins) to A$29.99 (180,000 coins), keys at A$7.99, a permanent Double Coins upgrade at A$7.99 and a Starter Pack at A$1.99, and Google Play shows single items from A$0.99 to A$159.99. Mystery Boxes bought with coins give random rewards. SYBO released a separate game, Subway Surfers City, in February 2026.
How you pay
- Loot boxes
Mystery Boxes bought with coins (or by watching ads) give random rewards, and coins can be bought with real money; Google Play's Australian classification lists 'chance-based in-game purchases'.
minor part of the game - Ad-funded
SYBO's terms say the service may include third-party in-game ads and that you can earn virtual currency by watching them; the Android listing is labelled 'Contains ads'.
- Free-to-play
The App Store AU lists coin packs from A$1.99 (7,500 coins) to A$29.99 (180,000 coins), 25 or 40 keys at A$7.99 and Double Coins at A$7.99; Google Play (AU) shows single items from A$0.99 to A$159.99.
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Never-ending
An endless runner that has had a new World Tour setting about every three to four weeks since 2013 (Wikipedia).
- Game currency
Coins and keys can both be bought in the Store. SYBO describes keys as a rare currency used to unlock characters and boards, buy Token Boxes and revive.
- FOMO timers
Seasonal Offers, Season Challenges and a new World Tour city roughly every month change what is available for a limited time (SYBO help centre, Wikipedia).
minor part of the game - Made scarce
Keys are rare, and the 'Save Me' revive costs keys that double every time you use it (SYBO help centre).
minor part of the game - Rewarded ads
After a crash you can revive by spending keys or watching an ad (Wikipedia); SYBO's help centre says the Daily Video gives a key and Mystery Boxes can be bought with coins or by watching ads.
- Daily pressure
Daily Challenges give rewards (Wikipedia) and the Daily Video earns keys (SYBO help centre).
minor part of the game - Collect all
Up to 18 characters and 17 hoverboards can be unlocked with coins, keys, purchases or collected items (Wikipedia).
minor part of the game - Starter pack
A Starter Pack is listed at A$1.99 on the App Store AU.
minor part of the game
Fairer alternatives
Similar games with a healthier money model
What it costs
Free to start, then A$1.99–A$159.99 a purchase
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,500 Coins (smallest listed coin pack) The App Store shows only a selection of the game's purchases. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$1.99 | Oct 2026 |
| 180,000 Coins (largest listed coin pack) Other listed coin packs: 45,000 for A$7.99 and 65,000 for A$7.99. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$29.99 | Oct 2026 |
| 25 Keys 40 Keys is also listed at A$7.99. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$7.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Double Coins A permanent coin doubler ('Unlimited Double Coins' in SYBO's help centre). |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$7.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Starter Pack | Apple App Store (AU) · iOS | A$1.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Largest single in-app item Top of the 'per item' range shown on the Google Play listing (A$0.99 to A$159.99); the item is not named. |
Google Play (AU) · Android | A$159.99 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Reviews from across the web
What the critics said
-
4/ 5
TouchArcade
Called it a refined endless runner that plays much like Temple Run but with enough twists to be more entertaining and easy to keep coming back to.
-
3.5/ 5
148Apps
Found it a fun, free and replayable runner that borrows heavily from Temple Run without matching that game's tension or sense of progression.
Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.
Age ratings & content
What's in it
Content labels
- Violencemild
Fighting, weapons, injury and death, from cartoon bonks to realistic killing.
From ESRB and USK descriptors
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes), summed up in the content labels above. They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the money badges are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- No chat
- No contact with strangers
- No user-made content
- No account needed
- Terms of service minimum age: 13
No chat and no contact with other players. The game asks for an age: Online Save and the Facebook and Game Center or Google login options are only offered to players aged 13 or over, and the age can only be corrected by reinstalling and losing local progress (SYBO help centre). SYBO's terms say users must be 13 or older (16 in some EU jurisdictions). The Apple App Store (AU) lists the game as 9+, while Google Play's Australian classification is M because of chance-based in-game purchases. SYBO's help centre says refunds for a child's unauthorised purchase are handled by Apple or Google, and recommends device parental controls.
Who makes it
The companies behind it, and their track record
No track-record badges yet.
Latest on the record
- Labour
Gave staff notice ahead of closing
Game Developer - Court case
Settled US children's privacy class action over Subway Surfers
US District Court for the Northern District of California (via CourtListener) - Other
Handed Subway Surfers publishing to SYBO
Game Developer
No track-record badges yet.
Latest on the record
- Court case
Settled US children's privacy class action over Subway Surfers
US District Court for the Northern District of California (via CourtListener)
A company's history doesn't change this game's money verdict, which rates only how the game itself makes money. About company track records
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | 24 May 2012 | Store page |
| Android phones and tablets | 20 September 2012 | Store page |
Further reading
- Official website
- SYBO terms of service (age, virtual items, ads)
- SYBO help: my child made an unauthorised purchase on iPhone
- SYBO help: what the Store sells
- Subway Surfers City (separate new game from SYBO)
- Common Sense Media review (age 9+)
- Wikipedia
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: apps.apple.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, en.wikipedia.org, subwaysurfers.com, sybogames.com, sybogames.com, sybo.helpshift.com, sybo.helpshift.com, sybo.helpshift.com, sybo.helpshift.com, sybo.helpshift.com, www.commonsensemedia.org, www.metacritic.com, toucharcade.com, www.148apps.com. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.