Common Sense Media Review
By Chris Morris
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bright, entertaining take on endless-runner genre.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Subway Surfers
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 24 parent reviews
Parents say the game is generally enjoyable and suitable for kids, with appealing graphics and dynamic gameplay, although it may be highly addictive and includes in-app purchases that can lead to unintended spending. Some parents express concern over themes of consumerism and modest violence, as well as the necessity to manage their children's app usage and privacy issues related to data collection.
- addictive gameplay
- consumerism concerns
- in-app purchases
- suitable for kids
- privacy issues
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 72 kid reviews
Kids say this mobile game is a fun and engaging way to pass the time, suitable for ages 6 and up, although some users express concerns about its themes involving graffiti and running from the police. While many appreciate the entertaining gameplay and colorful graphics, there are notable critiques regarding the presence of ads and depictions of racial stereotypes that could influence children's perceptions negatively.
- school appropriate
- fun gameplay
- ads issue
- racial stereotypes
- target age
- addictive nature
Summarized with AI
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Like most endless runner games, there's a threadbare plot to Subway Surfers. You run, trying to dodge capture and obstacles, swiping up to jump or down to slide. Swiping side to side lets you switch tracks as you run. Along the way, players collect coins, which can be used for power-ups, but those same power-ups are also sprinkled along the tracks.
Is It Any Good?
There's really nothing particularly new about Subway Surfers. Like Temple Run, the point is to run endlessly to avoid capture. But it's still an immensely entertaining game. That might be because of the bright setting and happy characters. It could be due to the dense number of power-ups you encounter as you run. It could be the streamlined control scheme that takes the best from other games and leaves out the complicated parts.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter why the game is so fun. You'll be too busy playing, then playing again -- and again -- to overthink it. It expands on a formula that was in danger of becoming stale and makes it fun all over again.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Kindle Fire
- Pricing structure : Free
- Release date : February 28, 2013
- Genre : Action Games
- Publisher : Kiloo
- Version : 1.8.0
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 4.3 or later; Android 2.3.3 and up
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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