I’m a sucker for portable gaming, and I often find myself lost in complex titles like Elden Ring on my Steam Deck or Switch while riding the New York City subway. However, I occasionally catch a glimpse of fellow commuters engrossed in simple mobile games like Subway Surfers, and I find myself torn. On one hand, I’m thrilled that mobile gaming has transcended brainless experiences. But on the other, I can’t help but feel a pang of curiosity towards those simpler games.
Despite my initial reluctance, I finally succumbed to the allure of the infinite runner genre with Temple Run: Legends. This latest Apple Arcade exclusive reinvents the mobile classic with bite-sized platforming levels alongside the traditional infinite mode. It’s the perfect compromise for those who appreciate the appeal of Temple Run but crave more concrete goals and objectives. And it’s helping me understand the satisfaction of a genre I previously disregarded.
Temple Run: Legends requires little explanation. Players control an explorer who races past obstacles and collects coins. Simple swipes control movement between lanes, sliding under obstacles, or jumping. That’s all you need to know. There’s a story hidden within the 500 short levels, but it’s easily missed. The focus isn’t on intricate narratives; it’s about escaping into a time-bending experience.
My first session with Temple Run: Legends took place on the subway. The game feels perfectly designed for such scenarios. Each level lasts roughly the duration of a subway stop, as if specifically timed for this purpose. My Manhattan commute flew by, each level marking the remaining stops. My energy focused solely on my thumb, effortlessly swiping through straightforward levels. The steady stream of dopamine from collecting glittering coins was a welcome distraction. Finally, I understood the appeal that captivated my fellow commuters all these years; it’s like a comforting anesthetic.
Legends introduces a slight twist on the familiar formula by incorporating unlockable characters, each with unique abilities. One character magnetizes coins, while another can run over water. These abilities can be upgraded using collected coins, adding a basic progression element. Daily rewards, challenge levels, and the classic infinite mode round out a compelling package that’s an obvious download for Apple Arcade subscribers.
Is it good? Well, let’s not get carried away. Infinite runners are inherently repetitive by design, and Legends amplifies this with 500 structurally similar levels. There are occasional variations, like frustrating underwater levels that require movement in all directions, but they don’t fundamentally change the gameplay. If you attempt to engage with Legends as you would a traditional game, focusing all your attention, you’ll undoubtedly find it tedious. But that’s not how it’s meant to be played. It’s a fidget toy to occupy your twitchy hands while engaging in other activities, like rewatching your favorite TV show.
This level-based approach to the genre better caters to my usual gaming preferences, explaining the popularity of games like Subway Surfers and their prevalence on TikTok. There’s an undeniable appeal in this mindless, dopamine-driven gameplay, and Legends, with its simple levels and satisfying progression loop, makes that appeal even more accessible.
Ultimately, Temple Run: Legends is a perfectly acceptable way to keep your hands occupied. It’s a black hole that absorbs all thoughts and feelings, spitting out carefree contentment. Sometimes, that’s all you really need. Temple Run: Legends is now available on Apple Arcade.
