Top Auto-Runner Games (That Aren't Endless Runners) Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Gaming > Game Play
The Best Auto-Runner Games (That Aren't Endless Runners)
They're not necessarily about high scores, but still have automatic running.
By Carter Dotson Carter Dotson Writer Texas Tech University Carter Dotson is a former Lifewire writer and an Android gaming expert who reviews games for top gaming outlets. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 11, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Game Play Consoles & PCs Gaming Services Game Play & Streaming Mobile Gaming The term endless runner has become a source of confusion when describing games. Endless runner games are ones where you are going for the high score or longest time, versus a game where it can be of many different genres, but with the key aspect being that your character moves automatically by default. These games wind up working really well on touchscreens because eliminating movement solves a lot of problems with controls. 01 of 10 Punch Quest
Rocketcat Games What We Like Unlockables and alternate paths provide plenty of replay. Creative enemies including raptors with laser beams. What We Don't Like Too few boss fights. Touch controls may be frustrating. In this fantastic mobile game, you control a punching warrior that can be customized to your liking with all sorts of skin colors, hairstyles, and clothing. You run through dungeons trying to get as long of a combo as possible, punching skeletons, bats, wizards, and more. You get all sorts of upgrades and special powers that you can unlock, including amazing mega-combo abilities. There are all sorts of great things that you can do, with blocking and multiple punch attacks making for unique combat, while you run ever forward. Download Punch Quest for iOS 02 of 10 Rayman Fiesta Run
Ubisoft What We Like Clever level designs. Pleasantly quirky visual style. What We Don't Like Uneven difficulty spikes. Not as fun as the similar "Rayman Legends" for Wii U. The Rayman series never really deserved to exist based solely on the original entry in the series. It was a flawed platformer that wasn't a whole lot of fun, but when it was the only game you had on your Jaguar, Sega Saturn, or GBA at launch it sure was worth it. Thankfully, Ubisoft has made Rayman a worthy part of gaming, and that includes mobile. Rayman Fiesta Run is a platformer with some fun wall-jumping, enemy punching, and musical sections, all where Rayman runs at his own pace. The game does a great job at being a fun platformer regardless of the character's origins in the 1990s. It's a fun character in a challenging yet accessible game. Rayman Adventures may be more your speed if you prefer free-to-play games. Download Rayman Fiesta Run for iOS Download Rayman Fiesta Run for Android 03 of 10 Wind-Up Knight 2
Robot Invader What We Like Charming medieval fantasy setting. Entertaining cast of side characters. What We Don't Like Relentlessly difficult at times. Rather pricey for a mobile game. This is quite the fun auto-running platformer. The game has some action elements, fun wall-jumping, secrets to find, and even a satirical story that pokes fun at social media and traditional princess stories. Plus, if you love games with controller support, you'll be glad to know this was tested with a comical number of controllers, though it does work well with the touchscreen too. Download Wind-up Knight 2 for iOS Download Wind-up Knight 2 for Android 04 of 10 Platform Panic
Nitrome What We Like Smooth touch controls. Requires an equal amount of strategy and quick reflexes. What We Don't Like Level progression is random. Heroes lack distinct play styles. Nitrome are the purveyors of some of the finest pixel art games you can get on mobile. But this might be their finest game, a platformer where you have to make it from room to room, avoiding enemies and deadly traps. The game also manages to do a great job at being retro-inspired in two ways. One is that the characters are thinly-veiled riffs on classic characters. The other is that the general style of the game looks like something that wouldn't be out of place in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, particularly the Game Gear. Download Platform Panic for iOS Download Platform Panic for Android 05 of 10 Duet
Kumobius What We Like Ideal for playing in short spurts. Generous difficulty curve. What We Don't Like Mobile version isn't as good as the original PC version. The zen soundtrack doesn't match the fast pace. Kumobius' game is kind of amorphous as far as genre goes, but why not an auto-runner? You do move automatically, and you dodge hazards. It just happens to be in a very abstract way, as you control two balls swiveling around a center pivot point. The game has a serene soundtrack, and narration that adds a nice flavor to the game. There is an endless mode, but the meat of the game is the difficult level-based mode, with the even more difficult challenges of trying to complete levels in a certain number of taps. Download Duet for iOS Download Duet for Android 06 of 10 Badland
Frogmind What We Like Frequently introduces novel challenges and gameplay mechanics. Beautifully detailed level backgrounds. What We Don't Like Beating the later levels requires a lot of luck, trial, and error. The auto-scrolling screen may become your greatest enemy. It's not quite an auto-runner platformer, as it's more "auto-progressing" and you flip around to dodge hazards. But the gameplay of where you try to protect as much of your flock of shadowy forest dwellers through levels full of things that will kill them is full of surprises and challenges. It's a great game, and it's got features galore: multiplayer mode, controller support, Android TV support, cloud saves, and even level editing and sharing, much like Super Mario Maker. If you haven't played this, why not? It is free to try. Download Badland for iOS Download Badland for Android 07 of 10 Fotonica
Santa Ragione What We Like Innovative visual style with an exciting soundtrack. Each mode features its own unique levels. What We Don't Like Might be too difficult for casual gamers. No option to sync progress across multiple devices. Imagine a 2D platformer. Now put it in 3D, and in the first-person perspective. Throw in a stylistic wireframe look and a tremendous sense of speed. It makes for an original experience, and a difficult one. The Arcade mode's levels challenge you to not only make it to the end of the level but to also find the best path with the pickups you get. Endless and same-device multiplayer modes help round out the experience. Download Fotonica for iOS Download Fotonica for Android 08 of 10 Geometry Dash
RobTop Games What We Like Extensive character customization. Outstanding original sound design for each level. What We Don't Like Free version bombards players with ads. Too few levels made by the developers. This auto-running platformer in the 'impossible game' style has taken off in particular thanks in part to its level creation and sharing. An infinite number of dastardly levels are at your disposal, created by some of the most clever kids and teenagers that make up this game's core audience. Good luck: their underdeveloped empathy will make you want to throw your phone to the ground. Download Geometry Dash for iOS Download Geometry Dash for Android 09 of 10 King of Thieves
ZeptoLab What We Like An endless number of dungeons to plunder. Interesting blend of mobile genres. What We Don't Like Many player-designed levels are absurdly difficult. Frustrating free-to-play mechanics. Wall-jumping and auto-running on single screens through clever trap-filled levels would be a fun enough concept. But ZeptoLab threw a fun twist in by adding a Clash of Clans-esque raiding-strategy element. You can make your own levels, provided you can complete them yourself. If you go through other players' levels, you can get their treasure and ascend the ranks even further for yourself. The multiplayer twist is engaging and makes this a standout auto-runner. Download King of Thieves for iOS Download King of Thieves for Android 10 of 10 Vector
Nekki What We Like Cool environments and character animations. Short, fast paced levels. What We Don't Like Must play levels several times to unlock everything. Life saving power-ups cost real-world money. Taking inspiration from both seminal endless runner Canabalt and the fluid animations of those famous stickman animations, you control a silhouetted, suited running man trying to outrun some pursuers. And of course, you pull off all sorts of cool parkour tricks through increasingly difficult levels. It's the closest thing you'll get to Mirror's Edge on mobile. Download Vector for iOS Download Vector for Android Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire 5 Best Free (and Fun!) Typing Games for Kids & Adults The 10 Best Games for Steam Deck of 2022 The 11 Best iPad Games to Keep Kids of All Ages Happy The 10 Best Roblox Games of 2022 The 16 Best Android TV Games of 2022 The Best Console and PC Games on Android The 8 Best Shoot 'Em Ups for Android The 12 Best Offline Multiplayer Games of 2022 The 12 Best Roku Games in 2022 The 9 Best Xbox One Kids' Games of 2022 22 Best iPhone Games of All Time The 10 Best Offline Games for Kids in 2021 The Top 10 Action Games for the Game Boy Advance The 11 Best Smartwatch Games of 2022 The 12 Best Fun Online Games to Play in 2022 The 9 Best Games for PS5, Tested by Lifewire Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies