Subway Surfers is a super simple running, jumping, and dodging game where you switch between three lanes to avoid obstacles. It starts easy but as hazards increase you need quick thinking and reflexes to succeed. The straightforward, run-til-you-crash-then-try-again gameplay and ease of play, along with regular updates that continually add new content, have made it hugely popular and stand the test of time.

You play a young teen caught doing Graffiti on the rail tracks who runs away from the security guard. You escape down the railway, switching between the three lanes to avoid obstacles and oncoming trains. You can also slide under, and jump over, certain blockades, and run on top of the trains. When you hit an obstacle, your run ends, and you start again, aiming for a new high score and best distance.

Power-ups collected as you run can give you special boosts like the ability to jump higher for a time or fly through the sky and collect coins, which are also scattered in lines along the tracks and on top of trains. You can use them to upgrade the power-ups and buy mystery boxes, which yield random items and cosmetics.

The game is regularly updated with new events to mark cultural events like Halloween and Christmas, with new cosmetic items and map decorations, and regular updates take you to new real-world locations, like Iceland, Greece, Denmark, and the United States, where you can unlock extra runners, outfits, and items inspired by that location's culture.

The result is a unique challenge that provides a simple premise but demands precise movements and quick reactions as you continually improve your skill and score.