When Imangi Studios, a husband-and-wife indie developer duo consisting of Keith Shepherd and Natalia Luckyanova, launched a simple mobile game called Temple Run in August 2011, they had no idea they were about to revolutionize the mobile gaming landscape. With its heart-pounding premise—an explorer frantically fleeing down crumbling temple walls to escape a pack of demonic monkeys—it established a multi-billion-download franchise. Over the years, this flagship title evolved far beyond a single app. Today, there are many official types of Temple Run games spanning across diverse genres, cinematic partnerships, virtual reality headsets, and even physical arcade machines.

Whether you are a nostalgic player trying to remember the old-school Disney spin-offs, an active mobile gamer curious about the latest level-based releases, or looking for gameplay alternatives, this ultimate guide covers every official entry in the Temple Run universe. We will explore their unique features, gameplay mechanics, and how the series has evolved over the last decade and a half.

1. The Core Endless Runners: The Main Temple Run Lineage

The core of the franchise belongs to the classic lane-based vertical endless runners. These are the games that defined the genre, introducing the iconic swipe-to-turn, jump, slide, and tilt mechanics that have been copied by countless mobile games since.

Temple Run (2011)

• Release Date: August 4, 2011 (iOS), March 27, 2012 (Android)
• Platform Availability: Originally iOS, Android, Windows Phone; now widely accessible on modern app stores and web platforms like Poki.
• The Premise: You assume the role of an adventurer who has just stolen a cursed golden idol from an ancient Aztec-style temple. Immediately, a trio of small, terrifying "Demon Monkeys" begins chasing you down a series of narrow brick pathways, sheer cliffs, and tree-root-choked turnings.
• Key Mechanics: The gameplay is simple but highly addictive. Players swipe left or right to make sharp 90-degree turns, swipe up to jump over gaps and fire traps, swipe down to slide under low obstacles, and tilt the physical device to guide the character to the left or right side of the path to collect coins.
• The Cast: The original game introduced the classic roster of explorers: Guy Dangerous (the default khaki-clad explorer), Scarlett Fox (the escape artist), Barry Bones (the city police officer), Karma Lee (the swift running specialist), Montana Smith, Francisco Montoya, and Zack Wonder.

Temple Run 2 (2013)

• Release Date: January 16, 2013 (iOS), January 24, 2013 (Android)
• Platform Availability: iOS, Android
• The Evolution: Temple Run 2 took the foundation of the original game and significantly upgraded the visuals, moving away from flat, gritty textures to a much smoother, organically curved 3D environment. Instead of three small monkeys, players are now pursued by a single, colossal Demon Monkey known as "Cuchank."
• New Mechanics: This sequel introduced new dynamic hazards that broke up the monotony of running. Players could ride high-speed zip lines, slide down winding water flumes, and pilot creaky mine carts through dark caverns by tilting the phone. It also introduced specialized character abilities that could be triggered once a gold meter was filled.
• Seasonal Maps & Collaborations: One of Temple Run 2's greatest strengths is its seasonal map rotation. Over the years, Imangi has kept the game fresh by introducing beautifully detailed alternative biomes, such as Frozen Shadows (an icy mountain escape featuring bobsled mechanics), Lost Jungle (a lush rainforest filled with giant venomous snakes), Blazing Sands (an Egyptian-styled canyon route), and Spooky Summit. Furthermore, the game famously introduced real-world legendary guest characters like Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt and martial arts icon Bruce Lee.

Temple Run+ (2023)

• Release Date: May 4, 2023
• Platform Availability: iOS (Apple Arcade Exclusive)
• A Premium Remaster: As mobile gaming shifted heavily toward aggressive monetization, Imangi developed Temple Run+ as a dedicated, premium alternative for Apple Arcade subscribers. It features the nostalgic gameplay of the original 2011 game, but features completely upgraded, high-definition graphics, a optimized frame rate, and zero ads or in-app purchases. It represents the purest, most balanced way to enjoy the classic runner today.

Temple Run 3 (2025)

• Release Date: Late 2025 (Soft Launch)
• Platform Availability: iOS, Android (Currently available in select regions like Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, and the Philippines)
• Next-Gen Innovations: Breaking a decade-long gap in the primary numbered series, Temple Run 3 reimagines the franchise with modern game-progression systems. While maintaining the beloved endless running core, the game returns players to the mystical, waterlogged ruins of "Doom Lagoon."
• The Perk and Pet Systems: Temple Run 3 transitions away from raw running to a strategic, RPG-lite system. Players can hatch and collect various pet companions from eggs, fusing duplicate pets together to boost coin generation and multiplier bonuses. It also introduces a deep perk tree, allowing players to customize passive abilities, alongside a tier of "Legendary Heroes" with unique cooldown skills.

2. The Beloved Disney & Pixar Movie Collaborations

During the golden age of mobile tie-ins, Disney partnered with Imangi Studios to release two highly polished, cinematic spin-offs. Though they have since been delisted from official app stores due to expired licensing, they remain deeply loved by fans for their artistic direction.

Temple Run: Brave (2012)

• Release Date: June 14, 2012
• Platform Availability: Formerly iOS, Android, Windows Phone (Currently Delisted)
• The Theme: Released as a promotional tie-in for Pixar's animated fantasy film Brave, this spin-off swapped out the generic temple ruins for the misty, moss-covered highlands of medieval Scotland.
• Unique Gameplay: Instead of Guy Dangerous, players control the fiery-haired princess Merida, fleeing from the corrupted, monstrous demon bear Mor'du. The game's standout feature was its active archery mechanic. As you ran, archery targets would appear on either side of the path; tapping them quickly in sequence awarded a massive coin bonus and filled your power-up meter, seamlessly blending shooting-gallery elements with endless running.

Temple Run: Oz (2013)

• Release Date: February 27, 2013
• Platform Availability: Formerly iOS, Android, Windows Phone (Currently Delisted)
• A Visual Masterpiece: Created to promote Disney's live-action film Oz the Great and Powerful, this is widely considered the most visually stunning type of Temple Run ever made. Players control the Wizard of Oz, sprinting along the yellow brick road while being chased by screeching, red-eyed Flying Baboons.
• Dynamic Environments: Unlike other Temple Run games where environments are static, Temple Run: Oz featured highly dramatic, real-time map transformations. Bridges would collapse, trees would fall, and paths would assemble themselves right in front of the player's eyes. It also included a high-flying hot air balloon sequence, replacing the traditional run with a tilt-controlled aerial flight path through stormy, coin-filled clouds.

3. Breaking the Mold: Puzzle & Idle Spin-offs

Recognizing that not all players have the fast-twitch reflexes required for high-speed endless running, Imangi expanded the IP into slower, more strategic genres.

Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure (2021)

• Release Date: September 17, 2021
• Platform Availability: iOS, macOS, tvOS (Apple Arcade Exclusive)
• A Strategic Pivot: Developed by mobile puzzle specialists Scopely, Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure (originally prototyped under the name Temple Run: Treasure Hunters in 2016) shifts the action into a vibrant, highly polished match-3 puzzle game.
• The Gameplay: Players follow archaeologist Scarlett Fox as she explores a massive, interactive world map. By matching colored gems, clearing obstacles, and creating explosive power-up combos, players solve ancient temple mysteries, disable booby traps, and unlock beautiful new biomes. It successfully marries the adventurous aesthetics of the franchise with tactical, level-based puzzle-solving.

Temple Run: Idle Explorers (2023)

• Release Date: June 6, 2023
• Platform Availability: Formerly iOS, Android (Shut down in late 2024)
• The Clicker Experience: Developed in partnership with Bigfoot Studios, this was an incremental clicker game. Instead of sprinting away from danger, players took on the role of a manager, assembling a team of famous explorers to systematically excavate the forgotten lands of Aperion.
• Passive Progression: Players would tap on ruins to mine gold, upgrade the excavation speed of individual workers, automate treasure collections, and strategically bypass Demon Monkeys using specialized character skills. Regrettably, due to Bigfoot Studios restructuring its game catalog, the online servers were officially shut down in November 2024, making this title unavailable to play today.

4. Next-Gen & Alternative Entries

As hardware capabilities advanced, Imangi continued to experiment with different formats, level-based runners, and subscription models.

Temple Run: Legends (2024)

• Release Date: August 1, 2024
• Platform Availability: iOS (Apple Arcade Exclusive)
• Level-Based Running: Temple Run: Legends marked a massive structural shift for the series. Moving away from the infinite, high-score-chasing format, Legends is the very first game in the series to prioritize a level-based structure, featuring over 500 hand-crafted, narrative-focused stages.
• Visual and Mechanic Shift: The game adopted a colorful, highly stylized cartoon look similar to Subway Surfers. In addition to classic running, Legends introduces swimming mechanics through rushing rivers and bouncing off the heads of floating crocodiles to cross dangerous rivers, with players aiming to secure a three-star rating on each level.

Temple Run VR (2014)

• Release Date: December 23, 2014
• Platform Availability: Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift
• First-Person Horror: Temple Run VR was a groundbreaking experiment that moved the camera from the traditional third-person perspective to an intense, first-person view inside a virtual reality headset. Sprinting along frozen pathways with a massive Arctic Demon Monkey literally looming right behind your shoulder created an incredibly tense, almost horror-like gaming experience.

5. Physical Adaptations: Arcades and Tabletop Games

The immense cultural impact of the series eventually spilled out of the digital app stores and onto physical arcade floors and living room tables.

Temple Run Arcade & Temple Run 2 Arcade

• Manufacturer: Coastal Amusements / Adrenaline Amusements
• The Setup: Finding massive success in family entertainment centers and local arcades, these physical cabinets featured large vertical screens (up to 65 inches on the Deluxe models) and beautifully themed rustic cabinet art.
• The Trackball Twist: Touch controls do not translate well to arcade hardware, so the developers replaced swiping with a physical, illuminated trackball controller. Players frantically spin the trackball forward to jump, backward to slide, and sideways to turn. It transformed the game into a highly kinetic physical challenge, with players winning tickets based on their survival distance.

Temple Run Board Games: Danger Chase & Speed Sprint

• Manufacturer: Spin Master
• Danger Chase (2012): A physical dice-rolling board game. It features a plastic, talking electronic Idol in the center of the board that acts as a timer. Players roll custom dice as fast as they can to navigate physical pathways on the board, trying to outrun a physical plastic Demon Monkey figurine.
• Speed Sprint (2013): A fast-paced card-drafting game where players must rapidly match action cards (Jump, Slide, Left, Right) to a central pile to escape traps before the talking idol timer sounds off.

6. Comparing the Different Types of Temple Run

To help you visualize how the major games stack up, here is a quick-reference comparison of the most prominent digital releases:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many official Temple Run games are there?

There are 10 distinct official video games in the Temple Run franchise developed or licensed by Imangi Studios. This includes four core endless runners (Temple Run, Temple Run 2, Temple Run+, and Temple Run 3), two Disney collaborations (Brave and Oz), a VR game (Temple Run VR), a match-3 puzzle game (Puzzle Adventure), an idle game (Idle Explorers), and a level-based runner (Legends). This does not include physical arcade machines or tabletop board games.

Why can't I find Temple Run: Brave or Temple Run: Oz on the App Store?

Both Temple Run: Brave and Temple Run: Oz were developed under a licensing partnership between Imangi Studios and Disney. Once the licensing agreements expired, Disney delisted the games from the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Windows Store. If you previously purchased them on an older account, you may still be able to download them from your library's purchase history, but they are no longer available for new players.

Is Temple Run 3 officially released?

Yes, Temple Run 3 has officially begun its rollout. Imangi Studios soft-launched the game in late 2025 across select territories, including Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, and the Philippines. The studio uses this phase to gather player feedback, balance the new pet-fusion and perk systems, and optimize servers before launching the game worldwide.

What is the difference between Temple Run and Temple Run 2?

While both are endless runners, Temple Run 2 features significantly improved, rounded 3D graphics, dynamic environment transitions, and a single massive Demon Monkey chase. It also introduced entirely new gameplay mechanics, such as zip lines, water slides, and mine cart segments, along with a seasonal map rotation system that changes the running biomes throughout the year.

What are the creatures that chase you in the games?

In the main games, the creatures chasing you are known as Demon Monkeys. In the original game, you are pursued by three smaller monkeys. In Temple Run 2, you are chased by a singular, colossal Demon Monkey named Cuchank. In the spin-offs, these enemies change to match the movie themes—the giant demon bear Mor'du chases you in Brave, and Flying Baboons pursue you in Oz.

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings as an experimental 3D endless runner built by a two-person team, the Temple Run IP has grown into a highly diverse gaming franchise. Whether you prefer the pure, high-score-chasing thrill of Temple Run 2, the relaxed matching puzzle gameplay of Puzzle Adventure, or the next-generation pet mechanics of Temple Run 3, there is a type of Temple Run designed for every playstyle. As Imangi Studios continues to expand the universe of Aperion, this iconic franchise proves that a great gameplay loop can stand the test of time, keeping players running, sliding, and jumping for years to come.