Temple Run

Temple Run puts the player in the role of an adventurer fleeing through temple ruins from a pack of demonic monkey guardians, while the track generates as you run and finger swipes left, right, up, and down dodge chasms, stumble over beams, and turn at forks in the path to stretch the escape as far as possible. Collected coins are used to buy new characters and power-ups that make the run a bit easier, but the main pressure is kept up the whole time by the track's constantly accelerating pace.

Imangi Studios released the game in 2011, and Temple Run became the title that popularized the so-called endless runner genre in its 3D, over-the-shoulder form — instead of a side view, the player here watches the runner from behind and has to react to obstacles arriving in real time, which gave the genre a sense of speed and danger that earlier two-dimensional titles didn't offer. Short, easily repeatable attempts proved to be an ideal format for moments spent waiting in line or traveling.

The game's success set off a whole wave of similar titles and licensed spin-offs featuring characters from other franchises, and Temple Run permanently established itself as one of the defining app store hits of its generation, even though later sequels and competitors would eventually overshadow it with more elaborate graphics and content.

Why play it: Suitable for anyone who wants to see where the endless runner genre actually began, and it still works as a quick, adrenaline-fueled session lasting just a few minutes.