Name

1. Temple Run
2. Alto’s Adventure

Genre

1. Endless Runner
2. Endless Runner, Snowboarding

Creator

1. Imangi Studios
2. Snowman

Platform

1. iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Tizen, PC, Arcade, Samsung Gear VR
2. iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Linux, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Target Audience

1. 9+ years
2. 9+ years

Important Formal Elements: Temple Run

Temple Run is a single player game employing a player vs game interaction pattern.

The objective is to avoid death by evading obstacles, and turning to stay on the path while collecting coins along the way.

The procedure is simple. Start the game and swipe up to jump, down to slide under an object, left to turn left, and right to turn right. The screen can be tilted left or right to move the player to collect coins.

Types of Fun: Temple Run

The main type of fun is in the challenge presented to the player as they try to avoid obstacles and stay on the path.

The game also provides a discovery aesthetic as the player runs and explores the world of the game.

In addition, a fantasy aesthetic is provided as the player takes part in the fictional world of being chased by demon monkeys.

Important Formal Elements: Alto’s Adventure

Alto’s Adventure is a single player game employing a player vs game interaction pattern.

The objective is to avoid death by jumping to avoid rocks and chasms, and performing tricks to gain points.

The procedure is simple. Start the game and tap the screen to jump to avoid rocks and chasms. Hold the screen while the player is midair to perform tricks.

Types of Fun: Alto’s Adventure

The main type of fun is in the challenge presented to the player as they try to avoid rocks and chasms. The game speeds up as the player keeps moving thus adding to the challenge.

The game also provides a discovery aesthetic as the player explores the generated landscapes.

How Theme Changes Experience

The primary theme of Temple Run is an explorer chased from a group of demon monkeys. The background sounds and music which consists of monkey noises and drums create fear and suspense in the player as they try to avoid death due to the sense of being chased. The quick turns and obstacles collectively increase the tension as any slight mistake can lead to death. If you’re not running fast enough, you fear being caught by the monkeys, but the faster you run, the easier it becomes to die by taking a wrong turn or failing to evade an obstacle.

Monkey’s chasing the player

However, in Alto’s Adventure the game mainly emulates the ethereal atmosphere of snowboarding. The endless running is not out of fear, but out of exploration of the serene landscape, and expression of the various skills of the snowboarder. The obstacles are chasms and rocks that the player needs to jump over, and the challenge is created as the player tries to perfect a landing. The player thus feels the tension in trying to stay alive, while not experiencing the fear that one would have while playing Temple Run.

So while both games are of the Endless Runner genre, the experience of the game is different to the players with one mainly evoking fear while the other evokes thrill.

Ethereal atmosphere of snowboarding