"Temple Run" is one of those mobile games that can become very addictive after the first couple of play throughs. It shouldn't come as a surprise for most that it has become one of the most popular games for smartphones, and it has now been downloaded 1 billion times.
The game was first launched back in 2011 by developer Imangi Studios. In just a short while, it became one of the most talked about mobile games. At first glance, "Temple Run" might look boring, but that is far from the case. Sure, the gameplay may seem repetitive because it centers on tapping the screen with a single finger, and that's it. However, the simplicity of the concept may also be one of its greatest strengths.
Many fans also say that it is the level design that makes "Temple Run" what it is today, and not so much its simplistic gameplay. Still, the simple one-finger gameplay allows anyone to play; even a child can pick up a smartphone and have a great deal of fun when playing "Temple Run."
"Having 'Temple Run' reach the one 1-billion-downloads mark is a milestone we couldn't have imagined when we first started out," said Keith Shepherd, co-founder of Imangi Studios. "We're incredibly grateful to all the 'Temple Run' players and our wonderful team. We look forward to continuing to grow the 'Temple Run' franchise, as well as creating additional innovative games."
"Temple Run" is credited with the popularizing of the endless runner genre, as there have been several games of similar style launching in large numbers after Temple Run's success. The game is not the first of its kind, but it is the only one so far to achieve this type of success.
While casual gamers may be glad to see "Temple Run" hitting the 1 billion download milestone, it should be noted that it is not the first mobile game to do so. The first game to reach this milestone is "Angry Birds," and it achieved that number in two years, compared to the three years it took for "Temple Run."
As smartphones, phablets and tablets continue to dominate the computer industry, there will be other games to hit 1 billion downloads and more as time goes by.
