Swipe to turn, jump and slide! That’s all you have to do to succeed in the Imangi Studio’s Temple Run. On Dec. 3, 2011, the Apple App Store received an addition that was bound for success from the start. With five stars on over 400,000 ratings, Temple Run is currently ranked the number one free app on the entire App Store.

In the app, the character “runs” on a seeming endless track that is scattered with various distractions and gaps that will cause the game to end if a collision occurs. What might the character be running from? Well, it appears that there are ape-like creatures with skulls in place of their heads that are out to get the player. Tree roots and flaming ropes are just a few things that jumps and slides are required to clear.

Along the way, the player collects coins that both add to total score and can be used to purchase upgrades and one-use power-ups for the player’s benefit. Upgrades appear randomly floating throughout the maze and include: “Mega Coin,” an abundance of coins that may be collected at once that increases number with upgrade, a “Magnet” that causes all coins in the vicinity to flock to the player and can be upgraded to last longer and add to the value of collected coins, “Invisibility” which makes the character impervious to failure by any means with the exception of forgetting to turn and running off the edge, “Boost” that pushes the character a distance without worry of running into anything or off any edges, and the “Coin Value” upgrade that causes higher value (2x and 3x) coins to appear at various distances that become earlier with upgrades.

Players can also multiply their scores with an accumulation of “objectives” or challenges that include (but are not limited to) reaching various distances, collecting certain amounts of coins, and even unlocking a specific number of store objects.

Log on to the App Store and join the millionaire’s club!