How to Play Subway Surfers — Beginner Guide & Tips
Swipe controls, hoverboard usage, coin collecting, and secret star routes explained.
Last updated: October 3, 2026
Before You Start
Subway Surfers is SYBO's endless runner. You guide your character along subway tracks, dodging obstacles and collecting coins and power-ups. The core is your score multiplier and hoverboard endurance.
How to Play — Step-by-Step Guide
Download from the iOS or Android app store. No registration needed.
Beginners should try Tricky — earn coins while learning how the Pogo Stick works.
The game starts automatically. Your character runs forward while you dodge obstacles.
Swipe left/right to change lanes, swipe up to jump, swipe down to roll or drop fast.
Coins buy characters, hoverboards and power-up upgrades.
The hoverboard is a "second life" — it takes one hit for you when you crash.
Swipe down mid-jump to cancel it and land early — great for grabbing coins and power-ups.
Raise your multiplier by upgrading characters, completing daily missions and equipping boosters.
Secret stars only count if you touch them yourself — up to 3 per run.
The run ends when you crash with no hoverboard active.
Controls
| Change lanes | Swipe left / right, or arrow keys |
|---|---|
| Jump | Swipe up / up arrow |
| Roll or drop fast | Swipe down / down arrow |
| Use hoverboard | Double-tap the screen / spacebar |
| Pause | Pause button / Esc |
| Use power-ups | Tap the power-up icon |
Core Mechanics
Endless runner
No finish line — the farther you run, the higher your score.
Three-lane system
Switch between three lanes, swipe up to jump, swipe down to roll.
Hoverboard system
The hoverboard acts as a second life — crashing consumes the board instead of ending the run.
Score multiplier
Raised by upgrading characters, completing daily missions and equipping boosters — up to 124x.
Secret stars
Up to 3 per run, and you must touch them yourself for them to count.
World Tour
Regular updates with different city themes, like Bali, Transylvania and more.
Beginner Tips
- Get comfortable with the swipe controls before chasing high scores.
- Cancel jumps with a downward swipe to land early and grab coins and power-ups.
- Don't burn your hoverboard the moment you get one — save it for high-speed sections or dense obstacle stretches.
- Early on, prioritize coin efficiency — upgrading key power-ups beats chasing scores.
- Try to collect all 3 secret stars every run.
Common Beginner Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Chasing scores while ignoring coins | Low level, low multiplier | Focus on coin efficiency early on |
| Using the hoverboard immediately | No second life when it matters | Save the hoverboard until you need it |
| Staying on the ground, never going up | More obstacles, fewer escape routes | Keep to high routes when possible |
| Not practicing jump canceling | Missing coins and power-ups | Swipe down fast every time you leave a platform |
| Ignoring secret stars | Missing tons of bonus points | Try to collect all 3 secret stars every run |
FAQ
Swipe left/right to change lanes, swipe up to jump, swipe down to roll. Collect coins and power-ups, dodge obstacles — the farther you run, the higher your score.
Try Tricky — earn coins while learning how the Pogo Stick works.
The hoverboard is a "second life" — don't burn it the moment you get one. Save it for high-speed sections or dense obstacle stretches.
Secret stars only count if you touch them yourself — the magnet can't grab them. Usually up to 3 per run.
Mainly the endless runner mode, plus World Tour updates and limited-time events.
Free. Available on iOS and Android with optional in-app purchases.