Canabalt

Canabalt is a science fiction-themed platformer game that offers both single-player and local multi-player modes for up to two players. The game features eight different modes, four playable characters, and a perfect soundtrack. In Canabalt, players must escape the destruction of their city by jumping across rooftops with a single button, in a challenging and high-score driven gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 206 reviews

music25 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Canabalt is a simple yet addictive game that has a unique style and great music, making it enjoyable for short bursts of play.
The game is praised for its minimalist graphics and sound design, creating an atmospheric experience that keeps players engaged.
As one of the original infinite runners, Canabalt is recognized for its influence on the genre and remains fun to play, especially on mobile devices.

The gameplay can become repetitive quickly, and some players feel it lacks depth and variety compared to newer titles in the genre.
There are reports of bugs and glitches, particularly with collision detection and the two-player mode, which can detract from the overall experience.
Many reviews suggest that the game is better suited for mobile play rather than PC, as the one-button mechanic may feel too simplistic for a desktop setting.

music
47 mentions
53 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many reviewers highlighting the energetic and atmospheric soundtracks by artists like Danny Baranowsky and Mega Ran. While some players find the music becomes repetitive over time, it is generally considered a key element that contributes significantly to the game's appeal, especially in the endless runner genre. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a perfect blend of retro-inspired sounds that keeps players engaged and motivated to play.
- “The presentation (music, sound design, art direction) is near-perfect.”
- “A great endless runner owes about 50% of its greatness to the music score.”
- “The soundtrack by Danny Baranowsky is a perfect mix of pseudo-retro adrenaline pumping beeps and boops.”
- “A horrible game, quite nerve-wracking, especially with the daunting sounds and music.”
- “There’s naturally no voice acting since there’s no story and the music is okay-ish, but becomes a little repetitive after a while.”
- “Music and visuals are dark and brooding.”
graphics
26 mentions
23 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their nice, simplistic aesthetic and attention to detail, though some players note that the visuals can be difficult to discern during fast-paced gameplay. The addition of a 3D mode enhances the experience, but many still prefer the original pixel art style. Overall, the graphics are described as atmospheric and fitting for the game's tone, with smooth frame rates and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games.
- “The game offers some really nice graphics and a nice yet simplistic aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
- “However, the frame rate is silky smooth, key re-binding and mouse support has been built in (more than you can say for most mobile ports), crisp and clean 1080p graphics, achievements, leaderboards, and even trading cards and backgrounds!”
- “It has simple yet very atmospheric graphics and soundtrack which reminds me of old Commodore 64 games.”
- “The graphic style is great, but not that great for this game, as you can't really see what is going on very well, especially when you are going fast.”
- “They've literally taken the phone game and stretched its blocky graphics to fit a monitor.”
- “This game is pretty much exactly that, but now you can play it full screen, 2 player, there are achievements, alternative modes and a 3D version of the graphics (I still prefer the pixel art style).”
gameplay
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of depth, with a strict timing requirement for actions and no dedicated short hop button, making it feel more suited for mobile platforms. While the core mechanics remain intact and there are enjoyable enhancements, the one-button gameplay is considered overly simplistic, and the roof running mechanic lacks excitement. Overall, it offers a casual experience but may not fully satisfy PC gamers seeking more complexity.
- “Core gameplay is intact, there's tons of nice little additions and enhancements, and nothing is messed up (well, nothing I've found so far - seems like other people have issues with it).”
- “Good to play on and off and is probably much better on mobile considering the convenience of the 'one button' gameplay.”
- “Better twitch gameplay and far better music.”
- “I don’t think it’s a title that truly belongs on PC; for that it’s just too shallow gameplay-wise.”
- “The one-button mechanic is a bit too simple (hence it was a phone game first).”
- “The roof running thing is not exciting enough to carry this game - maybe it needs a slightly more refined mechanic?”
stability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
User experiences regarding stability are mixed; while some players report encountering bugs and glitches, others have not faced any issues, particularly on iOS. Overall, the game's stability seems to vary by platform and individual experience.
- “I played this game on iOS a lot, and it's not buggy.”
- “I played this game on iOS a lot, and it's not buggy.”
- “Buggy and boring.”
- “Buggy and boring.”
story
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a significant story, resulting in no voice acting, and while the music is decent, it tends to become repetitive over time.
- “There’s naturally no voice acting since there’s no story, and the music is okay-ish but becomes a little repetitive after a while.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The PC version of Canabalt is praised for being free of ads and microtransactions, contrasting with potential monetization issues in the mobile version.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be excessive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The reliance on ads and microtransactions ruins the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable, as its blend of panic and frustration creates an engaging experience that encourages repeated play sessions, making it an ideal choice for quick gaming bursts.
- “Great way to kill twenty minutes - the game hits just the right note of panic, and just frustrating enough for endless replayability.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the humor aspect of the game, as the comments focus more on technical issues related to the 3D mode rather than the comedic elements. Overall, humor appears to be a non-factor in the users' experiences.