Zynga has set its sights set on the "endless runner" throne occupied by Imangi Studios' Temple Run with the release of Running With Friends today.
Available for iPhone and iPad, Running With Friends will have players participating in a cartoonish version of Spain's historic running of the bulls in Pamplona. As players attempt to outrun bulls, they'll have to dodge barrels, hay, police cars and more bulls. Rather than tilting the device, movement is controlled through screen swipes in effort to make gameplay manageable on tablets as well as phones. Players will have the ability to select their own character and choose to run as a ballerina, ninja or zombie.
Running With Friends is the seventh title in the With Friends franchise that includes Matching With Friends, Hanging with Friends, Chess with Friends and the mega popular Words with Friends.
Zynga's entry into the "endless runner" genre comes as the original Temple Run takes the title of being the ninth most downloaded iOS app of all time alongside spin-off titles based on various Disney franchises including Temple Run: Brave and Temple Run: Oz. Temple Run's full fledge sequel, Temple Run 2, got six million downloads in just 24 after its release in early January.
Setting Running With Friends apart from other comparable titles is the increased difficulty the further players get and the ability to play against friends or random opponents.
The game will also have a plethora of in-app purchases in line with majority of freemium titles available for purchases like enhancements and other game altering items.
Running With Friends was co-designed in collaboration with Twisted Metal and Calling All Cars developer Eat Sleep Play. According to Value Walk, Zynga gave inputs of its mobile and social gaming aspect while Eat Sleep Play focused on making the game more fun through work on the game's 3D engine along with various other engineering.
Zynga's senior vice president of mobile Travis Boatman told the Guardian that the company's playtests ranked as the highest in Zynga's history.
Running With Friends is also expected to be released for Android soon.