Crossy Road Rush review: a fun Apple Arcade game that evolves the series

If you've owned an Apple device or walked into an Apple Store in the last decade, you've probably seen or played Crossy Road. The fourth entry, Crossy Road Rush, arrives on Apple Arcade tomorrow (November 5), and I've been surprised by how often I've gone back to it.

One issue I've had with the Apple Arcade subscription service in recent years is how similar the games have seemed. It also says a lot to me when games like Sonic Mania and Red Dead Redemption are available to play with a Netflix subscription, but not on Apple Arcade. But Apple seems aware of this, which is why developer Hipster Whale has slightly changed the concept with Crossy Road Rush.

Crossy Team Racing

As soon as you start the game, you're told how the controls work and what you need to do: get to the finish line while collecting items, smashing boxes, and defeating enemies. As you progress, you can play as a character from the Crossy Road roster, unlock more, and customise them with items.

Adventure Mode takes you through a bunch of levels, including one with a boss, where you dodge its huge attacks and fire back. Each one is varied and offers a challenge that has you putting your iPhone away in frustration, then picking it back up five minutes later. There's also a Survival Mode to test how long you'll last before your hearts run out, which I found myself going to a lot while waiting for my son to finish breakfast on some mornings.

The sound is great, with every spin, crash, and obstacle heard clearly and letting you know danger is close, especially with the bosses. You can also turn off the music and sound effects via the settings if you wish.

As I drove a character down a track, avoiding indestructible crates and spinning into enemies, I was caught off guard when the viewpoint shifted to 2D at times, making me adapt quickly as I moved and bounced between items to reach the finish line. It was a great touch and added to the fun.

As all this was going on, it hit me how Crossy Road Rush reminds me of two games: Crash Team Racing and Sonic Generations. Although you're not competing against others except when in versus mode of up to four players, grinding on a bar and switching between 2D and 3D made me think back to those stages in the Sonic game.

I also played the game on an iPad and Apple TV; there were no issues, and being able to see more of the game thanks to the bigger displays always helps. However, some tweaks to the UI would have been welcome here - there's no need for the 'pause' icon on Apple TV when a controller is connected, and the rest would be better placed at the bottom.

It also lacks accessibility features, which is a shame. A way to slow your vehicle down, or to move the touch controls on an iPhone/iPad, would have been welcome for some players. Hopefully something can appear in a future update.

Overall

Crossy Road Rush isn't a game you'd expect as a new entry in the series. You'd think developer Hipster Whale would take a simpler route by remaking the original Crossy Road to mark its 12th anniversary on November 20. Instead, Rush gives players a fun way to race through many levels while spinning and jumping, especially when the viewpoint shifts to 2D. It's a shake-up for the series, and it works.

I've been surprised by how much I've enjoyed playing Crossy Road Rush. User interface issues on Apple TV aside, I'm still coming back to it. Maybe it's partly because it reminds me of Crash Team Racing and Sonic Generations. But it doesn't matter - Crossy Road Rush stands on its own as a fun game you can play almost anywhere. If you're a first-time Apple Arcade subscriber, this is a great game to play before you explore the rest of the catalogue.

Crossy Road Rush is available on Apple Arcade via compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV devices from November 5.

I reviewed Crossy Road Rush on an iPhone 15 Pro Max, an iPad Pro, and an Apple TV 4K, with a code sent by Plan of Attack.