Subway Surfers City looks familiar at first glance, but once you actually start playing, you’ll quickly notice it isn’t just a simple endless runner like the original. There are multiple modes, character systems, progression mechanics, and even stamina restrictions in certain areas. That means your early decisions matter a lot more than they used to in classic Subway Surfers.
If you’re just starting out, here’s how the game really works and what you should focus on first.
Leveling Your Account
When you begin, most of the game’s features are locked. You’ll only have access to the basic endless “Run” mode, which works similarly to the classic Subway Surfers gameplay.
Your main goal early on is to raise your account level, since this unlocks almost everything else in the game. As you level up, you’ll gradually open new districts, characters, boards, trials, and other systems.
This makes early grinding in the standard run mode extremely important. Even if it feels repetitive at first, it’s the fastest way to unlock the real content.
Characters and Unlock Tokens
Characters are far more important in Subway Surfers City than in older versions of the game. They don’t just change appearance — they have abilities and skills that affect gameplay.
Early on, you’ll start earning special unlock tokens. Once you collect enough, you can choose a new character to unlock. Choosing wisely here makes a big difference in your early progression.
One of the strongest beginner choices is Tasha, because her abilities revolve around generating protective bubbles. These bubbles can save you from crashes, allow extra jumps, and even chain into additional protection if you’re lucky. This makes her extremely forgiving for new players while also boosting your scoring potential.
Don’t Ignore Jake
While stronger characters may seem more appealing, you shouldn’t neglect leveling Jake, the default character.
Many modes in the game restrict which characters you can use. Jake is one of the most widely allowed characters across these modes, making him extremely reliable for progression.
If you ignore him completely, you may find yourself unable to complete certain challenges later.
City Tour Mode Requires Strategy
The City Tour mode is one of the biggest new features compared to classic Subway Surfers. Instead of endless running, this mode uses a stamina system called tickets.
Each run costs tickets, and you must complete specific objectives to earn stars and rewards. These stars unlock a progression track that functions similarly to a battle pass.
Because of the stamina limit, you should avoid wasting runs. Focus on completing objectives efficiently instead of playing casually.
Trials
Trials act like daily dungeon-style challenges where you can earn specific materials. Some provide coins, others give revive items or upgrade resources.
Among these, coin trials are the most important. Upgrading characters and boards requires huge amounts of coins, and this is the fastest way to farm them consistently.
If you ignore coin trials early, you’ll quickly hit progression walls.
Monetization and Ads
One thing new players should be aware of is how heavily monetized the game is compared to older Subway Surfers.
Many bonuses require watching ads, including revives, reward multipliers, and even some free battle pass rewards. While you can still progress without spending money, the game often pushes you toward ads or purchases.
This doesn’t make the game unplayable, but it’s something you should expect from the start.
Battle Pass Characters
The Subway Pass functions as the game’s main battle pass system, offering both free and paid rewards.
Typically, each pass includes a new character with very powerful abilities. These characters are often stronger than standard ones, which encourages players to buy the pass.
However, the pass isn’t required to progress. It mainly speeds up progression rather than being mandatory.
Managing Your Resources Early
New players should avoid spending coins or upgrade materials randomly. Focus on upgrading a small number of core characters rather than spreading resources across many.
Since some modes restrict character usage, it’s better to build a reliable roster slowly instead of trying to level everyone at once.
Your early progression should follow a simple priority path.
Focus first on leveling your account through endless runs. Unlock a strong early character like Tasha, but continue upgrading Jake since he’s required in many modes. Use daily trials to farm coins consistently, and play City Tour carefully to avoid wasting stamina.
Once you establish a small roster of upgraded characters and stable coin income, the rest of the game becomes much easier to manage.
