Subway Surfers: What Are Barriers in Subway Surfers?

Sep 27 2025

Overview Subway Surfers

Subway Surfers is a popular endless runner game developed by SYBO and Kiloo, where players control a character to run endlessly through train tracks to avoid obstacles. With colorful graphics, simple but addictive gameplay and seasonal city updates, Subway Surfers has become one of the most downloaded mobile games of all time.

One of the key elements in the gameplay is barriers. These are obstacles that appear continuously on the track, forcing players to react quickly to overcome them.

Subway Surfers Story

Subway Surfers does not have a complex plot like role-playing games, but still has a fun setting that creates its own appeal. Players play as Jake - a naughty boy who likes to draw graffiti on the walls of train cars. After being discovered by the railway inspector (Inspector) and his dog, Jake runs on the rails to escape. From there, the endless running journey begins.

The interesting thing is that Jake is not alone. Along the way, you can unlock many other characters such as Tricky, Fresh, Yutani and dozens of other unique faces from many different cultures. They join the "endless escape", bringing diversity and creating more motivation for players to explore.

Although the plot is simple, Subway Surfers is still exciting enough: you are not only running to score high scores, but also participating in a colorful "naughty adventure". It is this factor combined with the speed gameplay that has helped the game conquer hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide.

What are Barriers in Subway Surfers?

In Subway Surfers, barriers are obstacles placed on the rails or along the road to challenge the player's dodging skills. They come in many different forms: from low barriers that you need to jump over, to high barriers that force you to roll down or change paths in time.

Barriers are an important part of the gameplay, as if you collide directly with one, you will be caught immediately by the Inspector and his dog, ending your turn. Therefore, learning to recognize and react quickly to each type of barrier is the key to achieving a high score.

Common types of barriers in Subway Surfers

Low barriers: force players to jump (swipe up) to pass.

High barriers: block the entire path, need to slide (swipe down) or change to another path.

Double or triple barriers: appear consecutively, requiring a combination of jumping and sliding actions.

Train-side barriers: appear close to the train, making the space narrower and harder to avoid.

Each type of barrier requires players to remember how to handle it to maintain a smooth running rhythm.

The role of barriers in gameplay

Barriers are not only a challenge, but also contribute to keeping the game's tense pace. As the character's speed increases over time, accurately handling continuous barriers will challenge the player's ability to concentrate to the maximum. This is also the reason why Subway Surfers becomes a highly competitive game, despite its simple mechanics.

In addition, successfully overcoming barriers also helps you maintain combo chains, pick up more coins, and make more effective use of power-ups. Experienced players even turn barriers into advantages by combining rhythmic jumping and sliding movements to increase reflex speed.

Tips for effectively overcoming barriers

To succeed in Subway Surfers, players need to remember some basic tips when facing barriers:

Always observe far ahead to prepare timely actions.

Jump over low barriers, slide under high barriers, and combine movements when encountering a series of consecutive barriers.

Use a hoverboard to avoid losing immediately if you accidentally collide. The hoverboard will break instead of the character, helping you continue running.

Practice regularly to have faster reflexes at high speeds.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Do barriers in Subway Surfers change from city to city?

Yes. When the game updates World Tour, barriers are often redesigned to suit the context, but the way they work remains the same.

Do hoverboards help you get over barriers?

Yes. Hoverboards act as “safety shields”. When they collide with barriers, the hoverboard will break but the character will continue running.

Are barriers random or patterned?

Barriers are programmed according to existing patterns, but randomly combined in each run. This keeps the gameplay fresh and unpredictable.

Do barriers get harder as the speed increases?

Yes. The higher the speed, the denser the number of barriers that appear and the more your reflexes will be challenged.

Conclusion

Barriers in Subway Surfers are the core element that creates appeal and challenge for players. They force you to maintain focus, quick reflexes and master the jumps, slides, and changes of paths. Understanding each type of barrier and applying effective dodging tips will help you achieve high scores, unlock many new characters and fully enjoy the colorful world of Subway Surfers.