[2] The player controls an explorer who has obtained an ancient relic and runs from demonic monkey-like creatures chasing him.

The game was initially released for iOS devices on August 4, 2011, and later ported to Android systems and Windows Phone 8.

Temple Run was designed, programmed, and produced by husband-and-wife team Keith Shepherd and Natalia Luckyanova with art by Kiril Tchangov.

Keith started the prototype by making a game where the character is always running and can be controlled by rotating the environment from a top-down perspective.

When it came to the game's aesthetics, multiple ideas were conceptualized but ultimately settled for the character to running on a pathway resembling the Great Wall of China or Aztec temple.

[5] After the temple design was solidified, Imangi Studios questioned the player character's motivation for constantly running without any breaks and came up with the idea of having something chasing him.

[4] Natalia initially did not like having evil demon monkeys chasing the player character and found them terrifying.

Keith and Kiril, however, liked the evil demon monkeys and convinced Natalia to remain in the final product.

[6] Natalia mentioned coins and Gems were particularly frustrating to add into the game that at one point were removed during development, but were added back due to the team missing them.

[5] The Guinness World Record highest score for Temple Run was 67,702,984 points, achieved by "Thymufasa707" on July 10, 2013.

[10][11] On January 12, 2012, Imangi Studios announced on the Temple Run Facebook page that the game would be released for the Android platform in February.

The game was voted as the Favorite App in the 2013 Kids' Choice Awards[32] and was also nominated for the same category a year later, which it lost to Despicable Me: Minion Rush.

[35] Phillip Levin of 148Apps praised the gameplay but criticizing the backgrounds; "my big qualm with Temple Run lies in the fact that the majority of the game's scenery looks the same.

"[40] AppSpy's Andrew Nesvadba was more impressed, writing "Temple Run tightens up and polishes the endless-runner for the 3rd dimension, giving players a unique and fun challenge that controls like a dream.

"[38] Gamezebo's Art Green called it "an instant iPhone classic," and writing "addictive doesn't even accurately describe the game.

"[36] Slide to Play's Andrew Webster praised the upgrade system, 3D graphics, and controls, concluding "Even if you think you're sick of automatic runners, Temple Run proves there's still much life left in the genre.

"[42] IGN's Justin Davis praised the game's depth and upgrade system, which he felt distinguished it from other endless runners, such as Canabalt and Robot Unicorn Attack.

"[37] PC Magazine's Laarni Almendrala Ragaza called the initial Android version "crisp", with "snappy" navigation.

[52] After a seven-year absence, the series returned with a match-three spin-off, Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure, released exclusively for Apple Arcade on September 17, 2021.