Item: Rat On The Run
Rating: 76
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

76/100

Rat on the Run is a charming, retro-inspired platformer that perfectly captures the 'easy to play, hard to master' philosophy. You play as a hungry rat navigating through a variety of levels to collect cheese and reach the exit. The controls are incredibly simple—automatic running with tap-to-jump mechanics—but the level design is where the complexity lies. Each stage is a spatial puzzle requiring precise timing and quick reflexes to avoid traps and enemies.

The pixel art is nostalgic and colorful, and the soundtrack is a catchy chiptune delight. What I appreciated most was the 'challenge' levels that introduce unique mechanics like zero-gravity or moving platforms. It’s the kind of game that is perfect for short sessions but addictive enough to keep you playing for an hour as you try to get a perfect three-star rating on a difficult stage. It’s a polished, lighthearted adventure that is great for players of all ages.

Reviewed on: Tue Feb 17 2026

Dinsun Review

Donut Games has a very specific style—simple, slightly retro, and incredibly consistent. Rat on the Run is exactly that. It doesn't try to reinvent the genre. You jump, you collect cheese, you reach the exit. It’s honest gameplay. The physics are snappy, which is the most important thing for a platformer.

However, it’s a bit too easy for my taste. I flew through the challenges in a single afternoon. The 'Endless' mode is there to provide value, but once you’ve seen the tileset for the 50th time, it loses its charm. It’s a game for kids or for when you’re stuck on a bus for ten minutes. It’s fine, it’s polished, but it’s not something you’ll remember a month from now. A solid 6, nothing more.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Very responsive controls
Classic, clean 2D art style
Great for quick play sessions

Extremely short main campaign
Lack of mechanical variety in later levels
Sound effects can get grating quickly

Technical Report

Performance: Rock solid 60fps; optimized for even the oldest iOS devices.

Accessibility:

Simple one-touch controls

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love classic Donut Games titles or need a simple platformer for a younger gamer.

Skip if: You want a challenge or deep world-building.

Similar Games:

Sunday Lawn
Jungle Run

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPhone 14
Playtime: 3 hours
Status: All Challenges 3-Starred

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

321366355

$1.99 4+★4.7 162 reviews

Author : Donut Games

Pubish Date : Sat Jul 11 2009

Last Update Date : Fri Aug 02 2019

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.35Fri Aug 02 2019

- 10 Levels added
- Improved support for the latest generation of iPhones
Thanks to all fans for your support, kind emails and reviews. You're the reason we keep releasing these updates.
### Over 7 million downloads ###
Help Ratty get FATTENED UP for the winter in this hilarious platform game, the very first and original game in the "Rat on" series!
Ratty has just found the house of his dreams - full of cheese blocks and snacks.
There's just one problem. The floors are full of slimy blobs, mean spiders and other baddies who try to stop Ratty from getting the goodies.
Includes the bonus game RAT ON A SCOOTER.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
GAME FEATURES:
- THREE game modes:
- 1: "CHALLENGES" with 60 levels to beat
- 2: "ARCADE MODE" with 8 floors to clear
- 3: "RAT ON A SCOOTER" the original version -- jump, grind and grab cheese puffs
- Classic platform fun
- Simple, responsive controls
- Lots of ACHIEVEMENTS to unlock
- Donut Games Collector's Icon #07
- The original Ratty game, experience where it all began!
- And much more...
TECH FEATURES:
- Game Center support
- MFi controller support
- ION Arcade controller support
- Universal App (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Enjoy another Donut Games release!
Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
### Over 7 million downloads ###
Help Ratty get FATTENED UP for the winter in this hilarious platform game, the very first and original game in the "Rat on" series!
Ratty has just found the house of his dreams - full of cheese blocks and snacks.
There's just one problem. The floors are full of slimy blobs, mean spiders and other baddies who try to stop Ratty from getting the goodies.
Includes the bonus game RAT ON A SCOOTER.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
GAME FEATURES:
- THREE game modes:
- 1: "CHALLENGES" with 60 levels to beat
- 2: "ARCADE MODE" with 8 floors to clear
- 3: "RAT ON A SCOOTER" the original version -- jump, grind and grab cheese puffs
- Classic platform fun
- Simple, responsive controls
- Lots of ACHIEVEMENTS to unlock
- Donut Games Collector's Icon #07
- The original Ratty game, experience where it all began!
- And much more...
TECH FEATURES:
- Game Center support
- MFi controller support
- ION Arcade controller support
- Universal App (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Enjoy another Donut Games release!

Ratings & Reviews

4.7 out of 5 with 162 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Rat on the Run is a fast-paced platformer starring Ratty, a rodent on a mission for snacks! Navigate through complex levels filled with obstacles, enemies, and of course, lots of cheese. With simple one-tap controls, you must time your jumps perfectly to navigate around traps and reach the end of each stage. Featuring various game modes, including the classic 'Cheese Chase' and special challenge levels, Rat on the Run offers a delightful and addictive experience for platformer fans.

Features

Classic arcade-platforming action

Multiple game modes and dozens of levels

Charming retro-inspired pixel art

Global leaderboards and achievements

Tips

Wall Jumping

To reach higher platforms, tap the screen just as Ratty hits a wall. He will perform a wall kick, allowing you to chain jumps together to reach secret areas filled with bonus cheese.

Promotion Videos

Rat On The Run Sale - YouTube

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Gameplays

Managing Speed

Ratty runs faster the longer he is on the ground. Use short hops to maintain a steady speed when approaching a series of small gaps, or stay on the ground to build momentum for a long leap.