To unlock all the characters in a mobile arcade game, first work out which unlock system it uses: a coin shop, a random prize machine, timed free gifts, secret challenges, collectibles, or real-money purchases. Then play to that system. Coin-shop games reward long, safe runs and daily bonuses. Prize machines reward patience. Secret characters reward reading the hints. Most full rosters come from steady play over weeks, not from one trick.
This guide covers the systems in general. For one game’s full price list, see a game-specific guide like our Capybara Crossing characters guide.
What are the common unlock systems? #
| System | How it works | Example | Best approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coin shop | You pick the exact character and pay coins | Capybara Crossing: 19 capybaras from 100 to 3,500 coins | Plan your order; buy perks first |
| Prize machine | Coins buy a random character | Crossy Road: 100 coins a go | Expect duplicates; don’t rush |
| Free gifts | Timed or daily rewards | Crossy Road’s free gifts; Capybara Crossing’s daily gift | Open the game every day |
| Secret unlocks | Do something specific in play | Crossy Road’s secret characters | Look for hints and community lists |
| Collectibles | Find items during runs | Capybara Rush: oranges, ice cream, bananas and secret letters | Collect safely; detour for rare items |
| Real money | Buy characters or currency | Many free games | Optional; set purchase approval |
Many games combine several. Crossy Road, for instance, gives out characters through its 100-coin prize machine, free gifts, secret unlocks and in-app purchases, and pays coins for gameplay, tasks and watching ads.
How do you unlock characters faster? #
- Survive longer. In coin games, coins come from lanes or tracks you pass, so run length matters more than risky grabs. One coin isn’t worth a 50-point run.
- Claim every free gift. Daily and timed gifts are the easiest coins in any game. Open the game once a day, even if you don’t play.
- Use rewarded videos when you choose to. Many games pay coins for an optional ad. It’s a fair trade when you’re close to an unlock.
- Buy characters with perks first. If characters change gameplay, like coin magnets or extra lives, buy those early. They make every later unlock faster.
- Don’t chase a random machine with money. Paying for random pulls to get one specific character gets expensive fast.
- Read the hints on secret characters. Silhouettes and descriptions usually hint at the challenge. Community lists fill in the rest.
- Skip cheat codes and modded apps. Modern mobile games don’t have button codes, and “unlock all” mod files are a common way to get malware or banned from online games.
Example: a coin shop with no purchases #
Capybara Crossing shows how a pure coin shop plays out. There are no in-app purchases, and all 18 paid capybaras cost 18,350 coins in total. Coins come from lanes (about 30% hold one), a daily gift that starts at 25 coins and grows with your streak up to 75, optional 50-coin videos, and perks: Chef, King and Bee Capy add coins every run, and Flower, Bee, Beach and Golden Capy pull coins toward you.
That makes tip 4 above the whole strategy. A magnet capybara first, then a bonus-coin one, then a survival perk like Robo Capy’s shield, and the rest of the roster comes faster. Our Capybara Crossing coin guide gives the order in detail. For a collectible-based game, compare how to unlock characters in Capybara Rush, and for Crossy Road’s machine and gifts, see the fastest way to get coins in Crossy Road.
Why does unlocking characters feel so good? #
Unlocks are the reason many people start “just one more run”, and it helps to know why.
- Unfinished sets nag at you. A character screen full of locked silhouettes is an open to-do list. Each empty slot is a small goal.
- They give every run a second purpose. Surviving is the main goal. Collecting coins for the next character is a second one, and the tension between playing safe and grabbing a risky coin is much of the fun in arcade games.
- They freshen a repetitive loop. Endless games repeat the same actions. A new look, a new hat or a new perk makes the same roads feel different.
- Rare characters are trophies. Playing as a character that took weeks to earn is a quiet way of showing it off.
A healthy sign is that you’d still enjoy the game with nothing left to unlock. If unlocking starts to feel like a chore, or a game keeps nudging you to pay to skip the grind, it’s fine to stop. For the paying side of this, see why people buy skins in mobile games.
Frequently asked questions #
Is there a cheat to unlock all characters? #
Not in most modern mobile games. Unlocks are usually tracked by the game’s own save or servers, and downloads that promise to unlock everything are often modded apps that carry malware or break the rules of online games. Play it straight.
Do characters change how the game plays? #
It depends on the game. In Capybara Crossing, many capybaras have perks, like coin magnets, smaller hitboxes, a one-hit shield or a more patient eagle. In Crossy Road, some characters change the world around you, such as the Astronaut, who swaps traffic for space scenery. In other games, characters are purely cosmetic.
How long does it take to unlock everything? #
It varies a lot. In Capybara Crossing, the whole shop costs 18,350 coins, which most players collect over a few weeks of regular play with daily gifts. Games with random machines or event-only characters can take much longer.
Why do locked characters show as silhouettes? #
To make you curious. A shadowy outline with an odd hat or shape makes you want to see the real thing. It’s also often a hint for how to earn a secret character.