# Swimming Upstream — River Obstacle Course

> Endless runner game where you guide a turtle upstream, collecting coins and avoiding obstacles. (iPhone/iPad app by BR Game Development LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swimming-upstream/id1518687873 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [BR Game Development LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1518687872)
- Category: Games, Action, Adventure
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.55/5 from 38 App Store ratings · 12 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 376 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2020-06-21
- Data updated: 2026-06-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swimming-upstream/id1518687873/reviews.md

## What is Swimming Upstream?

Take control of your daring little turtle and embark on an exhilarating journey upstream! Dodge treacherous rocks, swift fish, and drifting debris as you navigate through ever-changing environments. The power to go the distance is in your hands.

Key Features:
Thrilling Gameplay – Test your reflexes as you swim against the current in a challenging yet addictive adventure.
Gold Rush – Collect gold coins to unlock new characters.
Stay Strong – Snag lily pads to restore your energy and keep your journey going.
Explore Stunning Biomes – Glide through serene beaches, lush oak forests, and dramatic canyons, each packed with surprises.
Compete & Conquer – Climb the Game Center leaderboard and see how your skills measure up against friends or players worldwide!

Do you have what it takes to conquer the current? Download Swimming Upstream now and prove you’re the ultimate upstream adventurer!

## Key features

- Thrilling reflex-based gameplay
- Collect gold for new characters
- Gather lily pads to restore energy
- Explore diverse biomes
- Compete on global leaderboards

## Recent user reviews (10 of 12)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swimming-upstream/id1518687873/reviews.md

### 5/5 — New Biome

*2024-12-02*

The new biome - the Giant Jungle is a great addition to the game.  The background scenery and game objects are the developer’s best yet.

Continuing improvements to gameplay and game objects like sailboats and cars show just how far this game has gone since its initial release.

### 5/5 — Best game on the appstore!

*2024-05-21*

Prepare to be swept away by the enchanting world of 'Swimming Upstream '! This charming indie mobile game offers a delightful twist on the classic endless runner genre. Set in the serene waters of a picturesque river, you guide a courageous turtle on an epic upstream journey filled with obstacles and surprises.

The gameplay is equally captivating. With simple yet addictive controls, you'll find yourself effortlessly maneuvering your turtle past obstacles, collecting treasures, and even encountering friendly aquatic creatures along the way. Each new section of the river brings fresh challenges and opportunities, keeping you engaged and eager to see what lies ahead.

### 3/5 — Why landscape view?

*2022-09-10*

A game like this should be in portrait view.

### 5/5 — Fun

*2020-09-07*

Tbh it’s really cool good job!

### 5/5 — Best game

*2020-09-06*

Best game I’ve ever played

### 5/5 — Cute simple and fun

*2020-09-06*

Very wholesome and entertaining also aesthetically appealing visuals

### 2/5 — Tik tok

*2020-09-06, version 1.8*

I’m trying to find the one from tik tok and I’m pretty sure this isn’t it, it’s super basic and boring, as well as the tik tok one said it was coming out on the fifth :/

### 2/5 — It’s ok

*2020-09-05, version 1.8*

I can’t even figure out the controls and it’s really badly made. I’m pretty sure it’s a copy of an actual game that’s being released today, but a terrible copy.

### 5/5 — Kinda dope

*2020-09-05*

This game is actually addictive and the water animation blows me away. CGI has gone so far these days.

### 5/5 — Interesting

*2020-09-01*

Good graphics and is very fun to play, pass time.

## Frequently asked questions about Swimming Upstream

### What is Swimming Upstream?

Swimming Upstream is a free arcade game where players control a turtle navigating an upstream obstacle course. The game features a 4.6-star rating from 38 reviews and is suitable for ages 4 and up.

### How do I unlock new characters in Swimming Upstream?

You can unlock new characters in Swimming Upstream by collecting gold coins scattered throughout the game. These coins are a primary collectible that fuels character progression.

### Can I play Swimming Upstream offline?

The provided data does not specify if Swimming Upstream supports offline play. However, its leaderboard feature suggests an internet connection may be required for full functionality.

### What devices is Swimming Upstream available on?

Swimming Upstream is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It was last updated on December 1, 2024, with version 4.3.

### How often is Swimming Upstream updated?

Swimming Upstream was last updated on December 1, 2024, indicating active development. The current version is 4.3.

### Does Swimming Upstream have ads?

No, Swimming Upstream does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and play without any ad interruptions.

### What is the age rating for Swimming Upstream?

Swimming Upstream has an age rating of 4+. This means it is considered suitable for children aged 4 and above.

### What gameplay mechanics are featured in Swimming Upstream?

Swimming Upstream features reflex-based gameplay where players must dodge obstacles like rocks and fish. Collecting lily pads restores energy, and gold coins unlock new characters.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.3 — 2024-12-01

New Biome:
- Added Jungle themed biome
- Contains all new rocks, junk, and fish

Features:
- Hundreds of combinations of gold rush
- Moving cars on the bridges
- Sail boats in Sandy Shores biome

Changes:
- New images in the choose a biome screen
- Rocks no longer spawn under bridges
- Gold and leafy greens no longer travel through other objects
- Improved particles on shiny leafy green
- Added sound for eating shiny leafy greens
- Improved the colliders on many of the rocks
- Shield amount is now shown next to the strength amount
- Buttons no longer show when selecting the Share button
- Increased the size of the oak and pine trees
- Added people to raft
- Removed loading screen
- Removed piers

Balance Changes:
- Extra Lives cost increased from 125 Gold to 200 Gold
- Increased the speed of the game by 10%
- Increased the rate that bridges appear

Bug fixes:
- The press special ability highlight now comes back after pausing
- Game no longer pauses when connecting to game center
- Fixed buttons showing up immediately when you die with a maxed character class
- Fixed updating issue with furthest distance in the choose a biome screen

### 4.2 — 2024-05-20

Features:
- New and improved character screen
- Animated particles to show level progress at the end of a game

Changes:
- Made gold coins brighter
- Updated help screen
- Added game center icon to River Tour selection
- Removed all four bears

Bug fixes:
- Trains on bridges now always appear from off the screen
- Crashing into a bridge didn’t reset crash multiplier

### 4.1 — 2024-01-16

Bridges:
- 6 new car bridges

Features:
- 3 new bears in the Pine Tree Forest

Changes:
- Added sound to collisions with junk
- Back to back rocks can no longer be the same

Bug fixes:
- Corrected text when you share

### 4.0 — 2024-01-08

Score:
- New scoring system
- Level up each character class

Tutorial:
- New and improved tutorial

Features:
- Thousands of combinations of new trains
- New background music
- New Hippo, Shark, Orca, and Jet Ski characters
- More variations of rocks

Changes:
- Changed some achievement awards
- Improved the change biome screen
- The old scoring is now called distance

Balance Changes:
- Changes to the quantities required to complete achievements
- Reduced how far the piers stick out
- Reduced costs of hats in the market

Bug fixes:
- Fixed bug with bridges in the Grand Canyon and The Great North

### 3.2.1 — 2023-07-13

Bug fixes:
- Fixed the Great North biome

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## More apps by BR Game Development LLC

- [Interstellar Space War](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interstellar-space-war/id1526094729)
- [Pixafe Project](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixafe-project/id6749249395)

All apps by BR Game Development LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1518687872

## Related topics

[br game development llc](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/br-game-development-llc) · [upstream](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/upstream)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*