All 8 Game Modes: A Complete Overview
Taxi Swiper features eight distinct game modes, each tied to a specific vehicle. Every mode plays differently, pays differently, and demands a different set of skills. This guide breaks down each one so you can understand how they work, what they pay, and how to approach them strategically. For vehicle-specific stats and upgrade paths, see the complete vehicle guide.
How Game Modes Work
Each of the eight vehicles in Taxi Swiper unlocks a unique game mode. When you select a vehicle, you are automatically placed into that vehicle's mode. Missions spawn on the map, you drive to the pickup point, then deliver to the destination. Customer reviews (1 to 5 stars) depend on your speed, and higher stars mean bigger tips. Going off-road costs you a life, and losing all lives ends your run.
The eight modes progress from simple, low-earning tasks to complex, high-paying operations. Here is every mode in unlock order.
1. Food Delivery (Scooter)
How It Works
You start every new game here. The Scooter is free to unlock, and food delivery missions are straightforward: pick up an order from a restaurant marker, deliver it to a customer marker. Routes are short, usually within a few blocks, making this the most forgiving mode in the game.
Speed and Earnings
The Scooter tops out at 25 km/h, the slowest vehicle in the game. Base fares are modest, but the short distances mean you can chain deliveries quickly. Per-minute earnings are competitive with the Taxi in the early game, especially before you have Speed upgrades.
Strategy
Do not underestimate the Scooter. Its slow speed actually makes it easier to navigate tight turns without going off-road. Use this mode to learn city layouts, particularly Prague's bridge crossings and one-way streets. Aim for 5-star reviews on every delivery to build up cash for your first Taxi purchase.
2. Taxi Rides (Taxi)
How It Works
Unlocked for $200, the Taxi introduces passenger pickups. You drive to a customer, pick them up, and take them to their requested destination. Distances are longer than food deliveries, and the timer is tighter relative to the route length.
Speed and Earnings
At 54 km/h, the Taxi is more than double the Scooter's speed. Fares are proportionally higher, and the longer routes mean bigger base payouts. This is where most players start to see real money coming in.
Strategy
Route planning matters here. Open the map at the start of each ride to identify the fastest path. Avoid narrow side streets where NPC traffic can block you. The Taxi is your first real moneymaker, so invest Earning upgrades into it early. Check the wiki for a full comparison of fare rates per city.
3. Police Chase (Police Car)
How It Works
At $500, the Police Car introduces chase missions. A suspect vehicle appears on the map and begins moving. You must pursue and reach the suspect before the timer expires. The suspect does not stop or slow down, so you need speed and routing skill to intercept.
Speed and Earnings
The Police Car reaches 70 km/h, the fastest base speed of any vehicle. Chase bonuses are generous, especially when you complete them quickly. However, the high speed makes off-road mistakes more costly because you cover more ground before you can correct.
Strategy
Anticipate where the suspect is heading rather than chasing directly behind them. Use the map to predict their route and cut them off. Speed upgrades are critical for this mode because even a 10% boost can mean the difference between catching the suspect and running out of time. This mode pairs exceptionally well with weekly challenges that reward fast completions.
4. Fire Rescue (Fire Truck)
How It Works
Unlocked at $1,000, the Fire Truck sends you to emergency locations. You must reach the fire site within a strict time limit. There is no second destination; the mission ends when you arrive. However, fire sites often spawn in hard-to-reach locations, far from main roads.
Speed and Earnings
The Fire Truck moves at 60 km/h, which is respectable but not top-tier. Rescue payouts are solid, and the single-destination format means you spend less time per mission. The challenge is navigating a large vehicle through city streets with 120+ NPC cars.
Strategy
Know your side streets. Fire sites spawn in places the other modes rarely send you. If you have been sticking to main roads, this mode will punish that habit. Invest in Lives upgrades before playing Fire Rescue in Rome or Paris, because the tight streets and heavy NPC traffic make off-road mistakes almost inevitable during your first few runs.
5. City Bus (City Bus)
How It Works
At $2,000, the City Bus introduces multi-stop routes. You follow a predetermined path with several passenger stops along the way. Each stop you reach on time adds to your fare. Miss a stop or run out of time and the route ends.
Speed and Earnings
The Bus tops out at 45 km/h, making it the second-slowest vehicle. However, multi-stop routes pay a cumulative fare that can be very lucrative when you hit every stop. A perfect bus run with all stops completed often earns more than a single Taxi ride.
Strategy
Consistency is king. You do not need to be fast, you need to be reliable. Avoid off-road mistakes at all costs because losing a life mid-route ends your entire fare chain. Practice the bus routes in Prague before attempting them in the more complex cities. Speed upgrades help but Earning upgrades are more valuable here because you are collecting multiple fares per run.
6. Package Delivery (Delivery Van)
How It Works
Unlocked at $3,000, the Delivery Van operates similarly to the Scooter's food delivery but over much longer distances. You pick up a package and deliver it across the city. Some missions chain multiple packages in a single run.
Speed and Earnings
At 55 km/h, the Delivery Van is a solid mid-range vehicle. Package fares scale with distance, so longer routes pay more. Multi-package runs that chain efficiently can produce excellent per-minute earnings.
Strategy
Efficiency is everything. When you get a multi-package run, plan the delivery order to minimize backtracking. The map is your best friend in this mode. Experienced players report that the Delivery Van is one of the best overall earners when played optimally, because the long routes mean fewer transitions between missions and more time actually earning.
7. VIP Transport (Limousine)
How It Works
The Limousine costs $5,000 and introduces VIP passengers who demand smooth, fast rides. VIP missions have generous fares but strict star requirements. Customers expect premium service, and anything below 4 stars results in a significantly reduced tip.
Speed and Earnings
At 65 km/h, the Limousine is fast and handles well. VIP fares are the second-highest in the game per single trip. However, the star penalty for slow deliveries is steep, so you need consistent 4- and 5-star ratings to make this mode worthwhile.
Strategy
This mode rewards mastery. You need excellent city knowledge, fast reflexes, and good route planning to maintain high star ratings. Do not attempt VIP Transport until you are comfortable with the city you are playing in. Upgrade Speed first for this vehicle, since the star rating depends directly on delivery time. The player's guide has more on star rating mechanics.
8. Waste Collection (Garbage Truck)
How It Works
The final vehicle costs $8,000 and unlocks waste collection. This mode works like the City Bus with multi-stop routes, but collection points are scattered more randomly across the map rather than following a linear path. You visit bins in any order and then drive to a disposal site.
Speed and Earnings
At 40 km/h, the Garbage Truck is the slowest vehicle. However, a full collection run with all bins visited pays the highest single-mission fare in the game. The slow speed is offset by the sheer value of completed routes.
Strategy
Plan your collection route before you move. Because you can visit bins in any order, the optimal path varies each run. Experienced players mentally divide the map into zones and clear one zone at a time to minimize driving distance. This vehicle is also the gateway to prestige, since unlocking all eight vehicles is the prestige requirement.
Earnings Comparison
When comparing raw earnings potential across all eight modes, the order from lowest to highest per-mission payout is: Scooter, Taxi, Police Car, Fire Truck, City Bus, Delivery Van, Limousine, Garbage Truck. However, per-minute earnings tell a different story. The Police Car's speed and quick completions make it one of the best earners per minute in the mid-game. The Delivery Van's multi-package efficiency rivals the Limousine in the late game. And the Garbage Truck's top earnings per run are offset by its slow speed.
The best overall strategy is to play the highest vehicle you have unlocked, with upgrades focused on that vehicle. When grinding for a specific dollar amount, faster modes like the Police Car or Taxi can sometimes outperform slower, higher-paying modes simply because you complete more missions in the same time.
Choosing the Right Mode for You
If you prefer relaxed gameplay, the Scooter and City Bus offer low-pressure sessions. If you want adrenaline, the Police Car and Fire Truck deliver intense time pressure. If you want to maximize income and climb the leaderboard, the Delivery Van and Limousine offer the best balance of speed and pay. And if you are ready to prestige, the Garbage Truck is both your final unlock and your ticket to the permanent earnings multiplier.
No matter which mode you prefer, understanding all eight gives you an advantage when tackling weekly challenges that may require switching between vehicles. Check the FAQ for quick answers about specific mode mechanics.