8 Hot Racing Downloads To Get Your Petrolhead Fix On The Go

1. CSR Classics

Free to Play: Android & IOS

The follow up to the 2012 CSR Racing game is cool enough it deserves a separate mention. Just like the original, the “Classics” has slick graphics and plenty of upgrades to keep you entertained. The music may sound like an 80’s porno soundtrack, but it will fit the mood once you fall in love with some of the old beauties. The game features a lot of American muscle, but doesn’t neglect to let us race some great Euro and Japanese rides. Fight your way to a Skyline GT-R, Lancia Stratos or a Jaguar E-Type and fantasise about a time with great cars and lower fuel prices.

2. CSR Racing

Free to Play: Android & IOS

Drag race some of the sexiest cars in the world in quarter mile and half mile stretches. The concept is quick to grasp: rev at the right time on the starting lights and shift gears with precision to win the race. It may sound simple, but five different tiers of difficulty promise to challenge your skills with crew bosses at each level. Win races and get cash to spend on decals, upgrades or new cars. The game prompts you to buy gold to make special purchases, but the gold can also be won by leveling up or beating an opponent in the multiplayer mode. Modifying your car with upgrades to the body, tyres, gearbox, engines, turbo, intake and nitrous will shave a little time off your races and keep you addicted.

3. Real Racing 3

Free to Play (sort of): Android, IOS, Blackberry & NVIDIA Shield

This game has incredible graphics, ten real-world tracks and 22 car manufacturers. It is highly addictive and just a few flaws away from being an amazing mobile game. The pressure to purchase gold coins is relentless, but refusing to spend your hard earned money will force you to wait longer to complete maintenance or purchase new cars. If you can overlook the money issue, you will see this mobile game is truly advanced. The graphics look better than expected for a mobile game, and the steering control is much more like a real racing game on a console or PC.

Choose to control your car with tilt technology or by touchscreen and further customize your experience with brake assist, steering assist and traction control. Go ahead and get sucked into leveling up and upgrading your ride, but be cautious of your spending.

4. Riptide GP2

Pay to Play: Android, IOS, Steam, Windows & Console

Take to the water for a complete change to your racing addiction. This game has received a lot of attention and positive feedback since its release earlier this year. Just like car racing games, you can customise and upgrade your ride to increase performance. Don’t get too caught up on speed because these hydro jets can do a variety of stunts to help you build points. There are even freestyle events where you can show off your skills. Your hydro jet will interact with the water’s surface and wake, presenting a unique challenge to those who are used to car racing. This game costs a small fee to download, but the amazing visuals and interactive surroundings are worth the price.

5. Death Rally

Free on Android, Windows; Pay to Play on IOS, Kindle Fire

This game will make you smile and cure your road rage. This top-down racer is an updated version of the 1996 computer game all about destroying the other cars. A health meter reminds you of how much damage you have taken and how close your opponents are to taking you out of the race.

There are 19 tracks and six levels of customisable vehicles in this not-at-all realistic game. Sometimes an armored car with machine guns and bumper spikes is all you need to brighten your day.

6. Smash Bandits Racing 2014

Free to Play: Android & IOS

Another top-down destruction race with a different objective, Smash Bandits is all about running from the cops and destroying everything in sight. Unlock new vehicles by progressing through the 25 levels and dealing as much damage to the other vehicles and environment. The graphics and detail are good enough to enjoy on a small screen, and the action packed game has just the right blend of destruction and fast driving to get your mind off the real world roads for a moment.

7. GT Racing 2

Free to Play: Android & IOS

Smooth detailed graphics and advanced device steering control make GT Racing 2 one of the better free mobile apps on the market. In-app purchases are available, but the game isn’t impossible to play without spending money. Like Real Racing 3, players can choose to use tilt or touchscreen controls to manoeuvre their vehicles on a variety of real-world tracks.

This game has 13 tracks with cars from over 30 manufacturers and 1400 events to play. The time of day and weather will affect your car just like the full sized racing games in your living room, and the realistic physics between the cars and their environment recreates real driving experiences in a handheld game. This is a must have for those away from home who are suffering from racing simulator separation anxiety.

8. Asphalt 8: Airborne

Free to Play: Android, NVIDIA Shield, IOS & Windows

Jumps, barrel rolls, and big air flips in 47 hot cars just made your dreams come true, although watching your Pagani Zonda R crash might bring you to tears. This game has the sophisticated feel and tilt control of elite racing games along with the fantasy of wrecking perfectly good cars. Compete with friends or against yourself to get the most air in the most impressive tricks. The single player mode has an incredible 180 events to play, progressing you through eight seasons. Currently, the game offers 60 licensed cars to get you hooked on fast and dangerous driving. With high quality graphics, lots of exotic cars, and the ability to launch them in the air, there is no reason not to get seriously addicted to Asphalt 8.

Thousands more racing apps are out there waiting to be played. The Need for Speed apps, Drag Racing, Trial Xtreme 3 and so many others also deserve a shot. What racing games have you downloaded?