Best racing games for Android

By Marc Lagace, Simon Sage Wednesday, Mar 15, two thousand seventeen at 1:00 pm EDT

Speed your way past the competition in these outstanding racers for Android!

Update March 2017: These are still the best racing games to play on Android. Added another classic, Colin McRae Rally, to the list.

We’ve rounded up the best racing games to be found in the Google Play Store. With so many options to choose from, we’ve compiled a list that covers a entire slew of sub-genres — from stylized arcade racing to very realistic racing sims — so no matter your preference, you should find an outstanding game that’s right for you. Let’s hit the road!

Riptide GP: Renegade

Riptide GP: Renegade is the latest and greatest in futuristic jet ski racing franchise on Android. Harkening back to memories of games like Jet Moto or Wave Race 64, Riptide GP: Renegade features a story-driven career mode alongside options to run a quick race or battle against online opponents. The graphics are top notch, with water and mobility blur effects indeed providing the game a good sense of speed. It uses tilt-steering to control your hydrojet, which is less than ideal, but Bluetooth gamepads are also supported and make things smoother. Speaking of controls, one key aspect of the game is pulling off insane stunts, which are effortless to do with quick swipes. There’s slew to unlock and upgrade as you play through the career mode, and the AI is top notch, providing a real challenge compared to other racing games for Android. You’ll need a pretty good phone to treat the graphics and gameplay, and also plays superb on the NVIDIA Shield tablet and Android TV box.

If you’re looking for some tips before diving in, check our our Beginner’s Guide for Riptide GP: Renegade.

Asphalt 8: Airborne

Asphalt 8: Airborne is our beloved racing game on mobile right now. It skips all pretensions of realism and provides an over-the-top, high-octane game with all the fixings. Players can work (or pay) their way through the career mode, unlock fresh rails, upgrade the ones they have, or take the competition online in staggered or live multiplayer. The usual race modes are there, plus a fresh ‘Infected’ one where players have to tag other racers before giving way to an explosive virus.

The amazingly polished graphics and outstanding soundtrack make Asphalt eight an adrenaline excursion you won’t soon leave behind.

Beach Buggy Blitz

Beach Buggy Blitz is a joy, easy-going racing game where players cruise along the coast of a tropical beach, attempting to hit progressive checkpoints before the timer runs out. Gathering coins along the way helps fund your buggy upgrades, but make sure to avoid the various huts, animals, and fellow racers splashed about the course — impacts will slow you down. The graphics are colorful and sleek, including some nice water, dust, and lighting effects.

Hop into Beach Buggy Blitz if you’re looking for something light and kid-friendly.

Horizon Pursue – World Tour

Horizon Pursue is a joy retro-style racer with gameplay reminiscent of the of the classic 80s arcade racer Pole Position. Featuring bright and colorful retro graphics over seventy tracks spanning thirty two cities, there’s slew of joy to be had here. You begin each race from the back of a twenty car pack, and must weave your way past your opponents to take the crown. Keep winning to upgrade and unlock up sixteen available cars.

You get to play the San Francisco tracks but then must pay to unlock the utter game. Given how beautiful and joy this game is, we bet you will.

Crimson Bull Air Race The Game

Crimson Bull Air Race is a faithful mobile version of the real-life air races that Crimson Bull holds around the world. Hop behind the controls of your very own plane as you commence down your career path to becoming a Master Class pilot. Courses are based on their real-life counterparts, and span the globe.

Whether you’re a fan of the race series, or just want to live the desire of being a pilot, this game is legit.

Repulze

Repulze is proof that not all excellent racing games require wheels. If you’re a fan of the F-Zero or Wipeout franchises, you’ll love Repulze. Race through twenty four winding, gravity-defying tracks in experimental hovercrafts. Another thing that sets Repulze apart from other games is the way you collect turbo boosts. Based on your craft’s polarity, you either aim to go through green or crimson gates, which unlock boosts. And the entire game is packaged up in an overarching storyline about the evil corporation controlling everything from the shadows.

Repulze is a fantastic, futuristic racer that’s certainly worth the $0.99 price tag.

Colin McRae Rally

I recently rediscovered this port of this classic PC game from way back in 1998. Rally car racing is all about whipping your car down gravel and filth roads while attempting to set the fasted time on the course. This offline racer is a excellent option if you’re less interested in street racing games.

The controls are taut with on-screen and motion-based options available, and the game has a good seize on real-life physics, which is crucial for rally racing. You’ll need to learn how to go after the on-screen and audio directions given by your co-driver so that you keep your car on the road and avoid smashing into trees. If you do, your car will take harm, which stacks up quick when you’re attempting to contest for a championship. There’s many tracks to unlock and all the iconic rally car brands are included.

Despite the lengthy loading times, this is still the best rally car game you’ll find on Android.

Thumb Drift – Furious Racing

Want to race, but only have one forearm free? Thumb Drift is the flawless game for you! Featuring charming graphics and a ordinary premise, your objective is to drift sideways through four increasingly challenging courses. With over seventy cars to buy via in-app purchases, or unlock randomly using coins collected on the track, there’s hours of mindless joy to be had here.

Thumb Drift is the casual, endless racer you’ve been waiting for.

Real Racing Three

Real Racing three is tied to keep gearheads entertained. It puts real brand-name cars on real-world tracks – hence the name. It features an interesting asynchronous multiplayer system whereby lap times are recorded from your friends, and you race against a bot that’s driving at that time. Of course you can bump them out and affect their track time, and there’s a single-player career worth playing through too. Over time, players earn fresh cars and can upgrade various mechanical bits with their winnings, but make sure you take it effortless on your car — you’ll have to keep your rail in good condition to avoid repair costs.

Real Racing three is absolutely gorgeous, and the white-knuckled racing activity will keep you coming back for more.

Rapid & Furious Legacy

Quick & Furious Legacy is a racing game based on the popular act movies. The game features a good mix of different races and missions. Hit the nitro and blast past your opponents in street races, haul races, drift races. Winnings are spent on upgrading rails to take on thicker and badder challenges as you progress through the story mode, featuring all your dearest characters from the film franchise.

Swift & Furious Legacy offers bite-sized racing with varied gameplay and beautiful graphics.

Death Rally

Death Rally is a gritty, combat-heavy top-down racing title. Players deck out their rail with all manner of Mad Max-style weaponry and eliminate competitors in races and straight-up death matches. Weapon parts litter every battlefield, as well as cash bonuses and nitro speed boosts. The nice thing about Death Rally is that even if you don’t place very first in a race, you can still walk away with a fair bit of cash just from deep throating up opponents.

Death Rally is a fine title for those looking to unload a bit of road rage.

CSR Racing

CSR Racing is a clean-cut haul racing game. Players needn’t worry about steering — all you have to do is ideally time your gear switches. Indicators tell when to make your next shift, and assuming your timing is up to snuff and your rail is amply upgraded, you should pull across the finish line before your opponent, and earn some winnings. Premium currency can be used to buy high-end cars, while the standard currency can be used to buy the others, as well as upgrade specific parts such as the gear box, engine, intake, and figure.

CSR Racing boils down the racing practice to unspoiled twitch reflexes.

Your turn

What’s your go-to racing game of choice? Let us know in the comments!

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