Flat Out – The 18 Best Racing Games on Android

There are few things in life that can compare to the rumble of a V8, the scream of a v10 or the thrill of going flat out down a straight bit of track with reckless abandon. It’s rumored that Henry Ford once said Motor racing started 5 minutes after the second automobile rolled off of the production line. Racing is human nature. If you are craving your racing fix, and looking to drive angry, then Android fans, have we got a list for you! Here are the 10 best racing games on Android.

#18 Traffic Rider

If you’re looking to let loose and go blazing up the freeway on two wheels, ducking between cars, darting left and right, then this one’s for you. Traffic rider is a bike racing game that gives highway ninjas the opportunity to test their reflexes. All while going flat out across multiple picturesque but busy highways. In-game sounds are exhilarating, the exhaust note and the roar of your bike’s engine are intoxicating. Both the bike and environment are rendered in beautiful detail. A smooth frame rate, tidy controls, awesome sounds, and fun challenges mean that this is sure to be a hit. You don’t have to be a bike guy/gal to enjoy what Traffic Rider has to offer.

#17 Absolute Drift

Drifting is like a relationship with the road, it’s a deeply spiritual experience, it’s meditative. Absolute Drift offers this to on the go gamers the world over. Create your own visual masterpiece through drifting, as you power slide from corner to corner your car’s tires will leave inky black lines. A mark of where you’ve been and how well you travelled the terrain. So in turn your experience this mesmerizing show of spirals, circles and S’s. The game feature’s several modes, different environmental challenges and unlockable vehicles. This might not be the most action packed adrenaline fueled entry on this list, but it’s engaging and requires a certain level of mastery.

#16 Dirt Trackin’ 2

Nothing beats the roar of an engine pushed to it’s limits and the feeling of going flat out on the dirt as the car powerslides through the corners. Dirt Trackin’ sees you duke it out against rival racers around a variety of tracks against multiple racers. It features 1st and 3rd person views just in case you want to get a little closer to the chaos. There are multiple cars, multiple liveries and multiple colors to choose from. You can add individual parts to your body kit and paint them accordingly. Do you have a lucky number you’d like to add to your car? No problem, Dirt Trackin’ 2 is a lot of fun and it’s really easy to pick up and play.

#15 F1 Mobile Racing

Code Masters and Eden games bring you this super realistic F1 racing experience in F1 Mobile Racing. F1 Mobile Racing pushes racers to their limits around some of the most challenging tracks known to man. Each of which has been lovingly recreated from real world circuits. What’s more, you’ll go through each of these stages in a car that handles just like the real thing. Of course being F1, you’ll be penalize for poor etiquette and for cutting corners so keep your racing line clean. Iconic F1 cars, awesome sounds and stunning tracks are the order of the day.

#14 Need for Speed No Limits

This next game might be a bit of a surprise to you avid racing game fans. Despite being an older entry, Need for Speed No Limits is a beautiful game that has received recent updates that have seen visual upgrades and the introduction of new in-game elements and an overhaul of the UI. For many of us racing nerds our first exposure to racing games was a Need for Speed Game. Unfortunately the game limits free players to a set number of races before making you watch an ad. Despite this, the smooth gameplay, stunning aesthetics and multitude of customisable setups really solidify this game as one of the greats.

#13 Rush Rally 3

Few forms of racing are quite as hardcore as Rallying. Rallying is one of the toughest forms of motorsport, unlike others if you make a mistake in a rally it’ll often result in a close encounter with a tree or worse yet a steep cliff. More often than not rallying games pit you against yourself and the track – which incidentally is often made up of a variety of surfaces: mud, snow, tar and gravel. Rush Rally 3 encapsulates everything it means to be a Rally Driver. It gives you several modes to prove your grit in, multiple views and cars as well as several different challenging courses. Rush Rally 3, like actual racing, rewards players for their dedication to the sport. So put the pedal to the metal and send it!

#12 Need for Speed Most Wanted

I remember playing the original Need for Speed Most Wanted when it came out, I’ve enjoyed it just as much now as I did then. This game combines high octane, adrenaline fueled racing with the rush of dangerous high risk evasive maneuvers to escape the FUZZ. That’s right, for those of you who have never played a Most Wanted game, you’ll have to evade the cops while fighting for victory and trying to keep your car in one piece. Think Dukes of Hazard but with more expensive cars. Gone are the days of using a wall or opponent to help you turn. Furthermore this game has seen several updates since its original release, it looks stunning, it has a bevy of the best cars and a tier list of the most reckless outlaws. Can you make it to the top?

#11 Crazy Taxi Classic

Crazy taxi is the most aptly named racing game around. Originally released to arcades in the late 90s, this game see’s racers go all out in a mad dash across the city to deliver passengers to their location on time. However, you’ll have to contend with several other cars, pedestrians and trucks all trying to claim their space on your tarmac. What’s more, your passengers will reward you with tips for crazy antics, such as: driving extra close to oncoming traffic, catching hang time and flooring it as much as possible. This may be an old game but it is charming in its simplicity. There will always be something about it that keeps us coming back for more.

#10 Riptide GP 2

If you ever played a Jet Moto game on the PlayStation 1 then this is a very familiar experience. For those who are unfamiliar with the Riptide series, this is a jet ski racing game that allows players to do risky tricks in the form of airborne maneuvers. You can equip multiple tricks before the start of the race. The gameplay is fluid and feels smooth and tight. Riptide GP2 also features a career mode and an online multiplayer. As is the norm there are the multitude of color combinations to choose from for both your ride and rider. This is definitely an improvement on GP1.

#9 Top Speed 2

Do you want to throw down with your friends from light to light? Build the ultimate super car racing machine? Customize it to fit your personality and own tastes? Then Top Speed 2 is definitely a game to check out! Similar to CSR Racing 2, Top Speed 2 is centered around drag racing and timing those shifts perfectly, however it is also about building up your ride until it’s the best beast on the streets. Both of the above drag racing games are heavily reminiscent of the Drag Racing mode from Need for Speed Underground 2, so it also ticks certain nostalgia boxes too.

#8 Horizon Chase

Rip up the tarmac in this tribute to the glory days of classic arcade racing. Horizon Chase is one of the best ways to let off steam. It’s a furious race for the finish across several rapidly changing visually appealing 3D environments. This game feels distinctly like the arcade game Outrun. Especially in the overall style and that both games forego banked corners, I mean who needs them anyway? Horizon Chase delivers a better experience than its predecessors with its own unique spin of cartoon 16 bit inspired retro-aesthetic It features multiple maps, smooth and rapid gameplay experience and a soundtrack that feels like it’s straight out of the late 80s. This game is simple enough to master and so much fun to pick up when you have a few minutes.

#7 Mario Kart Tour

Slide your way to sideways glory in this absolute legacy of a racing game. Mario kart needs no introduction as it was originally released in 1992 for the Super Nintendo! Each iteration of the game has brought something new to the table and it’s become a mainstay of the racing genre. Mario Kart has always provided more of an atypical arcade experience, with item pickups and the ability to do tricks or glide over opponents heads. This is great fun if you desperately need your racing fix while on the bus or subway. The game rewards wacky tricks and sideways shenanigans which is sometimes a welcome contrast to the hyper realistic sims that have seen a popular rise recently. As always there are multiple tracks, characters and karts to choose from and the added nostalgia of the old gang.

#6 Beach Buggy Racing 2

Another dirt racing offering, Beach Buggy Racing 2 charts a course out along beaches and dirt roads around several idyllic locations. Like Mario Kart Tour this game features pickups which allow you to punish your opponents with various projectiles or you can gain an extra boost with some Nitrous Oxide. Pretty visuals and unique obstacles keep the gameplay fresh and exhilarating. The game does have occasional pop-in where items are suddenly rendered along the horizon. However more often than not you’ll be so focused on the race and you likely not even notice. Multiple tracks, cars, decals, paint options and even different playable characters. The majority of the above can be unlocked through various race wins and checking in daily.

#5 Kartrider Rush+

Kartrider Rush+ pits multiple players against each other, across a variety of tracks, in an impressive 3d environment. It’s surprisingly addictive. There are multiple modes to unlock and try, as well as multiple karts, tracks and items. The game can be a little unforgiving if you mess up a drift, which makes gameplay feel balanced and all the more engaging. It also has an Arcade mode which sets teams against each other in a battle to the finish, the objective: to win! While also knocking other players out using projectiles. All while defending both yourself and teammates using various items or shields. It’s a really fun game and is definitely deserving of your time.

#4 Asphalt 9: Legends

Craving the thrill of high risk maneuvers at break neck speeds across crazy tracks that will force you down a road that’s just wide enough for your ride? Or you can spin through the air and build up your boost gauge for the perfect moment. Asphalt 9 legends offers you the opportunity to race on tracks around the world in cars most of us can only dream of. Upgrade your rides as you win races or tick off objectives. You can even join a team of other drivers as you take part in global racing events for new rewards and the chance to unlock better cars. Asphalt 9: Legends offers so much variety, in tracks, environments and cars. 

#3 CSR Racing 2

Despite being a slightly older game, CSR Racing 2 features gorgeously rendered vehicles in stunning detail. The game focuses on drag racing as opposed to the circuit or track style of some of the other offerings on this list. Just like drag racing in real life it’s all about precise throttle control and perfectly timed shifts to get the edge and sail past your rival. Customize your cars and unlock various performance packages to guarantee you the best chances to leave your opponent in the dust. What’s more you can build your collection of cars out to staggering sizes which means you’ll have the perfect ride for every race!

#2 Real Racing 3

Are you ready to shift things up a gear? Real Racing 3 offers a lot of the same customization options of the other games on this list. There’s slightly less room for physical body mods but there are multiple graphics and color options to choose from, as well as a bevy of engine upgrades for each car. Looking for a Gran Turismo style game on the go? Here it is! One aspect to delight in is the burble issuing from the exhaust. It’s an element that the kart games don’t deliver on and it’s a sweet music by contrast. The controls are effective and tight, making it a cinch to cut the ultimate racing line around the track, especially if your ride is a Red Bull F1 car.

#1 GRID Autosport

The ultimate driving experience is wholesome and complete, it’s something that’s different for everyone. It needs to suit multiple styles or driving disciplines. That’s exactly what GRID Autosport offers… everything, multiple modes, challenging driving tracks, unique cars with glorious exhaust notes, immersive environments and cheeky AI that will hog the race line. You’ll be challenged to compete and succeed in multiple driving disciplines: Touring, Open wheel, Endurance, Tuning and Street. GRID Autosport requires dedication and concentration, it asks you to be the best for the best teams. It feels and looks like a console game on android!

Sometimes all you need to do is drop a gear and disappear, we hope these offerings give you the adrenaline hit you need to carry you through your week. Just remember what Colin Mcrae always said, “When in doubt, flat out!”.