About Asphalt 8 - Car Racing Game

Asphalt 8: Airborne is a racing game that puts spectacle first. Instead of carefully following the rules of the road, you throw supercars off ramps, spin them through the air and land at full speed. Races are short, loud and bright, and the sense of speed is the main attraction.

The garage is large, with cars inspired by real sports and supercar brands, grouped into classes that decide which events you can enter. You earn credits by winning races, then spend them on new cars or upgrades to engine, tyres and nitrous. Nitrous is the heart of the driving. You build it by drifting, jumping and taking down rivals, and using it at the right moment is more important than raw top speed.

Controls can be set to tilt, touch steering or on-screen buttons, and the game offers assisted steering for beginners, so you can start enjoying yourself straight away. Experienced players often switch to manual steering for more precision. Events include classic races, knockouts where you try to wreck opponents, and multiplayer matches where you race real players around the world.

A few things help you progress. Do not spend everything on the first expensive car you see, because a well-upgraded cheaper car often beats a stock premium one. Learn the tracks, since many contain hidden shortcuts and ramps. Use nitrous on straights and ramps rather than before sharp corners, and practise the barrel roll in the air, which refills the nitro bar.

Visually the game looks impressive on modern phones, with reflections, sparks and motion blur, and it needs a fair amount of storage and a decent device. On older phones you may want to lower the graphics settings. It is free to play, but cars and upgrades can take a long time to earn without spending, and the game includes optional purchases and ads.

Because the game is regularly updated with limited-time events, the experience changes from week to week. New cars, seasonal challenges and special races appear, and these often reward you with generous credits. Checking in a few times a week rather than playing marathon sessions is a good way to collect rewards while keeping the game feeling fresh and enjoyable.

Asphalt 8 comes from Gameloft. If you want a fast, flashy racer for short sessions, it is worth a look.

Who it suits. Asphalt 8 suits players who want flashy arcade racing, short races and plenty of cars. If you prefer realistic driving, a simulator-style game may appeal more. Mastering nitro. Nitro gives a burst of speed, so use it on straight sections and after drifts, not while turning sharply. A well-timed nitro through a chain of jumps or a shortcut often wins a race. Learn where tracks have ramps and plan to hit them at speed. Drifting and stunts. Light taps while drifting help you hold the line, and barrel rolls in the air give extra nitro when you land cleanly. Avoid crashing into walls, which scrubs speed quickly. Choosing cars. Cars are grouped into classes. A car that suits an event is better than the fastest car you own. Upgrade the car you use most instead of spreading credits thinly. Controls. Try tilt and touch steering options in settings to find the one you control best. Auto-acceleration helps beginners focus on steering. Costs and data. The game is free with ads and optional purchases, and it needs a good amount of storage and data for downloads, so use Wi-Fi. Online play may include chat, so check settings for children. Compare with Asphalt Legends, CSR 2 and Hill Climb Racing 2.