Mobile gaming has long ceased to be the province of simple “match three” and casual entertainment. Modern smartphones based Android have computing power that allows you to run console-level projects with detailed graphics and complex physics. Genres that give a feeling of freedom are especially popular, and open-world racing occupy a leading position here.
When you are looking for a game where you can just get behind the wheel and drive wherever your eyes take you, you need projects with a full-fledged open-world. In such simulators there are no rigid track boundaries, and the entire city becomes your racing ground. You can explore the streets, look for secret locations, or just enjoy the ride while listening to your favorite music.
In this article we will look at the best titles for Android that offer just such an experience. We won't talk about linear races where the path is predetermined. Our goal is deep customization of cars and the ability to break traffic rules without real fines, getting only virtual pleasure from the process. freedom of movement, deep customization of cars and the ability to break traffic rules without real fines, receiving only virtual pleasure from the process.
Leaders of the genre: CarX Street and Need for Speed
The undisputed king of mobile racing with an open world at the moment is CarX Street. This is not just a game, but a full-fledged street racing simulator, which is quite high on your device. Implemented here destructibility of the environment, detailed suspension physics and the ability to change the time of day, which affects road grip.
Players can freely travel around the huge city of San Sunny, completing tasks for various gangs or simply riding in a pumped-up car. A unique feature is the ability remove the car from registrationto drift in parking lots and even enter garages for tuning in real time. The graphics here are close to console ones, but require powerful hardware.
- 🏁 Realistic physics of drift and wheel grip grip.
- 🛠 In-depth tuning with replacement of engines and body parts.
- 🌃 Dynamic change of weather and time of day.
The second pillar of the genre remains the series Need for Speed, in particular No Limits and older parts ported to mobile devices. Although No Limits has a more linear structure, the sense of speed and visual style convey the atmosphere of illegal racing. However, for a pure "city driving simulator" CarX Street is now unrivaled in terms of degree of freedom.
⚠️ Attention: CarX Street requires a stable Internet connection even for a single game, since all physics calculations and progress saving occur on the server. Make sure you have a good Wi-Fi or 4G/5G signal before checking in.
Driving and parking simulators: City Car Driving and Real Car Parking
If you need not so much speed as realism of car behavior in traffic, you should pay attention to simulators driving. City Car Driving Simulator offers huge maps where you need to follow road rules. Here you can not only drive, but also fulfill taxi orders, deliver goods, or simply learn to park.
Unlike arcade racing, the weight of the car, inertia and dimensions are important here. You can choose a first-person view, adjust the mirrors and even turn on simulation of a manual transmission with the clutch depressed. This is a great way to spend time in a relaxed mode, driving around a virtual metropolis.
Another representative of the genre is the series Real Car Parking. Despite the name, the game offers an open world where you can freely drive between parking lots. There is a damage system implemented here that looks very convincing: bumpers wrinkle, headlights break, scratches remain on the body.
- 🚦 Compliance with traffic lights and signs to avoid fines.
- 🚕 Mode of working in a taxi or cargo delivery service.
- 🔧 Realistic model of body damage and glass.
For a comfortable game of driving simulators, it is recommended to connect a gamepad via Bluetooth or use a steering wheel. Touch controls often do not provide the necessary precision for parking or drifting.
Arcade freedom: Asphalt and Horizon Chase
Not everyone is ready to put up with simulator complexity. Sometimes you just want to step on the gas and fly around the city, ignoring the laws of physics. The series Asphalt from Gameloft, especially Asphalt 9: Legends and the new Asphalt Legends Uniteoffers a "Free Race" mode or exploration modes in individual locations.
Although Asphalt 9 is more linear, it gives an incredible visual pleasure from the trip to several real cities: San Francisco, Shanghai, New York. You can freely ride around the tracks, collecting nitro and performing crazy stunts. This is arcade element in its purest form, where speed is more important than realism.
Perfect for lovers of retro style Horizon Chase. This is a modern reimagining of classic racing from the 90s. There is no open world in the modern sense, but there is a feeling of an endless drive through beautiful landscapes and cities with an amazing soundtrack. This is unique atmospherewhich cannot be found in other projects.
In arcade racing, not only controls are important, but also visuals. Bright colors, speed effects and a dynamic camera create a holiday feeling. Such games are ideal for short sessions when you need to quickly let off steam.
Arcade racing requires less device resources than simulators, and is better optimized for older smartphone models.
Technical requirements and optimization for Android
Running modern open-world racing is a serious load on the processor and graphics accelerator of a smartphone. Games like CarX Street or Asphalt 9 require a powerful GPU (Adreno 600 series and above or Mali-G70+). If you have a budget device, you will have to make compromises.
In graphics settings, always try to find a balance between texture quality and frame rate. For racing FPS (frames per second) more important than asphalt detailing. Lags and jerking of the image can lead to loss of control at high speed and an accident.
It is also worth considering the heating of the device. Long rides around the city can lead to throttling (reduced performance due to overheating). It is recommended to remove the case while gaming or use smartphone coolers if you plan on long sessions.
- 📉 Close background applications before starting a heavy game.
- 🔋 Make sure the battery charge is above 20% to prevent the system from reducing the processor frequency.
- 📶 Use Wi-Fi 5 GHz for stable ping in online modes.
☑️ Check before playing
⚠️ Attention: Game interfaces and system requirements can be updated by developers. Before downloading, be sure to check the latest requirements on Google Play, as new versions of games may no longer work on older versions of Android.
Comparison of popular open world games
To make it easier for you to choose the right title, we have prepared a comparison table. It will help you evaluate which game is best suited to your needs and smartphone characteristics. We will compare the graphical component, degree of freedom and hardware requirements.
| Game name | Graphics type | Freedom to ride | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarX Street | Realism | Full (Open World) | High |
| Asphalt 9 | Arcade | Limited (Tracks) | Medium/High |
| City Car Driving | Simulator | Full (With traffic) | Medium |
| Horizon Chase | Retro/Style | Linear | Low |
As can be seen from the table, the choice depends on the goals. If you need a hardcore simulator, take CarX. If a beautiful picture and speed are important - Asphalt. City Car Driving Simulator is ideal for quiet driving in traffic jams.
The hidden secret of optimization
In many games, you can manually change the graphics configuration file (if you have access to the files) to make the game run in a lower rendering resolution, which will greatly increase FPS on weak devices.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions questions
Do you need the Internet to play CarX Street?
Yes, CarX Street requires a constant Internet connection, since the game is online-oriented. Single mode also works through the server.
Is it possible to play these races without the Internet?
Most driving simulators (City Car Driving, Real Car Parking) have offline modes. Arcade games like Asphalt may require a network for some events, but free driving is often left accessible without a network.
Why does the game slow down even on a good phone?
The cause may be overheating of the device, full memory or background processes. Try lowering the graphics settings in the game menu and closing other applications.
Do these games support steering wheels?
CarX Street and many simulators support connecting external gamepads and steering wheels via Bluetooth or OTG. Check the control settings in a particular game.