Asphalt 9: Legends

App review by Paul Semel, Common Sense Media
Asphalt 9: Legends Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Great fast-paced game is one of the best mobile racers yet.

iPhone, iPad, Android Free Racing Games
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 18 reviews

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  • Asphalt 9: Legends screenshot #1
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  • Asphalt 9: Legends screenshot #3

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this app.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Asphalt 9: Legends is an arcade racing game for iOS and Android devices. There's no inappropriate content to be found in the game, and while there are car crashes, the driver's never shown being hurt, nor is any blood shown as a result of these accidents. Players can either buy in-game currency or earn it through playing. This currency can then be used to purchase new cars or car upgrades of both the performance and cosmetic variety. Players can also use real money to buy gas when they run out but want to keep racing, or can watch ads to get packs of cars, currency, and other items. The game also features real cars, which may prompt younger players to ask their parents for a BMW for their birthday. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.

Community Reviews

Simon R.
Simon R. Adult
May 30, 2020
age 9+

I got to top levels - gameplay is great, too expensive though.

I played this a lot and got into a top level club with top 10 players. The gameplay is awesome, but the commercials are overwhelmingly bad. Cars are WAY too expensive - $2000USD for one second grade car for example! To avoid this you have to farm - play lots and lots of boring races - sometimes as many as 500 of the same race in the same week to get a car. It really encourages this kind of thing which is neither fun nor conducive to a balanced life. If you want to avoid this (and you should) then it forces you into funnels where you really have to spend to continue. If you use chromebook they ban you if you get to high levels (they have major cheat problems on that platform so just mass ban everybody at higher levels) - forced me to move to windows to keep playing. I prefer to play manual, but its increasingly full of touchdrive players who use little skills and get lots of advantages, but it's boring if you use TD. Note that the company was sold a couple of years ago, and since then the new owners have been doing all this - the original developers were very good and knew how to run this game but the new owners have no idea and are running it into the ground. In summary, its good for a while but if you're really into it, it's best to move on because the 'addiction cycle' in this game is exceptionally well designed and compelling and a lot of players are spending $100s to $1000s on a regular basis. It's totally nuts so be very careful with this one.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
madefresh
madefresh Adult
November 24, 2022
age 10+

Explicit lyrics in some of the music tracks

My child loves this game. I didn't like that chat cannot be turned off even with Parental Controls on Switch. There is music with lyrics, some of which are explicit. This bothers me but my child loves music and there isn't a way to control this unless the willfully turn off music during game play. I'm not sure why the game makers felt it necessary to include E-rated music in the game.
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Like many arcade-style racing games, ASPHALT 9: LEGENDS doesn't have a story. Instead, it has a career mode where you progress through a series of races with the hope of unlocking more races and earning bragging rights. Along the way, you'll earn and buy new vehicles, as well as new parts and paint jobs for your cars. Players will be able to use these upgraded machines in the career progression mode or when racing against strangers online.

Is It Any Good?

Thanks to a new control scheme, this arcade-style racing game is not only the best this series has to offer, but also one of the better racing games on mobile devices. Like previous installments, Asphalt 9: Legends has you driving street-legal cars in a series of events. These races are complete with crazy jumps, wild turns, multiple pathways, and the ability to deploy a nitro boost for extra speed. You can face all of these challenges alone in the large career mode or online against complete strangers.


But while this edition features both tilt steering and touchscreen steering like previous models, it also adds a new control mode where tapping or holding a side of the screen will drift the car in the appropriate direction, while swiping left or right during specific moments will send you down a path or to that side of the track. Admittedly, these swiping controls make this less like a driving game and more like an endless runner arcade game, which is something hardcore race fans won't appreciate. But for those not concerned with realism, this new system makes Asphalt 9: Legends addictive, fun, and one of the best racing games on a mobile system yet.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about driving safely. You drive both fast and recklessly in Asphalt 9: Legends, but why should you never attempt to emulate what you see in video games behind the wheel of a real car?

  • Since you can earn in-game cash by playing Asphalt 9: Legends, does it make sense to spend a lot of money on additional content?

App Details

  • Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Release date: August 3, 2018
  • Category: Racing Games
  • Topics: Cars and Trucks
  • Publisher: Gameloft
  • Version: 1.0.1
  • Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 8.0 or later; Android 4.3 and up
  • Last updated: August 9, 2021

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