Common Sense Media Review
By Chris Morris
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Realistic, high-flying racer -- with lots of wrecks.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say that the game is entertaining and has appealing graphics, but lacks a significant skill element compared to its predecessor. Although it's considered safe for children, many reviewers noted concerns about in-app purchases and the game's shift towards a pay-to-win model, along with the flashy, cartoonish violence that some feel could impact younger players' perceptions of real-life driving.
- fun gameplay
- safety concerns
- in-app purchases
- skill level issues
- cartoon violence
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
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Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Players steer cars through a wide variety of courses in a number of cities. There's no worrying about acceleration, as that's handled automatically. Users simply have to steer their cars, tapping the lower-left screen to brake and the lower-right to give their cars a boost of nitrus. (Learning when best to use those boosts to gain a better competitive position is a key to the game.) Driving up ramps can send your car airborne, and maneuvering against opponents can cause them to crash (shown in slow motion).
Is It Any Good?
The Asphalt series has never been particularly concerned with physics. It's more about pure arcade fun -- and that focus serves it well in Asphalt 8: Airborne. It's a game that has a lot going for it: a great soundtrack, terrific graphics, some eye-popping stunts for players to pull off, and the carnal joy of causing opponents to wreck. Also, the game's multiplayer mode is done quite well.
Where it falls short is in the gameplay itself. Steering controls are a bit muddy, and the home screen is a mess of boxes with no immediate indication of what you should touch to start playing. In the game, if you try to drift, you often come to a stop or spin out of control. Also, upgrading your car collection can get expensive; although it's possible to do so with cash earned in-game, the app certainly nudges players toward in-app purchases for the high-level vehicles.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
- Pricing structure :
- Release date : August 22, 2013
- Genre : Racing Games
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- Publisher : Gameloft
- Version : iOS 1.0.1; Android varies with device
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 5.0 or later; Android 2.3 and up
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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