Asphalt 8 - Car Racing Game | Game Brain

About

"Asphalt 8 - Car Racing Game" is a fast-paced racing game with great gameplay and stunning visuals. The game features a variety of cars and motorcycles to drive, as well as online multiplayer. However, it has a high level of grinding, excessive advertisements, and bugs that can detract from the overall experience. Despite some flaws, the game is full of humor and provides wholesome entertainment for racing enthusiasts.

Genres & Tags

Racing

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,000 reviews

graphics1.6k positive mentions

monetization1.9k negative mentions

The graphics are stunning and the gameplay is engaging, providing a thrilling racing experience.
The variety of cars and tracks keeps the game fresh and exciting, with many events to participate in.
The controls are intuitive and easy to learn, making it accessible for both new and experienced players.

The game has become heavily monetized, with many cars and upgrades locked behind paywalls or requiring excessive grinding.
There are too many ads that interrupt gameplay, making the experience frustrating and less enjoyable.
Recent updates have led to significant changes in car classes and pricing, making it difficult for players to progress without spending real money.

graphics
2,379 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
29%
2%
The graphics of Asphalt 8: Airborne are widely praised for their realism and detail, often compared favorably to console-quality visuals. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, smooth animations, and the variety of cars, which enhance the overall racing experience. However, many users report issues with changing graphics settings, as the game often defaults back to medium quality despite attempts to set it to high, leading to frustration among players with capable devices. Additionally, while the graphics are generally well-received, some users feel that the game has become overly monetized, making it difficult to progress without spending real money.
- “The graphics are so realistic and the gameplay does not disappoint.”
- “This game has incredible graphics, and I enjoy the various time-limited events.”
- “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, making for an immersive experience.”
- “The game is best but I don't know why it's always stuck on medium graphics. I change it to high graphics every time and it reboots, but the graphics are still on medium. (Gameloft, please fix this; it's ruining the experience.)”
- “What the hell just happened to the game? My device used to support full graphics, and now it is not even supporting medium graphics, lagging so much. What the hell just happened?”
- “Every time I change the graphics, it just reverts to medium graphics even though I can't play the high graphics smoothly in the last version.”
monetization
2,024 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
5%
93%
The monetization aspect of Asphalt 8 has drawn significant criticism from players, primarily due to the overwhelming number of ads that interrupt gameplay. Many users report being bombarded with ads before and after races, as well as during menu navigation, leading to frustration and a diminished gaming experience. Additionally, the shift towards a pay-to-win model, where in-game purchases are necessary for progression, has alienated long-time fans who feel that the game has become more focused on generating revenue than providing enjoyable gameplay. Overall, while the game retains its engaging graphics and mechanics, the intrusive ads and monetization strategies have led to a decline in player satisfaction.
- “The game is as good as it gets in terms of racing and multiplayer gives you good challenges against cars of the same level, but there is a huge problem, and that is the in-game purchases are either too expensive or they give barely anything.”
- “I would love to give you guys a five-star rating but I can't because the in-game purchases are too difficult; you can't actually race until you buy a car, you must actually spend real money to enjoy the game fully, I don't find that interesting.”
- “This game is my number one favorite game; it's even better when there are no ads in the middle of a race or if you are doing anything else. You get a choice to watch ads when you want to earn free prizes.”
- “The game is exciting and has great graphics, but the constant interruptions by ads ruin the experience.”
- “More time watching ads than playing on top of in-game deals and merchandise pop-ups with nearly every interaction.”
- “The amount of ads this game has is unbearable; better provide a one-time purchase for ad removal like any other game.”
gameplay
549 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
37%
5%
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its fun mechanics, smooth controls, and impressive graphics, making it engaging for players. However, many users express frustration over the excessive number of ads that disrupt the experience, as well as the game's shift towards a pay-to-win model, which hinders progression without spending real money. While the core gameplay remains enjoyable, the monetization strategies and connectivity issues significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is absolutely amazing; I love to play it.”
- “The graphics, mechanics, and the gameplay are really well balanced.”
- “With its fast-paced gameplay, wide variety of cars and tracks, and exciting multiplayer mode, it remains one of the best mobile racing games available.”
- “Gameplay takes a back seat to ads.”
- “The problem is the developers put money above gameplay, which ruins the whole experience.”
- “Watching ads or spending money is the only way to progress after a few hours of gameplay.”
music
272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the soundtrack as energetic and fitting for racing, enhancing the overall experience. However, there are frequent complaints about the limited selection of songs, repetitive tracks, and the removal of beloved older music. Players express a desire for more variety and the ability to customize their music choices, indicating that while the current music is enjoyable, it could benefit from updates and improvements.
- “The best racing game of all time, the cars are awesome and the background music while racing was just incredible.”
- “Omg this game is something else, the background music, sound, graphics everything is out of this world, I enjoyed playing this game!”
- “Amazing tracks, the vehicles handle perfectly, and the music is awesome.”
- “The music is not good and you can only control the direction, not really the speed.”
- “Also, there is a bug with the music; it is only playing one song on each radio station and it's getting kind of annoying listening to the same song in every match.”
- “I used to love this game but the new update is annoying because it feels like this isn't an Asphalt game and more like NFS with the driver, and I give it 1 star because you got rid of the song 'Burn It Down' and the new format for the garage is annoying.”
stability
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, lagging, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues such as the app crashing during races, unresponsive menus, and problems with ad rewards not being credited. While some users still enjoy the game, the overwhelming sentiment is that persistent bugs and performance issues significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Still one of the best games in the app store. I know the hype of Asphalt 9, but we were happy with Airborne and needed stable, bug-free gameplay. Asphalt 8 has done it and provides lag-free gameplay up to date without losing graphics quality. Go for it.”
- “It is the full version I played on my PC, and it runs great on my phone!”
- “After restarting and clearing the cache partition, the game runs great!”
- “Seriously, my phone used to run this game perfectly fine, now some races lag like a PowerPoint presentation and the menu randomly freezes at times, which infuriates me and demotivates me to continue playing.”
- “The game freezes and sometimes doesn't let me select things on the screen; it took away 6 of my cars, the controls are a little wonky in my opinion (aka you can't drift anymore whatsoever), it had also deleted my account by itself.”
- “Every time you enter a world series race, the game freezes as opponents are being searched for.”
optimization
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The optimization of Asphalt 8 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and long loading times, even on high-end devices. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower settings, others express frustration over the game's increasing resource demands and the impact of frequent ads on performance. Overall, while the graphics and gameplay are praised, there is a strong call for further optimization to enhance the experience across a wider range of devices.
- “The game is designed very well; the cars are of high performance and the graphics are realistic, but there is only one problem with the game.”
- “You guys have definitely optimized the game, and it does seem to run smoothly, although I hope for more optimizations.”
- “This is such a good game; the graphics are pretty, controls are adaptive, it's fun to play this game, and the most important thing is the game is well optimized - no lags, no irritating interruptions like in other racing games.”
- “The game's optimization has been ruined and it consumes even more battery.”
- “This game has turned horrible after optimization, you watch ads to get 10x your reward & once the ad is completed, the screen goes black, music keeps on even after minimizing the game!”
- “Game's poorly optimized, it runs bad on 2015 flagships and modern mid-rangers on all graphical presets since the last 4 major updates.”
grinding
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
Players express significant frustration with the grinding mechanics in the game, describing it as tedious, overly time-consuming, and often leading to a pay-to-win model. Many feel that the costs for cars and upgrades have become exorbitant, making progression nearly impossible without spending real money or watching excessive ads. While some appreciate the game's quality and nostalgic elements, the current grinding experience is seen as a major deterrent, with calls for a more balanced approach to earning in-game currency.
- “Grinding adds a layer of challenge that makes the game more engaging and rewarding.”
- “The grind for upgrades keeps the gameplay fresh and encourages players to strategize their approach.”
- “While it can be time-consuming, the sense of accomplishment from grinding for credits and upgrades is incredibly satisfying.”
- “It feels empty now, about 118 cars are obtainable, but back then it was a lot more, but due to license expiring it feels more empty and emptier... and also the fact that it feels too grindy sometimes... or upgrading cars feels overpriced or even buying some cars.”
- “Love the game but it's now turned to pay-to-win; unless you pay to recharge your fuel or pay to upgrade your car parts, it will take a long time of grinding just for one upgrade which will barely make a difference.”
- “The gameplay experience is a shell of its former self with basic things now needing tedious amounts of time or real-world money to obtain.”
story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
84%
9%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for lacking depth and engagement, with many players noting that there is no substantial narrative to follow. While some enjoy the dynamic missions and racing challenges, the overwhelming focus on monetization and the "pay-to-win" model detracts from the overall experience, making progression feel tedious and frustrating. Players express a desire for a more developed story mode and better rewards to enhance gameplay without the constant need for real-money purchases.
- “I love the story mode, moto bliss, and the gauntlet race.”
- “Honestly, I've been playing this for a few years now, I love the story. I haven't quite finished it, but its graphics are better than any other games like this I've seen, and its controls are easy and quick to learn.”
- “The game has really good graphics and challenging missions which makes the experience even better; I really enjoy playing it.”
- “No storyline.”
- “2nd problem: there is no story mode, career mode is there but no story makes it boring playing it again and again.”
- “I could say this game is only for crazy car guys but if you are expecting any storyline then it is a waste of time.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is often derived from the absurdity of its technical issues and the overwhelming presence of ads, which players find both frustrating and comical. Many users highlight the irony of losing significant progress while still being bombarded with advertisements, leading to a sense of dark humor about the game's cash-grab mechanics. Overall, while some players appreciate the game's fun elements, the humor frequently stems from the game's shortcomings and the developers' perceived greed.
- “The funny thing is, there are times the server is down and everything is not working right, but the ads are still playing perfectly.”
- “And the most funny thing is that I farmed over 5 million credits, 104 cars with so many max-proed, suddenly I found all my progress lost with 1 car (Dodge Dart) and a debt of 5 million credits.”
- “Funny in room with friends 🤣🤣”
- “This game is undoubtedly insane, but every time I uninstall it and reinstall it after a couple of months, I lose all my cars and credits. This is not funny. And this time, I faced another problem: my graphics won't go to high settings, even though I have a 2.2 GHz processor. Is this a joke?”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, highlighting its potential for nostalgia and enjoyment, but also experiencing significant frustration due to technical issues and data transfer problems. The emotional impact is evident, with many feeling heartbroken over lost progress and the game's current state, despite acknowledging its past greatness and engaging gameplay. Overall, the emotional experience is a blend of joy and disappointment, reflecting both fond memories and current frustrations.
- “It is heartbreaking.”
- “It's fun and heartbreaking, but you'll get used to it.”
- “Best graphics, controls, and attractive gameplay I have ever seen... just mind-blowing sequences and terrible crashes of the car shown in an explained and different way which is heart touching.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, players find the game's replayability to be high, particularly praising its graphics and engaging gameplay. However, issues related to Wi-Fi dependency for car upgrades and purchases significantly hinder the experience, making career mode frustrating and less accessible for some users. Suggestions for improvement include making certain in-game transactions independent of internet connectivity to enhance overall playability.
- “The replay value is through the roof fun.”
- “It may be difficult to obtain cars early game, but this is probably one of the top racing games considering its graphics and its replayability.”
- “The extraterrestrial for Atari was more playable than this.”
- “Career mode is unplayable; they should make C class cars cost gold coins instead of blue coins, but gold coins are hard to obtain. They should have a daily side career for D class to earn gold coins once C class career unlocks, to make the career more playable, I guess.”
- “I can't upgrade my cars; my Wi-Fi is terrible, but at this point, the game is unplayable because you can't play with bad Wi-Fi. The loading takes forever, and you can't buy cars either. It's annoying and quite unfair. Please make the game more playable by making car upgrading and purchasing a non-Wi-Fi related feature.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful graphics and serene ambiance, complemented by powerful sound design. Players particularly enjoy the immersive experience created by the stunning visuals and the presence of iconic cars, such as the Ferrari 458. Overall, it contributes to a captivating and enjoyable gaming environment.
- “Loved the feel and the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “Beautiful graphics, serene atmosphere, powerful rocking sound, and awesome cars. My favorite car is the Ferrari 458. Asphalt 8: Airborne is the best ever.”