EarthKart: Google Maps Driving Simulator

About

"EarthKart: Google Maps Driving Simulator" offers a unique gaming experience by letting players drive on Google Maps' locations worldwide. This real-world driving simulator combines the thrill of kart racing with the exploration of iconic places like New York, the Great Wall of China, and Marrakech. Get ready to traverse the entire Earth in this drive-on-Google-Maps game!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

EarthKart: Google Maps Driving Simulator screenshot

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 794 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The concept of driving around real-world locations using Google Maps is innovative and exciting.
Many players find the game fun and enjoyable, especially when exploring familiar areas.
The developers are actively engaging with the community and working on improvements, showing potential for future updates.

The monetization model is frustrating, with players limited to one free session per day and needing to pay for additional plays.
The game suffers from poor execution, including janky vehicle controls and low-quality graphics that detract from the experience.
Many users report bugs and issues with the game, such as getting stuck in the environment and problems with map rendering.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
Gameplay in this title is criticized for its lack of depth and polish, with many users noting frustrating mechanics, such as loose steering and frequent glitches that hinder progress. While the concept of combining real-world locations with engaging elements is praised, the execution feels cheap and overly reliant on microtransactions, leading to a perception of the game as a cash grab. Overall, the gameplay experience is seen as subpar, with significant room for improvement in vehicle mechanics and user interface.
- “The concept is absolutely brilliant—combining real-world locations with engaging gameplay is something I've always dreamed of.”
- “The mechanics are smooth, and the game offers a surprising amount of depth for its current stage.”
- “I loved the lighting, ability to switch cameras, variety of vehicles and gameplay modes; flying birds are nice.”
- “But the gameplay is nothing special itself, and the times I got stuck and couldn't get out of the scenery happen too much.”
- “The simplistic mechanics and lackluster care put into the little amount of self-made assets make it feel like a cash-grab attempt rather than a genuine driving game.”
- “The developers seem more interested in enticing players with fleeting rewards and microtransactions than providing a substantial gameplay experience.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
46%
18%
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that while the 3D visuals are cool, they fall short of expectations, often resembling outdated graphics reminiscent of early gaming consoles. Players have expressed disappointment in the lack of detail, particularly in nighttime settings and map clarity, which detracts from immersion. Despite these criticisms, some users appreciate the vibrant graphics and the unique concept of exploring real-world locations, suggesting that the overall experience can still be enjoyable despite the graphical shortcomings.
- “The game’s intuitive interface makes it easy to zoom in and out, while the vibrant graphics enhance the experience.”
- “The controls are smooth, and while the graphics aren't perfect, they're good enough to enjoy the experience.”
- “Now I know this is just Google Maps with PS1 graphics, but it's still pretty cool looking.”
- “The idea of driving around the earth using Google Earth's imagery is certainly interesting, and it provides a fresh perspective on exploration, but the graphics leave much to be desired.”
- “When it turns nighttime, it doesn't matter if you are in a big city like New York; you will never see any other sources of light, which ruins both the immersion and aesthetics of the game.”
- “Worst game I have ever played; the graphics are absolutely horrendous, and you have to pay to go to a different location.”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
75%
15%
The monetization strategy of the game has received significant criticism, with players finding it confusing and excessive, particularly given the game's simplistic nature. Many feel that the reliance on microtransactions and in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience, leading to a perception of the game as unpolished and exploitative. However, there is a note of improvement, as the developers have responded to feedback by removing some of the microtransactions.
- “I think that the monetization policy makes sense since APIs do cost money to use.”
- “It's a neat game; the monetization is kind of bad, but it's fun to drive around your neighborhood.”
- “The developers seem more interested in enticing players with fleeting rewards and microtransactions than providing a substantial gameplay experience.”
- “Last but not least, the monetization system - having to pay with coins to start the session feels extremely weird.”
- “Having your game based on microtransactions when it's not even remotely release-worthy is simply a poor decision, and I cannot recommend this game, as much as I'd like to because it really could have been a good game.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is frequently described as buggy and having a clunky interface, which detracts from its overall stability. Despite these issues, many players still find it enjoyable and recommend it for its fun gameplay.
- “Clunky and buggy interface.”
- “The game is buggy, but honestly, apart from that, I recommend it as it is pretty fun.”
- “Buggy af, but hella fun!”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to overheating on high-end computers and long loading times for maps. Users express a desire for customizable handling options to enhance gameplay and make it more engaging. Overall, the game's performance is not recommended for those with capable hardware.
- “One feature I'd like to see would be customizable handling - it would be good for users to be able to adjust stiffness or springs/shock absorbers, maybe tweak tire grip and car performance; that way it could be more drivable and engaging to the user's preferences.”
- “Conclusion: I do not recommend downloading this game on good computers; it heats up, is poorly optimized, and takes a long time to load the maps!”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story of Earthkart captivates players through engaging missions that promote a sense of global exploration, inviting them to immerse themselves in the surrounding world.
- “With engaging missions and a sense of global exploration, Earthkart encourages players to delve into the world around them.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is criticized for being less immersive due to background sounds, such as sporadic coughing and artificial traffic noises, which detract from the overall experience.

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EarthKart: Google Maps Driving Simulator

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