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Top 5 best 2D racing games for iOS and Android

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Top 5 best 2D racing games for iOS and Android

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Updated on June 22nd, 2023 - Swapped one game. Original article by Jupiter Hadley, updated by Cristina Mesesan

The most talked-about racers on mobile have a tendency to be flashy 3D games from sizable AAA developers. That said, there are a ton of great 2D racing games for Android and iOS that offer just as much fun as the likes of Asphalt 9 and CSR Racing 2.

They tend to be very arcadey, silly, and full of intentionally ludicrous physics – the perfect blend for a good time. Some of these games are from developers that later went on to do huge projects, which is a target the creator of our first pick has their sights on.

And so, without further ado, let's take a moment to think about five of the very best 2D racing games for iOS and Android.

In case this is your favorite genre, you should definitely take a look at:

Click Here To View The List »

1
Joe Danger

Developer: Hello Games
Publisher: Hello Games
Available on: iOS + PS Vita + Steam
Genre: Action, Arcade, Conversion, Endless running, Racing
Find out more about Joe Danger
Joe Danger

Before No Man's Sky, indie studio Hello Games was best known for its work on the Joe Danger series. In them, you play as stuntman Joe Danger, whose daredevil antics are now the stuff of legend.

You'll work your way through an extensive career mode, earning stars and unlocking new characters as you go. The whole thing is bursting with personality, and everything from the visuals to the physics system is polished to perfection.

Also, the runner spinoff Joe Danger Infinity could just as easily have ranked on this list.

2
Hill Climb Racing 2

Publisher: Fingersoft
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Racing
Find out more about Hill Climb Racing 2
Hill Climb Racing 2

Hill Climb Racing 2 is a terrific follow-up to Fingersoft's chaotic 2D racer. It serves up a great mix of silly humour and destructive arcade fun, with tons of upgrades for each of the game's weird and wild vehicles.

The physics system is intentionally ridiculous, though you'll gradually learn to master challenging jumps with relative ease. The courses are all fairly distinct, ranging from farmyards to snowy mountains.

To top it off, the character customisation is varied and surprisingly extensive, offering up a number of fun costumes to collect.

3
Rovercraft 2

Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Racing
Find out more about Rovercraft 2
Rovercraft 2

Rovercraft 2 is a fun-looking rover racer that allows you to race through various terrains, trying to collect upgrades, and discover the undiscovered parts of the Galaxy. This racing game is fun if you like customising your very own space rover and taking it for a spin.

You can find a handful of different cars and bikes, but tons of locations and terrains to race through, as well as many other features that make it extremely fun, for both single play or playing with friends.

4
Pumped BMX 3

Publisher: Noodlecake Games
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Sports
Find out more about Pumped BMX 3
Pumped BMX 3

Pumped BMX 3 is much more about performing impressive stunts than racing opponents to the finish line.

It's from the mind behind the recently released Trail Boss, which is also excellent, and it sees you gradually mastering your bike skills and completing a vast number of challenging courses.

The amount of control you have over the bike and your rider is super impressive, and it just feels amazing to pull off jumps, spins, and grinds so effortlessly.

5
Grand Prix Story

Developer: In-house
Publisher: Kairosoft
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Strategy
Find out more about Grand Prix Story
Grand Prix Story

Grand Prix Story is less of a straight-up 2D racing game and more of a management game, where you attempt to manage an auto racing team! Your team needs to become the best of the best when it comes to racing - so you will need to manage them by training your drivers and collecting sponsors so that you can afford upgrades.

It's a simple game, but a very fun twist on the racing genre!

For those of you who like using the full potential of today's phones and aren't into retro looks, here are the best Android racing games, but also the best racing games on iOS!

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Jupiter Hadley
Jupiter Hadley
Jupiter is a prolific indie game journalist with a focus on smaller indie gems. She covers thousands of game jams and indie games on her YouTube channel, letting every game have a moment in the spotlight. She runs indiegamejams.com, a calendar of all of the game jams going on in the world, and judges many jams and events. You can find her on Twitter as @Jupiter_Hadley