The Top Five mobile racing games

Sadly, playing racing games doesn't help you drive in the real world - a principle explained to me by my driving instructor the other day, as I drifted round a corner in fifth gear in her Ford Focus while fumbling for the non-existent nitro button.

In fact, achieving success in a driving game generally involves flouting as many principles of the Highway Code as possible, including the ones about not slamming police vehicles into walls, and not flinging bananas or turtle-shells at your fellow motorists.

Such is the case on mobile, where we've been blessed with a succession of top-quality racers in the last year. If you want to sample the best driving games that mobile has to offer, I suggest you start with these five titles...

Top Five Mobile Racing Games

Asphalt 3: Street Rules Publisher: Gameloft If you've played a bunch of console racers, you'll feel at home with Asphalt 3 from the start - Gameloft has crammed in the best bits of Burnout, Ridge Racer and Outrun, with a slick control system and attractive visuals. There are actually three versions available: a 3D game for handsets that can handle it, a 2D version for those that can't, and the most recent incarnation for Nokia's N-Gage handsets, which includes a global rankings system.
Need For Speed: ProStreet Publisher: EA Mobile Of course, some of the biggest console racers have mobile versions nowadays too, including EA's Need For Speed franchise. The last version, Need For Speed: ProStreet, had the usual eye-popping 3D visuals, but also introduced a mobile-friendly drifting system, where you have to keep your drift meter (pictured) in the green for a speed boost. The core racing action is truly satisfying, while the Career mode adds plenty of meat.
The Fast and the Furious: Fugitive (3D) Publisher: I-play It has to be said, we wouldn't pay to go and see a new Fast and the Furious film nowadays, but we'd certainly pay for I-play's 3D mobile games based on it (the 2D versions are patchier, mind). The Fast and the Furious: Fugitive offers an addictive mix of races and missions, with street races augmented by the police trying to run you down. Super-smooth handling and top-notch visuals make it excellent (and you can now get it as part of a two-for-one deal with its predecessor).
Project Gotham Racing Publisher: Glu Mobile This was one of the console conversions that, when we first heard about it, we couldn't believe would work on a phone. However, Project Gotham Racing more than works - it's fantastic. The idea is the same as the console game - earn new cars by racing around the world, getting points (or 'kudos') for stylish drifts, jumps and overtaking. The handling is the star though: you'll be pulling off all these stunts with aplomb within minutes. A 3D and a Symbian version are available.
Rayman Kart Publisher: Gameloft It's not all uber-swizzy 3D racers on mobile, mind. Our final game cops more from the Mario Kart school of driving games, and does it superbly. Rayman Kart features everyone's favourite limbless hero in an all-action cartoon kart game, with loads of characters, vehicles and courses to unlock, and a bunch of pickups to see off your rivals. The structure of the game means you'll have plenty of challenge as you progress, providing lasting depth.

And watch out for... We've already written about several racing games coming in the next couple of months, some of which look likely to zoom their way past some of the titles above.

For example, Glu Mobile is set to release Speed Racer, based on the upcoming Wachowski Brothers film. It'll pit you against a bunch of characters from the movie, mastering the discipline of 'Car-Fu'. Don't ask.

Glu is also behind the upcoming console conversion Race Driver GRID, with licensed cars and a team-building mechanic. Meanwhile, Gameloft is about to release Ferrari World Championship, based on the world's most famous Formula 1 team.

Finally, Rayman better look over his shoulder, for he's about to get some competition from another console character. Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart is on the way, and it looks like a feast of fun.