Item: Asphalt 8: Airborne+
Rating: 80
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

80/100

Asphalt 8 was always an incredible arcade racer that unfortunately became the poster child for aggressive mobile monetization. Asphalt 8: Airborne+ is the game we always wished it was: a premium, uncompromised racing experience. The sheer joy of ripping around Tokyo or the Alps, pulling off ridiculous barrel rolls without worrying about 'fuel meters' or premium currencies, is incredibly refreshing. Gameloft successfully stripped out the pay-to-win elements and left behind pure fun.

The graphical fidelity still holds up surprisingly well, providing a fantastic sense of speed and chaotic destruction. The car roster is massive, and actually being able to unlock the high-tier vehicles through genuine progression and gameplay feels rewarding. The handling model is strictly arcade—don't expect a simulation here—but it's tight, responsive, and perfectly suited for touch controls.

However, it's not without its flaws. The port is somewhat buggy; I've experienced a few unexpected crashes during intense races, and the progression curve, while fixed, still feels a bit 'grindy' in the later stages, showing the bones of its free-to-play origins. Despite these issues, it is undeniably the best way to experience one of the greatest mobile racers ever made.

Reviewed on: Mon Sep 20 2021

Dinsun Review

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with Gameloft. They make beautiful games, but they usually try to nickel-and-dime you at every turn. Asphalt 8: Airborne+ is a rare exception where the game is allowed to breathe without a credit card being swiped every five minutes. The sense of speed is undeniable, and the 'airborne' mechanics—while completely ridiculous and physically impossible—are genuinely fun to pull off. It’s pure popcorn entertainment.

But let’s be honest: the physics are non-existent. If you’re looking for a simulation like Gran Turismo, stay far away. This is a game where you barrel-roll a multi-million dollar supercar off a ramp in Iceland and land perfectly without a scratch. It’s absurd. The visuals are still impressive for a mobile title, but the constant 'hype' and aggressive soundtrack can be exhausting after half an hour. It’s a solid racer, but it lacks the finesse of a true classic.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Huge roster of licensed cars
Fantastic sense of speed and scale
Fair progression system in the Arcade version

Physics are laughably unrealistic
Repetitive mission structures
Audio can be grating and over-the-top

Technical Report

Performance: Occasional frame drops on older hardware; load times are acceptable.

Accessibility:

Tilt-to-steer
Auto-acceleration options
Full controller support

Audience Fit

Buy if: You love Burnout-style arcade racing and want a huge collection of cars.

Skip if: You prefer realistic driving physics or a quiet, methodical racing experience.

Similar Games:

Asphalt 9: Legends
Need for Speed: No Limits

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40, Hardcore Conservative Gamer
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro / DualSense Controller
Playtime: 25 hours
Status: Tier 5 career unlocked

Asphalt 8: Airborne+ revitalizes the iconic arcade racing masterpiece for Apple Arcade, entirely removing the heavy microtransactions that bogged down the original free-to-play release. Players can collect, upgrade, and customize a massive roster of high-performance vehicles from top manufacturers like Ferrari, Ducati, and Porsche. The game is famous for its physics-defying stunts, allowing racers to launch off ramps, perform barrel rolls, and catch massive air while navigating gorgeous, globe-trotting tracks. With a deep career mode and aggressive AI, it offers a premium, high-octane driving experience.