Hill Climb Racing (series)

Overall Opinion: Available for both Android and Apple devices, Hill Climb Racing doesn't exactly tread new ground in the online game marketplace. Simply, physics based driving games have been around for years, and there's an abundant choice of options available of varying quality. But Hill Climb Racing does a decent job of taking the formula and polishing it together in a package that's both nice to look at, fun to play, and free from some of the more egregious pay to win models you'll find in mobile games. The goal of Hill Climb Racing is simple. Drive your vehicle through a range of hilly obstacle courses, collect coins, and minimize the damage caused in the process. While it may sound easy on the surface, this is complicated by the increasingly treacherous terrain you'll be forced to navigate and the unrealistic, cartoony physics by which your vehicle operates. The biggest risk is flipping your vehicle over, and preventing this from happening requires judicious use of brakes and acceleration and a fundamental understanding of the physics at play. Game overs happen when players hit the head of their avatar on a surface or run out of gas. That includes an added element of strategy, as players have to balance the acquisition of coins started throughout the courses with the need to continue collecting gas canisters or batteries for their vehicles. Experts can gain even more coins through tricks like flips and long jumps, as well as by reaching certain distances on various stages. While the fundamental features of Hill Climb Racing are nothing new, the game distinguishes itself through the breadth of its content. Multiple vehicles can be purchased using coins earned on runs, and each of these can be further customized to accommodate the needs of the player. This adds a level of progress and roleplaying to what might otherwise become a tedious affair. New stages are also unlocked as the player progresses and spends money, and the differences among these stages are more than just cosmetic. Changes to traction and gravity mix up the rules of the game's physics, and new obstacles provide increased challenges to overcome. Strategic players will learn to find the best vehicle to take on the road for each level and equip it with the parts appropriate to the situation. Hill Climb Racing is relatively generous to players looking to not spend any money. The game itself is free, and most of the parts and levels can be acquired without having to spend any money on gems, the premium currency used within the game. Gems are used to purchase chests, which add a randomized element to the customization parts you receive, but these chests are offered for free at a decent pace.

Pros: Free to play with limited ads Huge variety in the selection of levels and vehicles Satisfying learning curve behind the game's physics

Cons: Parts acquisition randomized behind a lottery system Core gameplay replicated in multiple other mobile games Graphics and sound design don't exactly stand out from the crowd