Arcade racing that fits in your pocket

Touch controls and racing games have a rocky history. Tilt steering makes some people seasick, and on-screen buttons can feel mushy. The racers that work tend to simplify hard — and that's a good thing.

Neon Drift League is our current favorite because it strips things down to a single drift button and a combo meter. That one-input design is perfect for playing one-handed on a bus.

The trick with arcade racers is track memorization. The first few runs of any course feel chaotic, then suddenly the racing line reveals itself and your times tumble. That learning curve is the whole joy.

If you're new to the genre on mobile, start with games that offer a generous assist mode. You can always turn it off once your thumbs catch up.

All offline, naturally — nothing worse than a racer that pauses to phone home mid-lap.