The racing games keeping us up too late

Racing games and phones are a tricky match. Steering with a flat sheet of glass should feel awful, and sometimes it does. But a handful of games have cracked it, and we keep coming back to them.

Tilt controls are the dividing line for most people. Some of us swear by them, tilting the whole device into every corner, while others never give up the on-screen buttons. The good news is the best racers let you choose and tune the sensitivity.

Our top pick right now is Nitro Horizon for its drift mechanic and ridiculous sense of speed. It understands that arcade racing is about feeling fast, not about simulating a gearbox.

If you're new to the genre on mobile, start with the easiest control scheme, turn on any driving-assist options, and don't worry about leaderboards for the first few days. The fun comes once your thumbs stop fighting the game.