Asphalt (series)

{{short description|Racing video game series}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox video game series | title = Asphalt | image = Asphalt logo (2024).png | caption = The current logo of the ''Asphalt'' series, officially used since July 2024 | developer = {{collapsible list|title=[[Gameloft]]|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:inherit;background:transparent;text-align:left|'''Others''' [[Virtuos]] [[Clickteam]] [[Microsoft]]}} | publisher = {{collapsible list|title=[[Gameloft]]|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:inherit;background:transparent;text-align:left|'''Others''' [[Ubisoft]] [[Konami]] [[Taito]] [[Clickteam]] [[Microsoft]] [[Netflix]]}} | genre = [[Racing video game|Racing]] | platforms = {{Collapsible list| * [[macOS]] * [[iOS]] * [[tvOS]] * [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] * [[Windows RT]] * [[Windows Phone]] * [[Android (operating system)|Android]] * [[ColorOS]] * [[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]] * [[Java ME]] * [[Symbian]] * [[DSiWare]] * [[Nintendo DS]] * [[Nintendo 3DS]] * [[Nintendo Switch]] * [[PlayStation Portable]] * [[PlayStation Vita]] * [[PlayStation 4]] * [[PlayStation 5]] * [[BlackBerry OS]] * [[BlackBerry Tablet OS]] * [[Bada (operating system)|Bada]] * [[Tizen]] * [[webOS]] * [[Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|BREW]] * [[Freebox]] * [[Web browser|Browser]] * [[DoJa]] * [[Xbox One]] * [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] * [[Arcade video game|Arcade]] }} | creator = {{Plainlist| * Stanislas Dewavrin * [[François Lionet]] }} | first release version = ''[[Asphalt: Urban GT]]'' | first release date = October 26, 2004 | latest release version = ''Asphalt: Moto Blitz DX'' | latest release date = September 11, 2023 }}

'''''Asphalt''''' is a series of [[Racing video game|racing]] [[video game]]s mainly developed and published by [[Gameloft]]. The series typically focuses on fast-paced arcade racing set in various locales throughout the world, where players compete in illegal street races while evading the local law enforcement.

Originally ''Asphalt'' had been made and released for mobile and handheld systems but recent titles have expanded to home consoles and computers as well as arcades. Incarnations of the [[Asphalt: Urban GT|original game]] from 2004 for various other platforms soon followed, the latest in the main series being ''[[Asphalt Legends]]'' released in 2018; a number of spinoffs were also released, such as the endless runner ''[[Asphalt Overdrive]]'', ''Asphalt Nitro'', a [[Minimalism (computing)|minimal]] version of ''Asphalt'' for low-end devices with [[procedural generation]] as a selling point, ''[[Asphalt Xtreme]]'', an off-road-centric entry into the series, and the [[drag racing]] game ''[[Asphalt Street Storm]]''. The series has remained one of the most globally popular mobile games since the late 2000s.<ref name=":0" />

In 2026, [[Gameloft]] announced that the franchise had accumulated over 1.7 billion downloads in total.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gameloft.com/licensing-out/asphalt|title=Asphalt - Gameloft|date=2026}}</ref>

==Common elements== The series puts emphasis on fast-paced, arcade-style [[street racing]] in the vein of ''[[Need for Speed]]'', along with elements from other racing games such as ''[[Ridge Racer]]'' and ''[[Burnout (series)|Burnout]]''; the spin-off game ''Asphalt Xtreme'' takes place in an [[off-road racing]] setting, with open-wheel buggies, [[sport-utility vehicle]]s and rally cars in lieu of supercars as in previous games. Each game in the series puts players behind the wheel of licensed sports cars from various manufacturers, from entry-level models such as the [[Dodge Dart (PF)|Dodge Dart GT]], to [[supercar]]s like the [[Bugatti Veyron]], and even concept cars such as [[Mercedes-Benz]]'s Biome design study.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite web|url=http://toucharcade.com/2014/08/27/asphalt-8-dubai-update/|title='Asphalt 8: Airborne' Updated with New Dubai Track, 5 New Vehicles, and More|last=Nelson|first=Jared|date=27 August 2014|work=Touch Arcade|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref>

Police chases are a recurring gameplay element especially in the early games, but were de-emphasized in favour of stunt jumps and aerobatic maneuvers as of ''Airborne''; they made a return, however, with ''Overdrive, Asphalt 9: Legends'' and ''Nitro'', the latter of which combined elements from ''Airborne'' and previous games in the series.

Over the course of the games, players are gradually given access to various race courses, most of which are modelled after real-world locations and major cities, and upgrades for vehicles which can be bought from money earned in a race, or in later games, points or through [[microtransaction|in-application purchases using real currency]]. Events are presented in increasing difficulty as players advance through the game, sometimes requiring them to complete bonus challenges, e.g. taking down a given number of opponent racers or finishing the race without wrecking their vehicle.

==History== The first mainline game in the series is ''[[Asphalt: Urban GT]]'', which was released for the [[Nintendo DS]] and [[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]] in 2004, with simplified versions for [[J2ME]] mobile phones being released on December 2. [[Asphalt: Urban GT|Asphalt Urban GT]] (which was a paid game, not free-to-play) was a considerable success, with over 5 million units sold.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.softonic.com/articles/enjoying-asphalt-8-we-compare-it-to-earlier-games-in-the-series|title=Enjoying Asphalt 8? We compare it to earlier games in the series!}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Asphalt Urban GT memories |url=https://www.gameloft.com/blog/players/creating-a-legend-asphalt-urban-gt |url-status= |archive-url=https://www.gameloft.com/blog/players/creating-a-legend-asphalt-urban-gt |website=Gameloft.com}}</ref> A video on Gameloft's [[YouTube]] channel however lists their mobile phone adaptation of ''[[Speed Busters|Speed Devils]]'' as the first game in the series.<ref name="evolution">{{Cite web |date=13 May 2010 |title=10 Years of Gaming Evolution - Trailer by Gameloft |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGdKfOxz8J0 |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=YouTube |language=en-GB}}</ref>

''[[Asphalt 5]]'' was the first game in the series to be released for [[Android (operating system)|Android]].<ref name="Android">{{Cite web |last=Android |first=HD |date=November 15, 2009 |title=Asphalt 3 Street Rules on Android - Gameloft - Android Game |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCB08GR6B3A&t=36s |access-date=January 3, 2024 |website=YouTube}}</ref> ''[[Asphalt 4: Elite Racing]]'' was the first game in the series to be released for [[iOS]].<ref name="Davis">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/22/a-visual-history-of-gamelofts-asphalt|title=A Visual History of Gameloft's Asphalt - IGN|last=Davis|first=Justin|date=22 June 2012|work=[[IGN]]|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> ''[[Asphalt 6: Adrenaline]]'' marks the first game in the series to be released for [[macOS]]; later home computer releases in the series are exclusive to [[Microsoft Windows]], with ''[[Asphalt 7: Heat]]'' being the first to be released on the [[Windows Store]].

''[[Asphalt 8: Airborne]]'', the eighth main installment and tenth title overall, was released in 2013 for iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry platforms to critical acclaim, becoming one of the bestselling games on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. ''[[Asphalt 8: Airborne|Asphalt 8 : Airborne]]'' is the highest-rated video game on [[Metacritic]] to have been developed in [[Spain]]; it was created by [[Gameloft Barcelona]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martínez |first=Rubén |date=2025-03-07 |title=Ni Commandos ni PC Fútbol: este es el mejor juego español según Metacritic y no lo adivinarías ni en un millón de años |url=https://as.com/meristation/noticias/ni-commandos-ni-pc-futbol-este-es-el-mejor-juego-espanol-segun-metacritic-y-no-lo-adivinarias-ni-en-un-millon-de-anos-n/ |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=Meristation |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Asphalt 8: Airborne critic reviews - Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/asphalt-8-airborne/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref>

''Asphalt Nitro'', the twelfth title in the series, was quietly released on Gameloft's own app store in May 2015 for Android, alongside a [[2.5D]] J2ME version of the game for feature phones. A main selling point of ''Nitro'' was the game's small resource footprint, which was aided by the use of [[procedural generation]].<ref name="Hoff">{{cite web|url=http://androidcommunity.com/asphalt-nitro-racing-game-launches-exclusively-via-gameloft-store-20150512/|title=Asphalt Nitro racing game launches exclusively via Gameloft store|last=Hoff|first=John|date=12 May 2015|work=Android Community|access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref>

A free-to-play spinoff entitled ''[[Asphalt Overdrive]]'' was released for iOS and Android in September 2014.<ref name="ndtv2014">{{cite web|last1=Sinha|first1=Robin|title=Asphalt Overdrive Now Available to Download for Android and iOS|url=http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/asphalt-overdrive-now-available-to-download-for-android-and-ios-597856|website=NDTV Gadgets|publisher=NDTV|access-date=October 30, 2014|date=September 25, 2014}}</ref> Unlike prior titles in the series, the game is presented as an "[[platform game#endless running games|endless runner]]" similar to the ''[[Temple Run]]'' franchise and ''[[Subway Surfers]]'', and does not offer a traditional racing mode. ''Overdrive'' was then followed by ''Asphalt Xtreme'', which focuses on arcade-style off-road racing, and in 2016 with ''Asphalt: Street Storm'', a [[Rhythm game|rhythm-based]] drag racing game in the vein of [[NaturalMotion]]'s ''[[CSR Racing]]''. ''Street Storm'' was quietly released in the [[Philippines]] in December 2016 for [[iOS]] devices.<ref name="Calimlim">{{cite web|url=https://appadvice.com/post/asphalt-street-storm-racing/733313|title=Prepare to Be Fast and Furious in Gameloft's Asphalt Street Storm Racing|last=Calimlim|first=Aldrin|date=28 December 2016|work=AppAdvice|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref>

The ninth and latest mainline game in the series, ''[[Asphalt Legends]]'', was released worldwide on July 25, 2018, for [[Nintendo Switch]] on October 8, 2019, for macOS on January 17, 2020, for [[Xbox One]] and [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] on August 31, 2021, and for [[PlayStation 4]] and [[PlayStation 5]] on July 17, 2024; the latter platforms were given a release following the ''Legends Unite'' expansion update. the game introduces a more advanced nitro system, far more frequent and impactful jumps in the gameplay, as well as 360° spins of the cars to eliminate opponents, while also adding new game modes over the course of updates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asphalt Legends -- Rule the Asphalt |url=https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/ |access-date=2026-03-24 |website=asphaltlegendsunite.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Games== {{Video game timeline |subtitle = Main series in '''bold''' |2004='''''[[Asphalt: Urban GT]]''''' |2005a='''''[[Asphalt: Urban GT 2]]''''' |2005b=''Asphalt: Import Tuner Edition'' |2006='''''[[Asphalt 3: Street Rules]]''''' |2008='''''[[Asphalt 4: Elite Racing]]''''' |2009a=''Asphalt Online'' |2009b='''''[[Asphalt 5]]''''' |2010='''''[[Asphalt 6: Adrenaline]]''''' |2011a=''Asphalt Audi RS 3'' |2011b=''[[Asphalt 3D]]'' |2011c=''[[Asphalt: Injection]]'' |2012='''''[[Asphalt 7: Heat]]''''' |2013='''''[[Asphalt 8: Airborne]]''''' |2014=''[[Asphalt Overdrive]]'' |2015=''Asphalt Nitro'' |2016a=''[[Asphalt Xtreme]]'' |2016b=''Asphalt Street Storm'' |2018a='''''[[Asphalt Legends|Asphalt 9: Legends]]''''' |2018b=''Asphalt Retro'' |2021=''[[Asphalt 8: Airborne#Asphalt 8: Airborne+|Asphalt 8: Airborne+]]'' |2023=''Asphalt Nitro 2'' |2024a='''''[[Asphalt Legends|Asphalt Legends Unite]]''''' |2024b=''Asphalt Moto Blitz DX'' |2025a='''''[[Asphalt Legends]]'''''}}

'''Main series''' in chronological order: *''[[Asphalt: Urban GT]]'' ([[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[J2ME]], [[Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|BREW]], [[DoJa]]) *''[[Asphalt: Urban GT 2]]'' ([[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]], [[Nintendo DS]], [[Symbian]], [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]], [[J2ME]]) *''[[Asphalt 3: Street Rules]]'' ([[N-Gage (service)|N-Gage 2.0]], [[Symbian]], [[Windows Mobile]], [[J2ME]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]]<ref name="Android"/>) *''[[Asphalt 4: Elite Racing]]'' ([[N-Gage (service)|N-Gage 2.0]], [[iOS]], [[DSiWare]], [[Symbian OS]], [[Windows Mobile]], [[J2ME]], [[BlackBerry OS]]) *''[[Asphalt 5]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Symbian]], [[Windows Phone 7]], [[Bada (operating system)|Bada]], [[webOS]], [[Freebox]]) *''[[Asphalt 6: Adrenaline]]'' ([[iOS]], [[OS X]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Symbian]], [[J2ME]], [[BlackBerry Tablet OS]], [[Bada (operating system)|Bada]], [[webOS]], [[Freebox]]) *''[[Asphalt 7: Heat]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows Phone 8]], [[Windows 8]], [[Windows 10]], [[BlackBerry 10]], [[BlackBerry Tablet OS]], [[Fire OS]]) *''[[Asphalt 8: Airborne]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows Phone 8]], [[Windows RT]], [[Windows 8]], [[BlackBerry 10]], [[Windows 10]], [[Windows 10 Mobile]], [[tvOS]], [[macOS]], [[Tizen]], [[Fire OS]]) **''[[Asphalt 8: Airborne#Asphalt 8: Airborne+|Asphalt 8: Airborne+]]'' ([[Apple Arcade]]/[[iOS]]) *''[[Asphalt Legends]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows 10]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[macOS]], [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]], [[Arcade video game|Arcade]], [[PlayStation 4|PS4]], [[PlayStation 5|PS5]], [[Fire OS]])<ref>{{cite news |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=2024-03-26 |title=Asphalt Legends Unite Marks Series Debut on PS4 and PS5 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/asphalt-legends-unite-marks-series-debut-on-ps4-and-ps5 |access-date=2024-03-26 |publisher=IGN}}</ref>

'''Spin-offs and other titles''' in chronological order: * ''[[Asphalt: Import Tuner Edition]]'' ([[J2ME]], [[Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|BREW]]) * ''[[Asphalt Online]]'' ([[DoJa]], [[Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|BREW]]) * ''Asphalt Audi RS 3'' ([[iOS]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Gameloft and Audi Shift Gears To Launch A Free App, Asphalt Audi RS 3, on iPhone/iPod Touch Devices Offers Consumers A Chance to Win A Brand New Audi A3 Sportback |url=http://www.gameloft.com/corporate/press-room/press-details/?id=1515 |access-date=28 July 2018 |website=Gameloft |publisher=Gameloft {{!}} Corporate}}</ref> *''[[Asphalt 3D]]'' ([[Nintendo 3DS]]) *''[[Asphalt: Injection]]'' ([[PlayStation Vita|PS Vita]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]]) * ''[[Asphalt Overdrive]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows Phone 8]], [[Windows 8]], [[Windows 10]], [[Windows 10 Mobile]]) *''Asphalt Nitro'' ([[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Java ME]], [[Tizen]], [[Fire OS]]) *''[[Asphalt Xtreme]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows 8]], [[Windows Phone 8]], [[Windows 10]], [[Windows 10 Mobile]]) *''[[Asphalt Street Storm Racing]]'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows 8]], [[Windows 10]]) *''[[Asphalt Retro]]'' ([[Web browser|Browser]]) *''[[Asphalt Nitro 2]]'' ([[Android (operating system)|Android]]) *''[[Asphalt Moto Blitz DX]]'' ([[Arcade video game|Arcade]])

== Reception == {{Expand section|date=September 2024}}{{VG series reviews | game1 = [[Asphalt: Urban GT]] | mc1 = 60/100 (DS) 76/100 (NG) | gr1 = 62% (DS) 82% (Java) 67% (BREW) 72% (NG){{efn|Gamerankings scores archived at https://gr.blade.sk}} | game2 = [[Asphalt: Urban GT 2]] | mc2 = 42/100 (PSP) | gr2 = 65% (DS) 62% (MOBI) 35% (PSP) | game3 = [[Asphalt 4: Elite Racing]] | mc3 = 78/100 (DS) | gr3 = 78% (DS) 90% (iOS) | game4 = [[Asphalt 5]] | mc4 = 82/100 (iOS) | gr4 = 87% (iOS) | game5 = [[Asphalt 6: Adrenaline]] | mc5 = 79/100 (iOS) | gr5=82% (iOS) | game6 = [[Asphalt 3D]] | mc6 = 43/100 (3DS) | gr6 = 47% (3DS) | game7 = [[Asphalt: Injection]] | mc7 = 49/100 (Vita) | gr7 = 51% (Vita) | game8 = [[Asphalt 7: Heat]] | mc8 = 83/100 (iOS) | gr8=81% (iOS) | game9 = [[Asphalt 8: Airborne]] | mc9 = 91/100 (iOS) | gr9 = 92% (iOS) | game10 = [[Asphalt Overdrive]] | mc10 = 59/100 (iOS) | gr10 = 56% (iOS) | game11 = [[Asphalt Xtreme]] | mc11 = 77/100 (iOS) | gr11=73% (iOS) | game12 = [[Asphalt 9: Legends]] | mc12 = 61/100 (NS) 74/100 (iOS) | gr12 = 72% (NS) 73% (iOS) }}

In April 2008, Gameloft reported that the series has had 10 million downloads, making it the most popular [[mobile game]] franchise in the world at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Androvich |first=Mark |date=2008-04-23 |title=Gameloft's Asphalt series tops 10 million |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gameloft-s-asphalt-series-tops-10-million |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, [[Pocket Gamer]] wrote that "The ''Asphalt'' series has been one of the biggest names in mobile gaming for, oh, 15 years now."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bald |first=Cameron |date=2020-05-05 |title=Asphalt series celebrates its 15th anniversary with special events and the return of Asphalt Urban GT |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/asphalt-9-legends/asphalt-series-celebrates-its-15th-anniversary-with-special-events-and-the-retur/ |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=www.pocketgamer.com |language=en}}</ref>{{Clear}}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asphalt series}} [[Category:Asphalt (series)| ]] [[Category:Gameloft]] [[Category:Vivendi franchises]] [[Category:Racing video games]] [[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2004]]