Asphalt 8 vs Asphalt 9, which is the best? Both of these arcade racers are very popular, but if you had to play just one, which is the best option?
Well, that hinges on a number of factors, all of which we're going to go into here. There's been a lot said about Asphalt 9: Legends, but how does its predecessor Asphalt 8: Airborne hold up?
We've got everything you need to know about the Asphalt 9 vs Asphalt 8 debate right here!
Asphalt 8 vs Asphalt 9
Asphalt has been a revelation in arcade racing, so much so that it's transcended into other media such as its esports tournament and even a reality TV show.
Asphalt 10 is on the way, but Asphalt 8 and 9: Legends remain the two most recent games in the Asphalt series.
We'll start with the obvious take for Asphalt 8 vs 9, as objectively Asphalt 9: Legends is a better and more technically impressive game. This isn't a surprise, as developers Gameloft are always working on new updates for Asphalt 9.
While Asphalt 8 will receive updates to it if there's a serious bug or glitch that gets discovered, in general, it won't receive updates.
Asphalt 9's online community is also much larger, as this game is the latest in the franchise.
Platforms
It doesn't matter how good a game is, if you don't own a system that it's available on, you won't be able to play it. Asphalt 9: Legends is available on iOS and Android devices, as well as Switch and Windows PC.
Asphalt 8 is available on iOS and Android devices too. It was also available on PC, but it's been taken off the Steam Store now. it's also not available on Switch.
However, if you've got an older mobile device, Asphalt 8 might be a better bet, as it can run on older versions of mobile software and older mobile phones such as Blackberries and Windows Phones.
Price
Asphalt 9: Legends isn't a new game by any means, being launched originally in 2018. Perhaps that's reflected in the price as well, as it's currently free-to-play on Steam.
This is also the case for Asphalt 9 on the Google Play Store, Apple App Store and the Nintendo Switch. You can pay for DLC expansions such as the High-gear pack, but this is completely optional.
Likewise, Asphalt 8 is free-to-play on the App Store and Play Store. So, whichever Asphalt title you opt for, you can do so for free if you wish to.
Reviews
What are the fans and critics saying about both games, though? We'll start with Asphalt 8, as that was released first in 2013. Asphalt 8 currently has a critical rating of 91 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic.
The userscore is a tad lower at 7.5 out of 10, but that's still a very respectable average.
Interestingly, Asphalt 9: Legends averages are much lower. This is the case for both the critical and fan reviews of the game.
The critical reviews average as 74 out of 100, not bad. The players, though, don't like it as much, with an average rating of only 6.3 out of 10. That's for the iOS version, but the Switch version has a critical rating of only 61 out of 100.