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ZDNET Highlights
- Many mobile games are compatible with Android Auto.
- All games have simple touch-screen controls.
- These are slow-paced, short-lived games.
If you spend free time in your car waiting for school pickup or during your lunch break, there’s a good chance you may be spending time with mobile games. Here’s what you might not know: You might be playing some of those games on your car screen. Some popular mobile games are compatible with Android Auto, which means you can play them in your car.
Also: 4 Android Auto developer settings that make driving a lot easier – how to enable them
You may have browsed your Android Auto apps and already seen the Gamesnax app, which hosts several dozen lightweight games not unlike early Internet Flash games. However, these games are more robust; These are the same games you play on your phone, just on a bigger screen.
The list of Android Auto-compatible games isn’t huge, but it’s worth a look. None of these titles have complicated controls or a steep learning curve, and all are perfect for short sessions.
how to get started
To play on your car screen, you need to install these games on your phone and park your vehicle. However, the good thing is that when you are connected to your car and open the app on Android Auto, you can still use your phone for other things. This is ideal when you have a child in the car with you and need to pass the time, but don’t want to hand over your phone.
Plus: 4 Android Auto apps I highly recommend for your next road trip – beyond Maps and Spotify
I tried to take a quick overview of the games available; Although they don’t run as smoothly as my phone, they are enough to play comfortably. Here’s a brief description of my favorites.
angry Birds Friends: I hadn’t played Angry Birds in years, but the slingshot-style gameplay was easy to get back to. It works well on car touchscreens, and the levels advance quickly. Since the game is actually on your phone, your progress is saved, so you can participate in multiple sessions. I not only enjoyed beating the levels, but also having to immediately replay the level I had just beaten to get a higher score.
Beach Buggy Racing (1 & 2): Both versions of this kart-racing game feature colorful racers with very simple controls, making them perfect games to race for 5 or 10 minutes. The tracks are full of powerups, shortcuts, and other racers to defeat (computer players, not online). I feel like this game takes advantage of the larger screen more than any other game on this list, and it feels like a “real” video game.
Candy Crush Soda Saga: I’ve never been a fan of Candy Crush or its many versions or clones, but it is probably the most popular game available for Android Auto. The match-three gameplay is easy to pick up and play in short bursts, and it’s relaxing to just zone out for a few minutes. Since the action is slow, it is easier to play on a car screen than games that require more speed.
Also: I Saw the Future of Android Auto, and Now Google Scared Me Out of My Car
farm Heroes Saga: This game is from the same developers as Candy Crush and works the same way, only you’re matching fruits, vegetables, and water instead of candy. This game goes a bit beyond the standard match-three format, as it sometimes requires you to collect a specific number of a particular piece. I still enjoyed the game, I just settled for the more popular name at first.
