XRacer 2

Three, two, one, and the pack moves off together. Racing games compress a lot into a short time: starts, overtakes, corners you take too fast, the straight where you finally pull ahead. Each race is a small, complete story. Between races there is often a garage or upgrade screen, and then you are back on the grid. A session of five or six races goes by quickly.

• Mouse click or tap to play

1. 1Hold accelerate from the start and steer with the arrow keys or by tilting; let the car settle before the first corner.
2. 2Lift off or tap the brake going into tight turns, then accelerate from the apex outward.
3. 3Look ahead to the next corner rather than at your car; it gives you time to set up the line.
4. 4Try different vehicles if the game offers them. Handling varies more than top speed does.

• Free to play, nothing to install, no account needed
• Loads in the browser tab and opens full screen when you press Play
• Plays best with the phone turned sideways or on a wider screen
• Touch controls on phones and tablets, mouse and keyboard on a computer
• Listed under Racing

A race in XRacer 2 takes about as long as a song, and it is free to run in your browser with nothing to download. That makes it good for a quick break, and the steady improvement in your lap times gives the breaks a shape they would not otherwise have.

Suits players of most ages who like speed. Younger children can steer and enjoy it; older players will care about lap times and positions. Works well for anyone who wants a short, contained challenge.

Is XRacer 2 hard to control?

The basics are easy: accelerate and steer. The skill is in braking and cornering, which takes a few races to get a feel for. Most games are forgiving early on.

Do I need a keyboard?

On desktop a keyboard is the usual way to play, though some games support the mouse. On phones and tablets, touch controls are provided.

How long is one race?

Typically two to four minutes, depending on the number of laps. A session of a few races fits easily into a short break.