Play Cars (I) Online

Game Overview

If you grew up loving Cars, this DS game is basically Lightning McQueen’s world—you’re just racing in it. You start off in Radiator Springs, of course, and the first few races feel like a warm-up before things get properly competitive. The tracks are full of little nods to the movie, like driving through Ornament Valley or dodging tractors in the desert.

What surprised me was how much you can tweak your car—not just paint jobs, but performance upgrades too. I spent way too long making sure my ride looked fast and ridiculous. The controls are simple (it’s a DS, after all), but drifting around corners still feels satisfying once you get the hang of it.

It’s not the deepest racer out there, but for a handheld game based on a kids’ movie? Way more fun than it had any right to be. Just try not to hum "Life is a Highway" the whole time.