Racing games are one of the most popular formats in gaming, especially on the mobile phone, particularly in India. We have seen many worthy games in this genre — from NFS to Asphalt. Boom Karts is a new entrant and though it is not the best in the genre, it is definitely a fun way of spending time.

As the name suggests, Boom Karts is a racing game where you race in go-karts. The control systems are pretty straightforward — you only have the option to go left or right. There is also a huge emphasis on drifting. If you drift enough, you get a nitro boost that gives you an edge over your opponent. Speaking of opponents, this is a real-time PvP multiplayer game; you are playing live against other players. To keep the game fun, there are multiple ways in which you can score a win.

The real competition comes from the collectibles such as speed boosters and mystery boxes that are strewn on the race track. The mystery boxes give you random weapons that you can use at your will. They range from a soap bar to bombs and even electrifiers. They are useful to take down opponents ahead of or behind you. However, you must keep in mind that if you leave a soap bar on the track, there is a chance that you may slip on it in the next lap.

All this adds a bit of light-heartedness to the game. In keeping with that, even if you are attacked by enemies, you are punished only a little. You can quickly get back in the game and even win the race.

Adding to the fast paced nature of the game are the wonderful circuits. Every match you play will randomly drop you in one of the many varied race tracks. These range from the desert to lava-infested mountains to snow clad mountains and include the traditional race course. There are multiple paths that you can take within a track with ample chance for decision-making between risk and reward.

Another way for you to get better is to upgrade your kart. This can be done through the random drops that you get after playing a match. What Boom Karts does differently is that it restricts the number of upgrade types you can carry into a match. You can pick only three from a list of around eight. Apart from upgrades, you can also build new karts. There are also enough personalisation options to decorate your kart as well as your driver.

VERDICT: Boom Karts is a fun new entrant to the racing genre. It’s a light-hearted and fun game that you can pick up and play. It does not innovate much and can get boring after a point of time, but is a blast while you are on it. I would give it an eight out of 10 rating.