Portable video games tested

Keeping passengers young or old amused on long journeys in the car is easy with the latest handheld driving games consoles – like the Nintendo 3DS and Sony PlayStation Vita. But you don’t need to splash out on new hardware, as smartphones and tablets also offer great gaming apps for a fraction of the price.

So we’ve rounded up our favourite driving games across all three platforms, and with a range of prices, to name the best one for a Bank Holiday journey.

How we tested our games

We loaded our Nintendo 3DS, Sony PS Vita and Apple iPad with a selection of games. Two adult testers gave their verdicts on each, looking for entertainment, realism and that crucial ‘play again’ factor. We gave bonus points to games with multiplayer options, while value for money on each one was important, too.

Verdict

The best for the Nintendo 3DS is Mario Kart 7 – it’s fast-paced, fun and will keep you entertained for ages. Sony’s new PS Vita has some cracking games. While it’s tough to separate F1, ModNation and Ridge Racer, the latter offers value-for-money realism, so has a slight edge.

Our favourite mobile/tablet game is Real Racing 2. It’s realistic, has jaw-droppingly good graphics on the iPad and is very well detailed, too.

Best 3DS game: Mario Kart 7

Best Vita game: Ridge Racer

Best mobile/tablet game: Real Racing 2