My Experience with Monster Truck Off Road Racing
I was waiting for my laundry to finish on Sunday night, bored out of my mind, when my roommate told me to download this monster truck game. I figured it would be another dumb, ad-filled time-waster, but I gave it a shot. Three days later, I’m still playing it. The whole point is just to drive these massive, ridiculous trucks over insane muddy tracks and try not to flip over. It’s not complicated, and that’s why I like it. After staring at textbooks all day, my brain is fried. I don’t want a racing simulator; I want to make a truck do a backflip. The controls are super simple—you just tilt your phone to steer—so I could pick it up immediately. I remember one race on the Canyon track where I completely botched a jump, tumbled down a hill, and somehow landed on my wheels right in front of the finish line to win. I actually yelled “YES!” in my empty dorm room. It’s that kind of silly, unexpected fun that keeps me coming back for just one more race.
Features Worth Noting
The game loop is straightforward and satisfying. You race on different dirt tracks to earn coins, then use those coins to buy new trucks or upgrade your current one’s engine, tires, or suspension. I saved up my first big payout to upgrade my engine, and the difference was night and day. My truck could finally power up the steep hills without getting stuck. I also love that you can customize your truck’s look. I made mine a hideous neon orange with blue flames, which is exactly my kind of aesthetic. There’s a multiplayer mode where you can race against other people online. I tried it a couple times and it’s fun when you get a match, but I spend most of my time in the single-player events. The seasonal challenges are a nice touch too; they add new goals every few weeks so the game doesn’t feel stale after you’ve played all the main tracks.
What Needs Work
My biggest gripe is the ads. I get that it’s a free game, but the forced 30-second video ads after every few races really break the flow. I was trying to quickly play a round before my 10 AM lecture, and an ad popped up. I almost missed the start of class because I had to sit through an ad for a game I’ll never play. The progression also starts to slow down a lot. After the first few trucks, the prices for new ones or for high-level upgrades get really steep. It starts to feel like you either have to grind the same tracks over and over for hours or give in and watch a ton of optional ads for bonus coins. The menu music is also incredibly repetitive. I play with my phone on mute now.
Pricing
It’s free, which is the main reason I downloaded it. As a student, I’m not spending money on mobile games. You can earn everything by playing, but you need patience. There are in-app purchases for gems, a premium currency, to buy stuff faster. I’ve never touched them. The ads are the real price you pay. You can choose to watch ads for a 2x coin bonus at the end of a race, which I do sometimes when I really want a new part. For a no-cost game, it’s pretty generous with what you can unlock without paying, but you have to be okay with the ad-supported model.
Developer Notes
Looking at the App Store page, the developer, Imperial Arts, seems to update the game regularly. I saw reviews mentioning new trucks and tracks being added, which is a good sign. I haven’t had any bugs or needed to contact support myself, but other reviews suggest they’re pretty responsive if you have an issue with your account. The fact that they keep adding seasonal content tells me they haven’t just abandoned the app, which happens with a lot of free games.
Security & Privacy
The app asks for pretty standard permissions. It wanted access to my game center for multiplayer and leaderboards, which I allowed. I didn’t have to create an account with an email or anything, which I prefer. The privacy policy on the store page says they collect some data for ads and analytics, which is normal for free games. Nothing about it set off alarm bells for me. It feels as secure as any other casual mobile game I’ve played.
How do the controls and upgrades work in Monster Truck Off Road Racing?
The controls are simple tilt steering, so you just tilt your phone to steer your truck. You earn coins by racing, and you can spend them on new trucks or upgrade your engine, tires, and suspension to tackle tougher tracks.
Can I customize my truck and play against others online?
Yes, you can customize your truck's look with different colors and decals, like neon orange with blue flames. There's also a multiplayer mode for racing against other people online, though most players stick with the single-player events and seasonal challenges.
Why does the game keep showing me ads, and can I remove them?
Monster Truck Off Road Racing is free to play, so it relies on ads for revenue. You can remove ads by making a small in-app purchase, which typically costs a few dollars and gives you an uninterrupted experience.
What should I do if the game crashes or freezes during a race?
First, try closing the app completely and restarting your device. If the problem persists, make sure your game is updated to the latest version, and check that your phone's operating system is also up to date, as older software can cause instability.
How does Monster Truck Off Road Racing compare to other racing games like Hill Climb Racing?
Both games focus on physics-based driving over rough terrain, but Monster Truck Off Road Racing emphasizes bigger, more ridiculous trucks and stunts like backflips. It offers more customization options and a cleaner single-player campaign, while Hill Climb Racing has a wider variety of vehicles and stages.
