Traffic Rider Full Review: Story, Game play, Graphics & More

The initial time I installed Traffic Rider, I thought it would just be another easy motorbike racing game that I would only spend several minutes on before deleting off my phone. However, the reality was far different: just like my shot at unlocking speedy motorcycles, I eventually found myself glued to the game for hours attempting to break my scores. Even though I have played many games of this genre, Traffic Rider still strikes me as quite engaging because of its superb control and stellar speed sensation.

Consequently, this article examines all important aspects of the game from its plot and game play to graphics, sound, and career mode, and includes my personal impression of the game overall.

What Is Traffic Rider?

Traffic Rider is accomplished as a first-person motorcycle riding game crafted by Soner Kara, who also developed Traffic Racer. While many arcade-type racing games have you racing along closed tracks, this one gets you up close and personal on the road.

So rather than racing against other competitors, your challenge is getting through busy traffic, completing missions and avoiding accidents, thus earning enough money to have access to better bikes.

The game can be played on both Android and iOS systems and has been a great success over the years thanks to entertaining game play and continuous updates.

Story Mode

Frankly speaking, Traffic Rider doesn’t have any stories like the likes of GTA or Need for Speed. There are no cutscenes or gripping characters.

Rather, Traffic Rider gives you Career Mode where every task is simply a step towards moving from a simple motorbike to owning a fast superbike.

In this mode, the player has to fulfill objectives such as:

Arrive somewhere in time

Overtake a number of vehicles

Cover a certain distance

Keep high speeds

Complete the night rides

Avoid accidents

There is no real story though, but you will feel satisfied by your progress in becoming a professional rider.

The Gameplay Experience

Traffic Rider excels in its gameplay aspect.

This is primarily due to the game's first-person viewpoint, which portrays the sense of speed in a stronger manner when compared to third-person racing gaming titles. It makes riding at 120 kilometers per hour feel exhilarating, and achieving speeds over 250 kilometers per hour clearly takes it to the next level in terms of adrenaline.

The controls are uncomplicated. The player simply has to perform the following tasks:

Tilt or steer the bike

Press the brake button

Push the accelerator

Optionally, control the bike while it’s doing a wheelie.

Once I spent about 15 minutes playing the game, I was able to understand the controls, but mastering the game wasn’t easy.

One important lesson I learned within the first few minutes of playing was that going at full speed doesn’t always guarantee success. In some situations, going slower allowed me to avoid incidents and actually finish my missions better.

Career Mode

Career Mode is likely the main reason people continue to come back.

There are no endless rides here; events are organized into missions which become harder over time.

Completing missions gets you:

Money

Bonus upon completing missions

Unlocking new bikes

Upgrading performance

The levels of difficulty are quite fair.

The first missions explain some basic things, and in the advanced levels, you will need to show certain skills.

Endless Mode

When I didn’t want to do any missions, I always turned to Endless Mode.

You only need to choose a highway one-way/two-way, time of the day, and weather.

Then you can ride as long as you want, collecting scores.

This mode is great if you have only ten or fifteen minutes.

Quality of Graphics

Considering that Traffic Rider is a mobile game, the graphics are quite remarkable.

The bikes are realistic, the roads are smooth, and the landscapes differ constantly, making the game more fascinating.

The player goes through:

Highways

Desert roads

Countryside

City environment

The lighting looks great, especially at sunrise, sunset, and at night.

It’s too bad that the rain is not included in the game, but the various times of the day make the scenery more diverse.

The game works well on the usual phones.

Quality of Sound

One surprising thing is the sound.

Every motorbike has its own sound when running.

The difference in sounds can be easily noticed if comparing an ordinary bike with a superbike.

If you wear headphones, the experience will be more interesting.

The background music is pleasant, but still, the main sound is the sound of motorcycles’ engines.

Motorcycle Collection

One of the most satisfying things about the game is unlocking different motorbikes.

Rather than shower players with each motorbike, the game instead makes them work for it.

Unlocking motorbikes gradually involves:

Sports motorbikes

Superbikes

Fast bikes

Luxury models

Each motorbike feels like a genuine improvement.

The increase in performance is noticeable, making progress rewarding instead of monotonous.

Controls

Traffic Rider has several control schemes to choose from.

The player can select from any of the following controls:

Tilt steering

Touch controls

Sensitivity adjustment

I found tilt steering to be the most appealing input method after a couple of tries.

Motorcycle Improvements

Rather than simply acquiring motorcycles, enhancements can be made.

The components that can be modified include:

The engine.

The steering system.

The braking system.

Initially, I ignored the idea of upgrading, and spent most of my funds unlocking new bikes.

Only later on I realized it was a bad decision since the upgraded bike enabled me to accomplish challenging missions with ease.

Depending on the scenario, upgrading an existing bike may be a smarter solution than buying a new one outright.

Offline Play

One of the strongest suits of the Traffic Rider game is its offline capability.

It's not necessary to be online at all times in order to enjoy Career or Endless modes.

Its offline capability makes it a perfect option for:

Traveling

School breaks

Long distance bus rides

Flights

Poor internet environments

Offline options of games have become increasingly popular and Traffic Rider does a good job of giving them.

Evaluation

I analyzed Traffic Rider on an older Android device and a latest mobile device.

The superior device allowed me to play the game without any problems.

With the older smartphone, Traffic Rider still managed to give me an enjoyable experience after adjusting the graphics.

The loading of the game was quick and I hardly experienced game crash or bugs.

Things I Liked

There were few things that made me play Traffic Rider regularly.

Realistic riding experience

Good controls

Great motorcycle sounds

Long career mode

Possibility to play offline

Wide range of motorcycles

Rewarding progression

Great performance

Even short sessions were enjoyable.

What Might Be Improved

There isn't any game without its drawbacks.

These are some ideas I thought of.

A greater number of weather conditions

New maps and locations

Multiplayer mode

More customization features

Some variety in traffic

None of these issues is a problem, but they are things that would enhance gameplay.

Handy Tips for Novices

If you are starting now, here are a few things that I've learned by trial and error.

Do not hurry in missions

Highest speed doesn't mean the most efficient completion.

Upgrade first and buy later

Purchasing a new bike can cost more than improving your current vehicle.

Pass vehicles with care

Getting close to cars may earn you bonuses, but it's better not to take risks.

Know how the traffic works

After completing several missions, you'll start recognizing how car rally operates.

The first mode that you'll have to play is Career Mode.

Play Career Mode First

Career Mode helps you learn the basics progressively and allows for earning money in record time.

Mistakes That New Players Tend to Commit

Start adopting the mistake over and over again.

Using up their entire amount of money on buying a new motorcycle

Overlooking the significance of upgrades

Driving continuously at high speed

Failing to understand the controls

Taking unnecessary chances in a bid to earn additional points

Make sure you avoid these mistakes to progress faster.

Is Traffic Rider Worth Playing?

After spending several hours playing Traffic Rider, I can say for sure that the game remains one of the first successful motorcycle simulator games available offline.

Traffic Rider does not use complex features and advanced techniques in its work. The focus is on realistic driving through playing the game itself.

With only five minutes in your disposal or an hour to spare, you can easily enter the game, finish a couple of missions, get a new bike, and feel that it has been time well spent. I only want to see more multiplayer racing and weather effects added in the future updates; however, the current version of the game is great and enjoyable and invites to play more of it time and again.

If you are on the lookout for free motorcycle games, Traffic Rider is the best one to choose. Even years after its launch, it is still the favorite game of many fans of fast games.