Top racing game for iPhone

Real Racing GTI is essentially a free, Volkswagen-sponsored preview of the popular racing game Real Racing. Real Racing GTI prominently features (not surprisingly) the new Volkswagen GTI, in six different colors, complete with Volkswagen ads on the track and a "showroom" in which you can check out a video and interior shots of the car.

As with the full version of the game, the gameplay and first-person interface are exceptionally good, striking just the right balance between an arcade driving game and a full-on racing sim. You can choose between five different methods for controlling your car, switching between manual and automatic acceleration, and either accelerometer-controlled or manual steering, all with intuitive, responsive touch-screen controls. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the game's "Brake Assist," an automatic braking system that can help you learn how to take turns.

While the depth of play can't compare to the full game, Real Racing GTI delivers a lot of fun for a free app, with options for a Time Trial, Quick Race (with multiple opponents, on up to nine laps), or Career, letting you compete in the "Volkswagen 2010 GTI Cup," a race over three tracks. If you like racing games and haven't checked out the full version of Real Racing, you'll definitely want to download this demo.