Anki Overdrive adds video-game mods to its robot car battles

Anki Overdrive is the slot car racer you play with your smart phone. It may sound like a toy but actually, with a full campaign and voiced characters, it feels more like a video game to play.

The latest update to the controller app, version 1.3.0, ups the video game stakes with new modifiers and modes straight from the gaming play-book.

First of these is the One Shot Kill modifier that, as you would expect, enables racers to bring down opponents with a single golden bullet. This not only ups the stakes but makes for a much more frantic and knife edge racer. Second is the Balance Cars modifier that removes any buffs you’ve earned for your chosen ride to ensure that competitors have an even playing field.

Finally the new update also makes it easier to restart a race and get going again. No longer do you have to re-scan the course each race. As long as the layout is the same you can go again straight away.