Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Several mobile games are compatible with Android Auto.
• The games all have simple touch-screen controls.
• These are slow-paced, short-burst games. 

If you spend downtime in your car waiting for school pickup or during a lunch break, there’s a good chance you pass the time with mobile games. Here’s what you probably didn’t know: You could be playing some of those games on your car’s screen instead. A handful of popular mobile games are compatible with Android Auto, meaning you can play them in your car.  

Also: 4 Android Auto developer settings that make driving so much easier – how to enable them

You might have browsed your Android Auto apps and already seen the Gamesnacks app, which hosts several dozen light games that are not unlike early internet flash games. However, these games are more robust; they’re the same games you’d play on your phone, just on a bigger screen.

The catalog of Android Auto-compatible games isn’t huge, but it’s worth a look. None of these titles has complex controls or a steep learning curve, and all are perfect for short sessions. 

How to get started

To play on your car’s screen, you will need to install these games on your phone and have your vehicle in park. The good thing is, though, when you’re connected to your car and open the app on Android Auto, you can still use your phone for other things. This is ideal when you have a child in the car with you and need to pass the time, but don’t want to hand over your phone. 

Also: 4 Android Auto apps I highly recommend for your next road trip – beyond Maps and Spotify

I tried a quick run-through of the available games; while they didn’t run as smoothly as on my phone, they’re enough to play comfortably. Here’s a rundown of my favorites.

Angry Birds Friends: I hadn’t played Angry Birds in years, but the slingshot-style gameplay was easy to pick back up. It works well on a car touchscreen, and the levels go by quickly. Since the game is actually on your phone, your progress saves, so you can keep going across multiple sessions. I enjoyed not just beating levels, but immediately replaying a level I had just beaten to get a higher score. 

Beach Buggy Racing (1 and 2): Both versions of this cart-racing game feature colorful racers with very simple controls, making them the perfect games to kill 5 or 10 minutes. The tracks are filled with powerups, shortcuts, and other racers to beat (computer players, not online). I feel like this game takes more advantage of the bigger screen than any other on this list, and it’s the one that feels most like a “real” video game.

Candy Crush Soda Saga: I’ve never been a fan of Candy Crush or its many versions or clones, but this is probably the most popular game available for Android Auto. The match-three gameplay is easy to pick up and play in short bursts, and it is relaxing to just zone out for a few minutes. Since the action is slower, it’s easy to play on a car screen than are games that require more movement.

Also: I saw the future of Android Auto, and now Google has me dreading my own car

Farm Heroes Saga: This game is from the same developers as Candy Crush and functions the same way, you’re just matching fruit, vegetables, and water instead of candy. This game goes a bit beyond the standard match-three format, as it sometimes requires you to collect a specific number of a particular piece. I still enjoyed this game, I just gave the more popular name the nod first.