Shanghai Roadster FAQ: questions and answers
Here are quick answers to the questions players and grown-ups ask most about Shanghai Roadster. Each answer links to the page with all the details.
What kind of game is Shanghai Roadster?
It is an arcade stunt racing game. You drive a silver roadster on giant red toy tracks high above cities at night, with loops, jumps and tilted turns. You race against the clock and a rival car driven by the game, and win bronze, silver or gold medals. See the guide's front page.
Is Shanghai Roadster free?
You can try it in your browser: the first track, Shanghai Nights, has a Free tag. The full game is part of the Contenta Games membership, which opens every game on the portal; see what a membership gives you.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. The game runs in your web browser on a computer, a phone or a tablet. Just open the page and play.
Are there ads or things to buy in the game?
No. There are no ads in Shanghai Roadster and nothing to buy inside the game.
Does it work on a phone, an iPad or an Android tablet?
Yes. On a touch screen, big buttons appear: ◀ and ▶ to steer on the left, and Brake, Go and Nitrogen on the right. Hold your phone sideways to see more of the track. See touch controls.
Can I play with a controller?
Yes. Steer with the left stick, use the right trigger to go and the left trigger to brake, and press the right bumper or A for Nitrogen. Start pauses. All buttons are on the controls page.
How many tracks are there?
Eight tracks in seven cities: Shanghai Nights, Los Angeles, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai Sunrise. There is also a test track called Rocket Test for practising rocket jumps. See all the tracks.
How do I unlock the next track?
Win any medal on the track before it. Even bronze is enough, and bronze just means finishing before the clock runs out. See medals, practice and unlocking tracks.
What does the Nitrogen button do?
It does three jobs, and the gauge shows which one: BOOST gives you speed on the track, LAND turns the car level and softens the landing in the air, and STICK holds you on the track in loops and corkscrews. See the nitrogen page.
Why did my nitrogen stop working?
Either you are braking (the tip says Nitrogen waits while you brake.), the tank is empty (the gauge says EMPTY), or, after a refill gate, the last gas is kept for the landing (the tip says Saved for the landing!). Nitrogen also gets weaker when the tank is low: then the tip says Low thrust.
Does the nitrogen tank fill up again?
Yes, in three ways. Drive through a glowing Nitrogen crystal on the track for 10 units (Nitrogen crystal! +10); they come back every lap. A refill gate, a frosty hoop round the track before a rocket jump, tops a low tank up. And a Bullseye! on a rocket jump gives you 5 units back. Shanghai Nights and Los Angeles have no refill gates, but they do have crystals. See refill gates.
How do I get a rocket start?
Press Nitrogen just as the green start lamp lights. You shoot off the line and see Rocket start! If you press too soon, you see Too early! Wait for green. and the wheels spin for a moment. See rocket start.
Why do I keep falling off the track?
Usually it is one of these: driving over the red edge of an open stretch with no rails, slamming into a rail at a sharp angle, being too slow in a loop, or landing a jump badly. Each has a simple fix on how to stay on the track. When you fall, the race is over: press Race again to start from the beginning with a full tank. Your saved best time and medal stay as they were.
How do I land a rocket jump?
Let go of the steering in the air. Wait while the ring says Wait for the ring…. When it turns green and says Now! Hold Nitrogen, hold Nitrogen until you land. Fire at the very last good moment for a Bullseye! and 5 units of nitrogen back. For gold medal times and how to beat them, read advanced tips. See rocket jumps and the landing ring.
How is my game saved?
It saves by itself, in the browser on the device you play on. For each track it keeps your best time and your best medal. Practice runs, falls and Time is up don't change your record. See what is saved.
Can my brother or sister have their own progress?
Yes. There are three save slots, Save 1, Save 2 and Save 3, and each is a separate driver. Press Change driver to switch.
Can I race against other players?
No, you can't race other players. But in every race a see-through pink rival car, driven by the game, races you to the line. You also race the clock and your own best times. See the rival car.
Is there music? Can I turn the sound off?
There is no music. You hear the car's motor, the wind, the hiss of the jets, landings and the start beeps. Press M, or use Sound: on / Sound: off in the pause screen.
Which languages can I play in?
English and Swedish. The game uses the language the games portal passes on, or your browser's language. For other languages it shows English.
