- Developer
- Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy
- Platform
- Web Browser
- Category
- Racing
- Players
- Single Player
- Released
- 2023
- Price
- Free
About Acceleration City
Acceleration City is a 3D driving game that puts you in a car and drops you into city traffic. You manage speed, handle turns, and navigate streets without bending the car around a lamp post. The physics feel grounded enough that overcorrecting on a turn costs you — this isn’t a game where you can mash the throttle and slide through everything.
The game comes from Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy’s CS2N platform, but you don’t need to know or care about that to enjoy it. It plays like a clean browser driving game: responsive controls, a real city environment, and enough going on in the streets to keep you focused.
How to play
WASD or arrow keys for all movement. W accelerates, S brakes or reverses, A and D steer. The car handles predictably — slow down before turns, not during them. Getting a feel for the braking distance takes a lap or two, but it’s consistent once you have it.
The city environment has intersections, crossings, and other vehicles. Keep enough speed to feel momentum without outrunning your ability to steer. Most crashes come from going too fast into a corner, not from traffic.

Tips & Tricks
Brake before corners, not in them. The game rewards smooth inputs more than jerky corrections. If you’re constantly spinning out, you’re braking too late.
Don’t fight the car’s momentum. When you start sliding, ease off the throttle and let the tires catch rather than throwing more steering at it. Over-steering makes slides worse.
The city layout repeats enough that you’ll start recognizing sections after a few laps. Once you know where a tight turn is coming, you can set up for it early instead of reacting.
How to Play Acceleration City
Desktop Controls
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| W / ↑ | Accelerate |
| S / ↓ | Brake / reverse |
| A / ← and D / → | Steer left / right |
Mobile Controls
On-screen touch controls for steering and throttle.