Cars Thief
Cars Thief is a driving game set on busy city streets, where you take different cars and try to get away from the police. It is the only game here that works on computer only.
What happens in play
Cars Thief puts you on crowded city streets, where traffic is a constant obstacle. You can take different cars and travel around the city, with the police as the reason to keep moving. The goal on Poki's page is to get away and avoid collisions as you go.
The controls are those of a keyboard game. WASD or the arrow keys move the car, and F gets you in and out of cars, which is how you change vehicles. There is no touch version: Poki lists computer only. A good first minute is to drive without any plan, just to learn how the car turns and how wide the streets feel. Then try getting out and taking another vehicle with F, so the key becomes habit before the police are close. After that, the game is about reading gaps in traffic and choosing routes that keep you moving. The city is the playground, and the more you learn its streets, the easier it is to stay clear of trouble.
Because the game is about staying out of trouble in traffic, how you drive matters more than how fast you go. A collision costs you more than a short pause, so a steady route often beats a rushed one. Since you can swap cars, it is worth noticing that every car behaves a little differently, so a short test drive in a quiet street tells you more than a long chase. The game is old by browser standards, and it keeps things simple: streets, traffic, police and a handful of keys.
Buttons you need
- WASD / Arrow keysMove
- FGet in and out of cars
Small advice
- Start with the arrow keys or WASD, whichever you already use in other games, so steering is automatic.
- Watch the traffic ahead rather than the car under you.
- Use F to change vehicles when the one you have is not working for you.
- Take wide, steady turns on busy streets instead of sharp ones.
- Keep moving; stopping in a chase is rarely helpful.
Right for
Players on a laptop or desktop who enjoy open-street driving and evading pursuit, and who do not need a story. It may also suit anyone who likes games that can be learned in a minute.
Downsides
— It works on computer only, so it is not an option on a phone or tablet.
— It was last updated in June 2022 on Poki, so it is older than most games here.
— Police chases are part of the theme.
— Poki shows a short ad break around play sessions.
— The game uses a keyboard, so there is no way to play it with touch controls.
Questions
Is Cars Thief free?
Yes. It opens on Poki without an account.
Can I play on my phone?
No. Poki lists the game as computer only.
How do I change cars?
Press F to get in and out of cars.
