When the game begins, only Season One is available. As of March 2020, Asphalt developed a total of nine seasons, excluding the 'McLaren Legends Season'. In later versions, additional challenges and seasons were added. In the initial version of the game, the career mode consisted of 180 events split into eight 'seasons', which become progressively more difficult. If the player hits boost again when the boost meter is in the red zone, the car will accelerate even faster, with the boost lasting until the player runs out of boost, brakes, crashes or hits a ramp. When the player hits boost, a small red zone appears in the boost bar. Another new feature, which substitutes the 'Adrenaline mode' in Asphalt 6 and 7, is the ability to perform a 'Perfect Nitro'. Destroying obstacles such as barriers and lamp posts, hitting traffic cars, or almost hitting traffic cars (near misses) also earns nitros. All jumps earn nitro boost the longer the airtime, the more boost earned. It is also possible to perform a barrel roll by driving with 1 side on a normal ramp. In addition to performing standard jumps, the player can also perform flat spins (by drifting onto a ramp) and barrel rolls (by driving off of a curved ramp).

As the subtitle implies, the focus of Airborne is on jumping, with tracks featuring a lot more ramps than in previous games. The core gameplay is slightly different, however.

Obtaining stars in an event is cumulative – players who finished first in an event without completing the secondary objectives may replay the race and obtain a five-star rating even if the primary objectives are not met. This is the same in Moto Blitz and Championships but you have to complete the primary objectives before unlocking the secondary objectives. Achieving secondary objectives, such as performing a given number of stunts or knocking down opponents, awards the player with two additional stars. Three stars are awarded for finishing in first place, two for second, and one for third. The five star rating system for each race, the use of primary and secondary objectives introduced in Asphalt 6: Adrenaline and also used in Asphalt 7 have all been retained in Asphalt 8. The Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 versions feature different control schemes, including the traditional WASD and the up, down, left, right keyboard scheme. Gameplay is similar to that of Asphalt 7: Heat, with the player given four control options: 'Tilt to steer' (auto-acceleration with movement controlled by tilting the device), 'Tilt and icons' (manual acceleration via an on-screen icon, with movement controlled by tilting the device), 'On-screen controls' (auto-acceleration with movement controlled by an on-screen virtual steering-wheel), 'Tap to steer' (auto-acceleration with movement controlled by tapping the side of the screen).

Download game guardian for asphalt 8