The racing genre issurprisingly diverse, with everything from hardcore driving simulators to Formula 1 and evengames where there’s no racing at all.
Another unique niche is drift racing, and many series havetheir own spin on the style. It’s too early to say if drift racers are making a comeback, but with games likeJDM: Japanese Drift Masterdue out in March 2025, it’s a great time to be a drift racing fan.
If you want to play someintense racing gameswhere drifting is viable (just please, stay away from the Fast and Furious game!), here’s a selection to keep you busy.
8Tokyo Xtreme Racer
A Nostalgic Trip
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Raceris like aphoenix rising from the ashesin 2025, with all the old-school trimmings of aPS2 racer.
InTXR, you challenge racers by driving behind them and flashing your lights. There’s asatisfying progression systemas you work towards new cars and upgrades, including an in-depth tuning system.
Honestly,drifting is pretty difficult inTXR, and it can feel more like a drag racer than anything else. Still, the unique mechanic to challenge opponents makes it astylish street racer, and you can absolutely drift around the loop with the right tunes. There’s even amonetary incentivefor doing so.
I can’t recommend this game highly enough, but check out ourbeginner tips and tricksbefore diving in, as there’s a learning curve. There’s also a spin-off title calledTokyo Xtreme Racer: Drift 2on the PS2, where drifting is a focus.
7Import Tuner Challenge
Good Luck Finding This One
Import Tuner Challenge
Import Tuner Challengeis anincredible racer by Genkiwith an eye-watering level of customization.
You can spend hours fiddling with your car settings, and while there’s a lot to take in, you cando some incredible things through trial and errorwithout knowing anything about cars.
The gameplay is pretty similar toTXR, which makes sense as it’s made by the same dev team.
The only problem withImport Tuner Challengeis that it’sobnoxiously hard to even find to play it. It’s an Xbox 360 exclusive with no PC port, and it’sunavailable on any online storefront. Still, it’s a must-play if you have the hardware.
6CarX Drift Racing Online
A Drift Racing Playground
CarX Drift Racing Online
CarXis a pure drifting simulator, heavily propped up bymountains of custom contentand customization options.
If you’re into vehicle tuning, you’ll adoreCarX, as you can spend hours tinkering with your car parts. It’s also a game whereI strongly advise using manual transmissionfor more control.
Drifting feels fantasticinCarX, and it’s so precise you may eventake part in ‘tandems’where you try to drift with another driver in unison. Every car looks and feels entirely different, and new vehicles are still being added to the roster for free to this day.
Out of every drift racer on this list,CarXismy go-to chill game. There’s not a ton of progression, so it feels more like a sandbox with a few extra bells and whistles.
5Need For Speed: Unbound
The Latest In The Legendary Racing Series
Need for Speed Unbound
NFS Unboundis apolarising title, thanks to its bold, cel-shaded special FX. However, it remains asolid street racer that rewards driftingand has a deliciously cheesy story to go with it.
Unboundtells a ridiculous tale that wouldn’t be out of place in an old Fast and Furious movie before the team became superheroes.
Drifting is incentivized inUnbound, and you get a boost for flying around corners sideways. It’s not a new concept to the series, but the developers nailed the weight of the cars, even if actual drifting is relatively easy.
I’ve always been a sucker forNFScarsgames, but if you want a more traditional title, why not try outNeed For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered?
10 Best Racing Games With Story Modes
What’s a racer without any good story?
An Arcade Classic
We’re going back in time for our next entry to anostalgic classicwith several great console ports.
Outrun 2is afantastic, if punishing, arcade racerwith drifting at its core. The drifting itself feels amazing. Briefly hit the brake, then slam the accelerator while turning to initiate a controllable drift.Every car feels different, with ‘novice’ cars providing more grip, so drifting isn’t necessary. The expert cars are the opposite.
You can takemultiple routes through the game, with the more challenging stages requiring laser-precise drifting through tight corners while avoiding traffic. I adore the multiplayer inOutrun 2, as the catch-up systems feel nonexistent, and races areskill-based and fair.
3Ridge Racer Type 4
From Strength To Strength
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
How could we have a drift racing list without thebig daddy of PS1 drift racers,Ridge Racer Type 4?
Type 4is arguablyone of the best racers on the console, and it has tight drift mechanics that you can initiate by briefly letting go of the throttle.Drifting is quite ridiculous, as you can throw cars around corners on their sides with barely a drop in speed!
This system was built upon in later entries, and it becomes a game where you’redoing something wrong if you ever have to brake.Ridge Racer Type 4is a classic, but I also have a soft spot for the Xbox 360 and PS3 games.
Stay away from the travesty that isRidge Racer Unbounded, and you’ll have a great time defying the laws of physics.
2Mario Kart 8
A Nintendo Giant Enters The Race
Mario Kart 8
Mario Kartmay seem like a wild pick, but it does haveexcellent drift mechanics, and I believe it’s important to mention a great title for players who aren’t interested in street racing.
Mario Kart 8is animpressive kart raceron the Nintendo Switch with an iconic driver roster and anexquisite assortment of coursescelebrating the series’ history.
As for drift mechanics, your kart does a little hop before you initiate a drift, and you canglide around sharp cornerswithout losing speed if you don’t eat an attack from another racer.
Boost is tied to how long you keep your drift going, and chaining high-speed drifts in 200cc takesplenty of skill. If you want to trade the Wangan for Waluigi’s stadium, this is the place to do it.
1Initial D Street Stage
Move Over, Language Barrier
Key Information
Sega Rosso
Release Date
March 2006
Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift isa guilty pleasure for me, and theInitial Dgames let me recreate those high-octane races on windy mountain roads.
Before you draw your pitchforks, yes, I know,Initial D is a fantastic anime and mangaas well as a top-tier racing game. The games are story-driven, and every mission gives you the opportunity to drift at break speed around obscenely tight mountain hairpin bends. There are evencreative tasks, like racing while your passenger holds a cup of water you’re trying not to spill.
You’ll need solid throttle control if you want to win, and there’s a ton ofnuance at higher levels of play. I’m lucky enough to live near an arcade with anInitial Dcabinet, and that’s my favorite way to play. However, the PSP game I’ve recommended here is anexcellent entry into the series.
If you’ve never played before, there’s no other racer quite like it, andyou may just get hookedtracking down the otherInitial Dgames.
