The categories of sim-racing titles are numerous, touching virtually all those that exist in the world of motor racing. Formula, endurance, GT, rally, Nascar, Indy Car are just a few examples of competitions that have a sim-racing counterpart.
The advantage of sim-racing is that you can be immersed in the action, without having to risk an accident in the middle of a race. That’s why sim-racing is increasingly used by motorsport teams as a training tool.
As I said earlier, sim-racing touches on several motorsport disciplines. One of them made its debut in the 80s in the Land of the Rising Sun as a clandestine race, and then spread to the whole world. It’s drifting, of course!
Drifting game on PS4 and PS5
For Sony consoles, the list of drift games doesn’t include many entries, because there aren’t many basic drift titles, so… Nevertheless, you’ve got a few games that’ll keep you entertained.
CarX
CarX is a title released on several platforms, including the PS4. It’s a rather arcade drift game where the emphasis is on fun, although I have to say that the traverses can be very beautiful and surprising too.
The aim here is to make drift races, as the game focuses solely on this discipline, unlike the competition. The title is very easy to get to grips with, whatever your level of drifting. You have multiplayer modes, with servers that are often full of people who love to slide.
The CarX car catalog is simply a paradise for fans of JDM, or Japanese muscle cars, as well as other cars. Skyline R34, 350Z, Subaru BRZ, Supra and many other cars are available for you to customize. You can modify the car’s appearance and performance as you see fit, and I love it.
CarX supports both controllers and sim-racing setups, which should help you get a very good immersion if you’re a fan of the discipline. It’s clearly one of the best you’ll find on Sony’s consoles.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is a sim-racing title that has just landed on Sony’s platform, the PS5 to be precise. It made headlines in the gaming world a few months ago, and I think Microsoft’s approach is a good one. The console war was won by Sony a long time ago, at the time of the PS4, due to a blunder on the part of Xbox.
As a result, Microsoft has changed its tune and is going to conquer Sony directly on its own turf with exclusives. In short, Forza Horizon 5 offers a healthy dose of drifting for fans of competition, whether they’re into beautiful mechanicals or sliding.
FH5’s physics are good in absolute terms, with a good dose of force feedback if you have a base and a steering wheel. The various drifting events will keep you well focused to pass them, if you take the right car.
What’s more, FH5 offers a gigantic catalog of vehicles, all of which can be customized to suit your preferences. And I’m not talking about the visual aspect, no, because the mechanics and their modifications are very advanced.
Drift game on Xbox
Microsoft’s gaming platform isn’t left out when it comes to motor racing, as Xbox is also home to a number of titles. The ones we’ve just seen for Playstation are also available on Xbox, so I’m not going to put them back on the list.
The only addition I can think of is probably Forza Motorsport, but that’s a much more technical and simulation-oriented game. Sure, you can drift with the cars, but that’s not really the competition the game has in mind. It’s the same as Gran Turismo, which is why I didn’t put it on the Sony list.
Drifting game on PC
As with the Xbox, virtually all the games mentioned above are available on PC, except for Gran Turismo, which Sony does not want to port to this platform. We’ve already had Spiderman, God of War and Uncharted, but not Gran Turismo.
Assetto Corsa
Assetto Corsa is considered one of the leaders in PC sim-racing, with a worldwide community that swears by the title. It covers a wide range of motor racing events, with really solid physics and a high degree of immersion.
For drifting, and if you’re looking for realism, look no further, as AC is unquestionably the best in this category. In fact, many professional Formula D drivers use Assetto Corsa for drift training, and that speaks volumes for the title’s realism. What’s more, the community is very active, offering free maps, cars and mods for AC.
Need For Speed
Need For Speed is a world-famous saga, with roots dating back to the 90s on PC. Over the years, NFS has released some real nuggets on various platforms, including Underground 2, Most Wanted and Carbon.
But the saga lost its flame several years ago, and so did its fan base. The latest titles pale in comparison with the games of yesteryear, but if you’re just looking for the fun of slides and clouds of smoke, they’re still worth it.
Mind you, this is an arcade title, so don’t expect realistic physics. You’ll be drifting for fun, and that’s that. By the way, you can find the latest Need For Speed titles for very little money on PC, Xbox and Playstation.
A short history of drifting
Drifting is a form of motor racing that originated in Japan in the 1980s. Back then, drifting was illegal racing on Japanese streets, endangering both drivers and pedestrians. In the course of its evolution, drifting has moved from city roads to empty mountain roads at night.
Nevertheless, the discipline’s beginnings remained illegal for a long time in Japan, with emblematic figures such as Keiichi Tsuchiya , nicknamed the Drift King. Not only is he legendary for his driving prowess, he’s also passionate about the sport. In fact, he drives the Mitsubishi Evo in Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift.
After that, the discipline spread to countries outside Japan, to the USA to be precise. Today, drifting is much more regulated than it used to be, with a regulated competition and a championship called Formula Drift. The cars are not only powerful (over 600 hp), but also built to make a maximum of crosswinds and smoke during the race.
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