As for racing games, there are tons of options available for almost every platform today. But more than just circuits and time attacks, there are some titles that take the concept of drifting games to a whole new level.

Here we’ll talk about the 10 best games for drift enthusiasts who want to get behind the wheel and burn tires with realistic drifting physics. From real-life tracks to illegal road races, these games have a lot of options to suit every taste.

Drift is all about training and seeking the perfect control of brake and handling. In this article, we’ll cover different types of drift games, from simulators to arcade experiences. See which one fits you best, and paint the asphalt with your tires.

• Release Date: Nov 17, 2017
• Developer: CarX Technologies, LLC
• Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch

CarX Drift Racing Online is an online drifting simulator that will put you behind the wheel of the best sports cars. This title gives you absolute control of the installed parts to make sure that the player can adapt the vehicle control to their personal preferences.

Despite the title of the game, it offers you a lot of offline game modes if you want to enjoy the game alone, without having to worry about other players on your drift circuits. But, for those who won’t give up on the multiplayer, the game allows you to team up with up to 16 other players on the same session, allowing you to have fun with your friends and enjoy one of the most realistic gameplay that you can find on a drifting game.

CarX Drift Racing also features a stunning camera system, with angles bigger than in real life, allowing the players to control their drift better. That combined with amazing gameplay, gives the player a complete drifting experience.

• Release Date: Dec 19, 2014
• Developer: Kunos Simulazioni
• Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, and iOS
• Metascore: 85

Considered one of the best racing games of all time, Assetto Corsa has launched almost 10 years ago and is still a great title for those who want to take their drifting skills to the maximum. Combining the best mechanics of a racing simulator with a list of the most famous cars from around the world, Assetto Corsa was first introduced as a racing game for those who wanted fast cars and realistic gameplay. 

Throughout the years, with the help of community mods, the game became more and more an invitation for drift enthusiasts. New cars, a customizable driving style, and a variety of game modes combined are what make Assetto Corsa a complete racing game, a true reference to the genre, and almost impossible to get bored playing.

• Release Date: Nov 8, 2021
• Developer: Playground Games
• Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox Cloud Gaming
• Metascore: 91

Being the sequence from one of the best racing games ever made can be really hard, especially nowadays. However, Forza Horizon 5 took what his predecessor had of best as a drifting game to a new level. The game features the well-known career mode that puts you as a competitor at the Horizon Festival and features lots of race types, from dirt racing to special events.

You’ll also find a huge arsenal of vehicles at your disposal to tune them as you prefer. Be ready to drift on asphalt, snow, sand, and many different surfaces that, combined with its stunning graphics, make it the royalty of racing games.

• Release Date: Jul 29, 2015
• Developer: Funselektor Labs Inc
• Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android
• Metascore: 66

Don’t underestimate the game because of its graphics. Absolute Drift is one of the best experiences when it comes to drifting games, and also available for almost every platform. Being much more of an arcade title when compared to the previous ones, the game from Funselektor Labs features an isometric camera that conducts you through well-done “levels” that will test your drifting skills.

Can’t forget to mention the soundtrack with more than 3 hours of electronic music made just for the game and featuring well-known artists such as C41, from the Minecraft soundtrack. This combination of elements makes Absolute Drift a must-play for those who want to play a drifting game but also want to avoid a realistic game with racing simulations.

Making drifts here is one of the most satisfying things you can do. Search for the perfect angle and transform your drifts into art as you drive through the course. Be sure to train a lot in order to have better control of your pedals and execute a perfect curve.

• Release Date: Jun 10, 2021
• Developer: ECC Games S.A.
• Platform: Microsoft Windows

This game will take you all the way to Japan, home of the drifting cars and the perfect place for those who want to customize their cars for drifting and compete in real-world challenges. Drift21 was published by 505 games and features more than 1800 components that can be installed on your car, from tires to a custom brake system.

Jump into the multiplayer with your custom drift car and compete against thousands of other players on an awesome PvP racing system. Break records and show your skills in this epic racing simulator. 

Whether online or in single-player mode, this is one of the best drifting games with a bunch of licensed cars, mostly Japanese models. The enjoyment is guaranteed with more than 12 racing modes, including online and offline racing.

• Release Date: Nov 5, 2020
• Developer: Codemasters
• Platform: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows
• Metascore: 80

Besides being essentially a rally racing game, the title also features a lot of mechanics and game modes that will please many drift racing enthusiasts. Travel through 10 locations from around the world in 70 routes made especially for this game, with dynamic environments and light effects.

The split screen mode is also available in the game for those who want to play in local multiplayer mode. This feature makes it the best racing game for gamers who want to drift with friends without being online.

Dirt 5 also improved a lot of features on the customization and photo mode in comparison to the previous title. Codemasters created the biggest car editing mode of the franchise for this game, making it possible for players to give the cars their personal touch.

It is also good to remember that Codemasters is also responsible for more games that are considered incredible titles for speed lovers and rally racing enthusiasts, like Grid, Dirt Rally 2.0, and F1 22. The developer experience can be seen in every aspect of their racing games, with an outstanding career mode in most of the titles.

• Release Date: Apr 20, 2021
• Developer: Grease Monkey Games
• Platform: Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows

Being one of the best drifting games, especially for mobile gamers, Torque Drift is a must-play if you like to customize your car with parts from real brands from around the world. Your main goal is to earn sponsors so you can buy new cars and upgrade them.

The lack of many game modes doesn’t stop the game from being considered one of the best drifting games, even disposing of much simpler graphics. Being able to tune your drift car also on mobile is a key feature for its success.

The title is also free to play, so it’s an awesome option for those who want to burn some tires without having to spend a single penny for it. There’s no doubt that Torque Drift is one of the best mobile drift games, with lots of challenges and tracks to explore.

• Release Date: Nov 8, 2019
• Developer: Ghost Games
• Platform: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Microsoft Windows
• Metascore: 72

No doubt that when talking about racing games, the Need for Speed franchise is the ruler. For more than decades, EA dedicated its time to making the best games that car enthusiasts could dream of.

Need for Speed Heat is a light at the end of the tunnel after some releases that didn’t please the franchise lovers. The Need for Speed community was not happy with the direction that the previous titles were going, losing fans to its competitors, like Forza and Gran Turismo, for example.

 This game came out to reinforce the belief that EA was listening to its community and didn’t give up on the franchise. Its features were everything the players wanted, and after many games, there was hope for the players who loved the old NFS titles.

Breathtaking racing tracks, a huge car collection, and realistic graphics were just some of the features that Ghost brought to the game. The possibilities of customizing wheels and parts to make your drifts even smoother are just a few things that make it a perfect game if you want to have fun drifting through the open world. 

There are also plenty of drift challenges disposed across the map for you to complete and win an exclusive car. Race through the day to win money and buy cars that will take you to the top. Race through the night and win reputation to unlock new parts and vehicles to use against your rivals.

• Release Date: Mar 16, 2018
• Developer: Criterion Games
• Platform: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows
• Metascore: 82

Another classic racing games franchise that a lot of people grew up with. The first remaster of the franchise takes you back to Paradise City, a fictional place with lots of challenges, insane jumps, and shortcuts that makes racing against your rivals a lot more dynamic.

Although the drift is not the main focus of the game, there are lots of mechanics that make it possible to have fun while gliding through the tracks. There are plenty of vehicles to enhance your gameplay and help you win your races when competing in multiplayer events.

One of the main mechanics that made Burnout famous is the destruction of cars. This is the best part of the Burnout series, for sure. Dangerous stunts and vehicle destruction are guaranteed in the gameplay, so be prepared if you want to become the best in this chaotic driving experience.

• Release Date: Dec 14, 2017
• Developer: Awesome Games
• Platform: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, and Microsoft Windows

Another drifting simulator available for both console and mobile devices and a must-play for realistic mechanics lovers. Drifting in this game can be really fun for both beginner and advanced players. 

Featuring a list of 10 cars and dozens of mods that you can apply to them, the handling can be entirely customizable to suit your style and preference. After customizing them, just like in Need for Speed Heat, you’ll have two modes: One that gives you money as a prize and one that gives you reputation points.

Despite not having any online modes like other games, it has a split-screen mode on consoles so you can play with your friends. This way, you’re not trapped to a single player only for all the events.

• Release Date: Mar 4, 2022
• Developer: Polyphony Digital
• Platform: Playstation 4 and Playstation 5
• Metascore: 87

One of the most iconic racing franchises and also Sony’s biggest racing exclusive. Gran Turismo 7 is an impeccable simulator that pleases almost every racing gamer. The title has a stunning visual and is one of the best drifting games in all aspects.

From braking options to realistic physics, everything impacts your gameplay. Every corner in this game is a delightful experience, with out-of-this-world visuals and real-life accurate engine sounds.

Create unique tunings for your vehicle and join thousands of players worldwide. Participate in competitions to get better ranks and earn points through single-player and multiplayer events. Making the perfect tune can grant you a huge advantage against your rivals, so be sure to use setups that match your playstyle.

• Release Date: Mar 24, 2016
• Developer: Nadeo
• Platform: Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows
• Metascore: 81

Being one of the most arcade-like games on this list, TrackMania Turbo is focused on a more frenetic and fast style of gameplay. It puts you behind the wheels of cars that look almost like toys on giant constructions full of loops, ramps to jump, and outstanding views.

The drifting may not be the most realistic of the genre, and the vehicles are not as customizable as in the previous titles, but it’s still a great game to glide on the curves and get that arcade drift car feeling. Another feature that makes this game so attractive is the VR headsets support, making the experience even more realistic.

Race as fast as you can, avoiding the obstacles and finishing the track in the first place. This is the key to success in TrackMania. Be sure to expect the unexpected because physics doesn’t have a huge place here.

There are tons of drifting games out there, and definitely, there is one that fits your style. No matter if it's a realistic simulator or an arcade. Create your own cars and put your drift skills to proof.
Console or PC, track or open world. Enjoy all that these incredible titles have to offer: Giant maps, sharp corners, engine sounds that are music to someone’s ears, and lots of other stuff.  

When in the real world, be sure to drive safely and respect the laws. This way, everybody can get back home and play the incredible games available out there.