Inertial Drift

Inertial Drift: Twilight Rivals is undoubtedly the best way to experience Inertial Drift. This is a game that is relatively easy to pick up, very difficult to master, but remains utterly compulsive.

84%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, character development

89% User Score Based on 1,220 reviews

Critic Score 79%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Inertial Drift" is an arcade racer set in a 90's retro future, featuring a unique handling model and twin-stick drift mechanics. The game offers 16 distinct cars to master and race through 14 tracks in various environments. With 7 race event types, players can experience a new level of accessibility and challenge in the arcade racing genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+12

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,235 reviews

gameplay142 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Innovative twin-stick drifting mechanics that provide a unique and satisfying gameplay experience.
Each car handles differently, offering a variety of driving styles and challenges that keep the gameplay fresh.
Visually stunning with a vibrant art style and a nostalgic retro aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.

Limited content with only a few tracks and a short story mode, which may lead to repetitive gameplay.
No collision between cars during races, making competitive play feel less engaging and more like time trials.
The soundtrack can become repetitive, and many players prefer to mute it and play their own music.

gameplay
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The gameplay of "Inertial Drift" is characterized by its innovative twin-stick drifting mechanics, which allow for a unique and engaging racing experience. While the game offers a fun and challenging learning curve with distinct car handling styles, some players find the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth beyond the core mechanics. Overall, it is praised for its addictive nature and vibrant aesthetics, making it a standout title for fans of arcade racing.
- “It's a great little arcade racer with fun drifting mechanics and cool graphics/visuals.”
- “The drift mechanics in this game are unique and brilliant.”
- “The drifting mechanic is super engaging and is something really innovative and enjoyable, lifting the gameplay experience so that it can be accessible but with a high skill ceiling.”
- “There is no thrill or challenge, neither in the gameplay nor in the race track design.”
- “I bought this game because it looked cool, and that’s about the only credit I can give it - it does look pretty nice, but the gameplay is so poorly designed, filled with blatant flaws and misleading content.”
- “It’s disingenuous, boring, frustrating, and overall just a poorly designed gameplay experience in almost every way.”
story
328 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The story in the game is generally considered lackluster and simplistic, often described as a basic narrative about four friends racing during summer without significant conflict or depth. Many players find it skippable, as it serves primarily as a tutorial for gameplay mechanics rather than an engaging storyline, with some noting that it lacks the emotional stakes and character complexity found in other racing narratives. Overall, while the story mode provides a framework for unlocking content, it is not a major draw for players who are more focused on the racing experience itself.
- “The perfect balance of being sucked into the decently written story and addictive gameplay.”
- “An incredibly innovative and mechanically satisfying racing game with an entertaining story mode that is great at introducing mechanics, a variety of unique and fun cars to drive, and a concise selection of tracks.”
- “A fun little story about 4 people, why they want to race, and getting better behind the wheel.”
- “Because there is a story mode, but it is the most basic, low-stakes, boring, design-by-committee safe blandness you could ever imagine.”
- “The story is literally full of positivity, which is not realistic for this game and its theme.”
- “Horrendous story, the game would be better off without it.”
music
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The music in "Inertial Drift" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its electronic soundtrack for creating an immersive racing atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and uninspiring. Many recommend muting the in-game music and opting for eurobeat playlists to enhance the experience, especially given the game's homage to classic racing titles like "Initial D" and "Ridge Racer." Overall, while the original soundtrack has its fans, the addition of eurobeat in the DLC is often highlighted as a significant improvement.
- “Inertial Drift's soundtrack perfectly complements the game's action.”
- “With a selection of electronic music ranging from fast-paced beats to more ambient sounds, the music helps to create an immersive and energizing atmosphere during the races.”
- “The neon-drenched art is complemented by a banging soundtrack; the game drips with style.”
- “The only thing I did not like about this game is the music.”
- “Its quite boring and only one song on loop, but the DLC seems to fix that (didn't try it yet).”
- “I really wanted to love this game, I love the art style, I love the cars, the colors, the graphics... but, the gameplay is too gimmicky for my taste, I do like arcade racers, but there's a threshold for handling physics or gameplay for me, I got used to the driving mechanics of this game, but I'm afraid there's nothing to keep me playing any further, it got old pretty quick and I moved on, it also doesn't help that it has the most boring soundtrack I have ever listened to in a video game, all the good songs are in the DLC, don't buy this game without the DLC, do yourself a favor and buy the songs.”
graphics
261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The graphics of "Inertial Drift" are widely praised for their vibrant, retro-futuristic aesthetic, featuring stylish cel-shaded visuals that evoke a nostalgic 80s and 90s vibe. Many players appreciate the game's unique art style and the way it complements the drifting mechanics, although some critique the character designs as less impressive. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the arcade racing experience with a pleasing and immersive atmosphere.
- “With vibrant graphics and a stylized design reminiscent of the 90s, the game creates a visually stunning environment.”
- “The cel-shaded graphics are very stylish, reminiscent of Auto Modellista and fitting the retro-futuristic aesthetic.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, giving the game a sharp look while also keeping it arcadey and retro.”
- “I played less than an hour and I was amazed at the graphics (minus the characters, characters were lazily animated), but I was bored at the fact you primarily race against the clock.”
- “I experienced a terrible glitch in the game graphics while playing on Steam Deck.”
- “Inertial drift tries to use its pretentious vaporwave drift racing aesthetic as an excuse for controls that are clunky, unintuitive, and imprecise.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse car handling mechanics, allowing for unique playstyles and extensive micro-tuning options. While the story mode is short and lacks depth, the variety of modes and challenges, along with the potential for future modding support, promise to keep players engaged. However, some users feel that the overall content may not justify the price, suggesting that additional updates could enhance replay value further.
- “Really chill atmosphere and vibe, awesome control scheme, and great replay value with all the unique handling cars.”
- “Story mode is very short, but the replayability is high, since the different cars have wildly different playstyles (seriously, it's not just stats) and there's a lot of modes besides story mode as well.”
- “To compliment that solid core, there is a plethora of modes and challenges that add replayability and challenge over time.”
- “There is not enough content for a $20 purchase; the story mode is short enough to be completed in 40 minutes, the extra content is very lackluster, and there is not much replayability with different difficulties for the story mode.”
- “At this point, I was really puzzled at how such a polished feeling and looking game, that cost $30, had so little content and replayability to offer, and wondered if I should continue playing at all.”
- “If you care a lot about the scenery, then you should probably buy an AAA game made by a team of artists such as Forza Horizon 5, which would have more replay value too.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
13%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance reported on high-end PCs, achieving over 200 fps. However, some players have noted issues following a patch that altered car handling, leading to dissatisfaction with the developers' response. Additionally, there are calls for better optimization for lower-end systems and support for Linux to reduce resource strain.
- “The racing itself and the graphics are very nice, optimized well.”
- “On my PC, it runs smoothly at 200+ fps.”
- “A few laps later, I was still enjoying the silky smooth game performance, great art style, and core drifting mechanics.”
- “Maybe on release this event was okay, but there was a patch along the way which changed car handling and performance slightly, which most likely was not taken into consideration afterwards - a big middle finger from the developer towards the players.”
- “The inertial drift is good, but it would be better if it was released for Linux, and better optimization so my laptop Legion is not running the fan all the time... less resource dependency on my laptop.”
- “Thirdly, there is a bug with the AI commenting on your performance in that if you're ahead of them and complete a lap, they give you a comment as if you're way behind them.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive and energizing qualities, enhanced by a diverse electronic music selection that complements the racing experience. Players appreciate the chill vibe, unique car handling, and distinct track personalities, which together create a rewarding environment for both casual and competitive play. Overall, the game's visuals and sound design contribute significantly to its identity, making it a standout choice for fans of drifting and racing.
- “With a selection of electronic music ranging from fast-paced beats to more ambient sounds, the music helps to create an immersive and energizing atmosphere during the races.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, the mechanics, the feel, the dialogue—it's a must if you love drifting cars in a comfortable setting with room for practice.”
- “Tight, technical and rewarding car handling, tracks and cars with distinct personalities, a breezy atmosphere, and PC-friendly features (high refresh rate and 21:9 support) add up to make this racing game shine.”
- “They really delivered on the visuals and atmosphere across the board, even though it will take some practice before you are able to take some time to enjoy the scenery.”
- “It really adds to the atmosphere and identity of this game and it's a much better music backdrop trying to learn the tracks in combination with the cars than eurobeat, I'll tell you that for free.”
- “If you love the pure thrill of perfecting laps and the Initial D style of dialogue along with the brilliant atmosphere and 'fiercely individual' handling model of each car, then this is the port of the Initial D games to console and PC that you have been waiting for.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
19%
63%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, often requiring significant time investment and frequent menu navigation, which can detract from the overall experience. While some enjoy the community-driven competition of improving time attack records, many feel that the grinding can be excessive and repetitive. Overall, it seems that a balance between challenge and enjoyment is needed to enhance the grinding experience.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it's part of the experience.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the rewards are worth it.”
- “The grinding aspect can feel a bit excessive at times.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Having to go back into the menu every time I want to retry a race is extremely tedious.”
- “After that, you start grinding and grinding the leaderboards just to get that .04 of a second faster.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming and positive, with supportive character interactions that contrast sharply with typical racing game rivalries. The storytelling, presented in a wholesome visual novel format, enhances the overall experience, while the exhilarating driving mechanics evoke strong feelings of satisfaction and joy.
- “And unlike most racing games I've played that involve character interactions mid-race, almost the entire cast are rather heartwarming and supportive, rather than the kind of opponents you would often encounter that barrage you with trash talk.”
- “The double stick drifting feels so good it makes me want to cry.”
- “It's just very heartwarming and positive.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as light-hearted and enjoyable, with players finding themselves chuckling from the moment they start playing. However, there is a critique of certain memes and references, particularly related to eurobeat and Initial D, suggesting that not all humor resonates with the audience. Overall, the game offers a fun experience, though some humor may not appeal to everyone.
- “Still decently funny to try and improve time attack times until the AI starts blatantly cheating (and bragging about it...).”
- “Like, as soon as you hold this game in your hands and play, you’ll be chuckling with joy.”
- “It has the funny car from the epic drifting.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
38%
50%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the inclusive character design, while others criticize it as poorly executed and reminiscent of certain artistic styles they find unappealing. Overall, opinions vary significantly, highlighting a divide in player satisfaction regarding character aesthetics and dialogue.
- “Inclusive character design makes me happy.”
- “If I had to point out one thing I didn't like, then it would be the character design.”
- “Very good game, but the character designs suck though.”
- “Awful character designs and dialogues, like straight out of some SJW/Tumblr artist's wet dream.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been noted for its stability issues, with users reporting several bugs and glitches. However, there is optimism as patches are being released to address these problems, indicating ongoing support for improvement. Overall, while stability is a concern, the developers are actively working to enhance the experience.
- “There are a couple of glitches to be sorted out, but patches are coming through well.”
- “The game is buggy, which affects the overall experience.”
- “While there is ample content, the stability issues detract from its value compared to other racing games like Beach Buggy Racing or Forza Horizon 4.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's monetization model is refreshingly straightforward, featuring no additional content like DLCs, season passes, or in-game advertisements, which allows for an uninterrupted gaming experience. However, some players criticize the character design as bland and overly corporate, suggesting that it detracts from the overall engagement and authenticity of the game.
- “There are no fractures in this game - no DLC, no season pass, no storefront, no guest appearances from Ken Block or Autobots, and no ads relegating 'start' to the footer like 'shopping for curtains' drops down a to-do list.”