Inertial Drift

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 610 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Inertial Drift Game Cover
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.
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"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.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 610 reviews
gameplay70 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The unique twin-stick drifting mechanic is intuitive and adds depth to the gameplay, making it fun to master each car's handling.
  • The game features beautiful visuals and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience, reminiscent of retro arcade racers.
  • There is a good variety of cars, each with distinct handling characteristics, which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
  • The story mode is short and lacks depth, often feeling like a tutorial rather than a fully fleshed-out narrative.
  • There is no collision between cars during races, which can make the racing feel less dynamic and more like time trials.
  • The soundtrack can become repetitive, and many players prefer to mute it and listen to their own music instead.
  • gameplay178 mentions

    The gameplay of "Inertial Drift" is characterized by its innovative twin-stick drifting mechanics, which provide a unique and engaging experience that encourages skill development and experimentation. While the game features a variety of cars with distinct handling styles, some players find the learning curve steep and the gameplay can become repetitive due to limited race modes and track variety. Overall, the game is praised for its fun mechanics and vibrant aesthetics, making it a solid choice for fans of arcade racing, despite some criticisms regarding balance and depth.

    • “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 gameplay is amazing.”
    • “There is no thrill or challenge, not 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.”
  • story163 mentions

    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 reviewers noted that while the story serves as a tutorial for gameplay mechanics, it lacks the engaging elements found in more complex racing narratives, making it skippable for those primarily interested in the racing experience. Overall, the story is seen as a minor aspect of the game, with most players preferring to focus on the gameplay and racing mechanics instead.

    • “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.”
    • “The story mode features a group of youngsters, each lacking in confidence but supportive of each other as they seek to improve themselves.”
    • “The story is completely whatever, total nothing; but the game's control scheme is really clever and the tracks are super fun.”
    • “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.”
  • music148 mentions

    The music in "Inertial Drift" receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its electronic soundtrack for enhancing the racing experience and creating an immersive atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and lacking in variety. Many users recommend muting the in-game music and playing their own eurobeat playlists to better match the game's aesthetic and driving mechanics. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it seems that the addition of DLC and personal music choices significantly improves the experience for many players.

    • “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.”
    • “The music is pretty bad unless you really like bland looping mid-2000s dance.”
    • “For a game to go this far into paying homage to Initial D, the soundtrack is really lacking.”
  • graphics128 mentions

    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 overall visual presentation, which enhances the arcade racing experience, although some critiques mention that character animations are less impressive. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its charm and appeal, making it a standout in the racing genre.

    • “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 experienced a terrible glitch in the game graphics while playing on Steam Deck.”
    • “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.”
    • “Inertial Drift tries to use its pretentious vaporwave drift racing aesthetic as an excuse for controls that are clunky, unintuitive, and imprecise.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its diverse car handling mechanics and various modes, which encourage players to experiment with different vehicles and playstyles. While the story mode is notably short, the potential for micro-tuning and modding could further enhance replay value, though some players feel the current content may not justify the price. The community hopes for future updates to expand the game's longevity and creativity.

    • “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.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance reported on high-end PCs, achieving over 200 fps. However, some players express concerns about resource usage on lower-end systems, particularly regarding laptop performance and fan noise, as well as issues stemming from a patch that altered car handling. While the graphics and unique gameplay mechanics are praised, there are calls for better optimization, especially for Linux users.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to achieve small improvements, such as beating time attack records or leaderboard scores. While some enjoy the community aspect of grinding, many express frustration with the repetitive nature and the need for extensive time investment.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it adds to the overall experience.”
    • “The game is a bit grindy, which can be rewarding if you enjoy leveling up.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by an immersive blend of electronic music that enhances the racing experience, creating both an energizing and chill vibe. Players appreciate the unique handling of cars and the distinct personalities of tracks, which contribute to a rewarding and comfortable setting for practice and progression. Overall, the combination of music, mechanics, and dialogue fosters a captivating environment that resonates well with fans of drifting and racing games.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming and positive, with supportive character interactions that contrast with typical racing game rivalries. The combination of a wholesome story and satisfying gameplay, particularly the exhilarating feeling of speed and precision, evokes strong emotional responses, making the experience deeply enjoyable.

    • “And unlike most racing games I've played that involve character interactions mid-race, almost the entire cast is rather heartwarming and supportive, rather than the kind of opponents you would often encounter that barrage you with trash talk.”
    • “Story is in 4 pieces through a surprisingly wholesome little visual novel.”
    • “It's just very heartwarming and positive.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and amusing elements, such as the inclusion of a funny car and the joy of gameplay that elicits chuckles. However, some players express frustration with the community's reliance on memes and references, suggesting that not all humor resonates equally, particularly when it comes to music preferences. Overall, the game manages to deliver a fun experience, though opinions on specific jokes and references vary.

    • “It has the funny car from the epic drifting.”
    • “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.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the inclusive character design while others criticize it as poorly executed and overly influenced by social justice themes. Overall, opinions vary significantly, highlighting a divide in player satisfaction regarding character aesthetics and dialogue quality.

    • “The inclusive character design makes me happy.”
    • “The character development is rich and engaging, allowing for deep emotional connections.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
    • “If I had to point out one thing I didn't like, then it would be the character design.”
    • “Very good game, but character designs suck though.”
    • “Awful character designs and dialogues, like straight out of some social justice warrior or Tumblr artist's wet dream.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game has been noted for its stability issues, with users reporting bugs and glitches, particularly with the car mechanics. However, developers are actively addressing these problems through patches, indicating a commitment to improving the overall experience.

    • “The game is quite buggy, which affects the overall experience.”
    • “There are a couple of glitches that need to be sorted out, but patches are being released regularly.”
    • “While there is ample content, the stability issues detract from the overall value compared to other racing games like Beach Buggy Racing or Forza Horizon 4.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is refreshingly straightforward, featuring no additional content like DLCs, season passes, or in-game advertisements, which allows players to focus solely on the gameplay experience without distractions. However, some users criticize the character design as overly generic and corporate, suggesting that it lacks depth and authenticity.

    • “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.”
    • “The monetization model is refreshingly straightforward, allowing players to enjoy the game without the pressure of constant microtransactions.”
    • “I appreciate that the game respects my time and money, providing a complete experience without the need for additional purchases.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money at every turn, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “It's frustrating to see that the game is designed around making money rather than providing a balanced experience for players, leading to a pay-to-win environment.”
    • “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency disrupt the flow of gameplay and make it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
21hAverage play time
4-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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