KartRider: Drift

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KartRider: Drift is a single player and multiplayer racing game. It was developed by NEXON Korea Corporation and was released on January 9, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

A free to play cross-platform kart racer with deep customization.

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,884 reviews

gameplay148 positive mentions

story14 negative mentions

gameplay
456 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay of "Kartrider: Drift" is characterized by a fast-paced and addictive racing experience that combines speed and skill, with a focus on drifting mechanics that can be both rewarding and challenging to master. While many players appreciate the extensive customization options and variety of tracks, there are mixed feelings about the drifting system, which some find complicated and less satisfying compared to other kart racers like Mario Kart. Overall, the game offers engaging gameplay suitable for both newcomers and seasoned players, though it faces criticism for matchmaking issues and the need for further polish in its mechanics.
- “The gameplay is an exhilarating mix of speed and skill.”
- “The drifting mechanics are satisfying, allowing for tight turns and strategic maneuvers that keep races exciting.”
- “The kart racing mechanics are perfectly balanced, making it easy for newcomers to pick up and play, yet offering depth and nuance that will keep seasoned racers engaged.”
- “The game's most crucial mechanic, drifting (I mean, it's literally in the name of the game?), doesn't even feel good to use.”
- “The racing is slow, the tracks are dull with many of them locked behind boring tutorial challenges, every character and kart have the exact same stats, the items all auto aim, and the drifting mechanic is needlessly complicated.”
- “The drift mechanic is hard and can slow you down if you don't master it, but once you understand how to use it the races become way more interesting.”
graphics
246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics in Kartrider: Drift are widely praised for their vibrant, colorful aesthetics and charming art style, which enhance the overall racing experience. Players appreciate the high-definition visuals, detailed track designs, and cute character animations, making it visually appealing even on lower settings. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are impressive, they may not feel original or innovative compared to other kart racing games.
- “Kartrider: Drift boasts vibrant graphics and beautifully designed tracks.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant tracks and eye-catching details that immerse me in a visually captivating world.”
- “Graphics and presentation: the game does indeed look fantastic.”
- “Moreover, the visuals were a disgrace.”
- “The graphics were outdated and lacked the vibrant and colorful aesthetics that have become synonymous with the Mario Kart franchise.”
- “This game is garbage, I played Kartrider in Korea in 2002 it was fun and great, this is the same game with the same graphics from 2002 with none of the improvements on the original game.”
story
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
84%
11%
The reviews indicate a significant absence of a compelling story in the game, with many users expressing disappointment over the lack of a dedicated story mode that was previously promised. Instead, the focus is primarily on daily and weekly missions, which some find grindy and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. While the game features various modes and mechanics, the absence of a narrative element leaves players feeling unfulfilled and longing for a richer storytelling experience.
- “Moreover, the game's engrossing storyline and multifaceted characters serve to further elevate the overall gaming experience, providing a level of emotional depth and nuance that is often sorely lacking in other games of its genre.”
- “Its impeccable design and execution serve to highlight the power of video games as a medium for storytelling and entertainment, and one can only hope that more games of this caliber will continue to be produced in the years to come.”
- “This is where our story begins.”
- “☑ no story”
- “where is the story mode that used to be there.... ehh can't select map..... i mean overall at least the graphic is better ill give a recommended for that and that only.”
- “Compare that to rush+, again, which alongside ranked and time attack, also has a classic mode, a track editor, multiple arcade modes to play, a full story mode (that this game promised but still didn't add), clubs, homes, minigames, and other rotating modes to keep you hooked.”
music
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
49%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its upbeat and catchy tunes while others find it generic and repetitive. Many players appreciate the vibrant soundtrack and sound effects, noting that it enhances the overall experience, though some express frustration over the inability to adjust volume or mute it during gameplay. Overall, while the music has its highlights, it often falls short of the memorable quality associated with the franchise's earlier titles.
- “Overall, it's an amazing game with an insane soundtrack.”
- “Finally, I want to highlight that the music of the game is a bliss; I could listen to a 20-hour lo-fi mix of this game's music.”
- “The sound effects are also great, with lively and upbeat music that really gets the blood pumping.”
- “Music is incredibly loud and can't be turned down.”
- “The music is generic and reminds me of corporate elevator music.”
- “My only gripes so far is the music can get annoying, and I wish there were some sensitivity options for controllers.”
monetization
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
67%
26%
The game's monetization model is primarily cosmetic, featuring microtransactions and a battle pass system that do not provide gameplay advantages, which players generally appreciate. While some view it as a cash grab reminiscent of Mario Kart, others find the approach fair and generous for free-to-play users, with no invasive gacha mechanics. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as an improvement over previous titles, focusing on aesthetics rather than pay-to-win elements.
- “There is also microtransactions, but it's honestly quite generous for free-to-play players, and you can get quite a lot if you're lucky with the loot boxes.”
- “In-game purchases do not give advantages over those who don't spend in the game, and I admire that.”
- “All in-game purchases are solely cosmetic and do not hinder your gameplay.”
- “Terrible cash grab phone app.”
- “It just seems like a Mario Kart rip-off, and a quick cash grab (race pass??? really?).”
- “There's a reason why Mario Kart has replayability and Kartrider Rush was a questionable monetization baboon bonanza.”
humor
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, particularly when playing with friends, as it leads to hilarious moments and enjoyable chaos. However, some players find the humor can wear thin after repeated play, and certain gameplay mechanics, like drifting, are described as frustratingly ineffective. Overall, the game is seen as funny and entertaining, especially in a social setting, but it may not hold up as well in solo play.
- “It's hilarious to play this game with friends, and less frustrating than Mario Kart.”
- “The karts are hilarious, and each one comes with a unique set of stats and abilities.”
- “Funny characters, easy to learn but difficult to master drift mechanic and no pay-to-win cosmetics.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly for achievements that require years of effort. While some appreciate the availability of free resources to ease the grind, others feel that the daily and license challenges detract from the overall enjoyment, making the game feel inaccessible and frustrating. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant barrier to fun, with calls for more engaging ways to earn in-game currency and progress.
- “The game is probably too hard and inaccessible for the average westerner who doesn't want to spend hours and hours grinding for mediocre rewards.”
- “Some achievements will take literal years of grinding to the point that it doesn't even make sense to work towards (failing 500,000 matches, making 100,000 decals?! incredibly stupid).”
- “You have to grind quite a bit to upgrade your kart and it is quite tedious.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report it runs well on lower-end hardware and is surprisingly optimized for an Unreal Engine title, others experience significant performance issues, including high GPU usage and stuttering. Customization options do not enhance performance, and matchmaking can lead to frustrating wait times. Overall, while there are fun elements and a solid foundation, the game suffers from notable optimization flaws that detract from the experience.
- “Performance and Steam Deck compatibility: the game is surprisingly well optimized for a game made in Unreal Engine; it ran fine when I turned the graphics down on my PC.”
- “Your kart's performance is not locked to a specific configuration, but rather you decide what stats to allocate, meaning that if you have one kart and the means to upgrade it, you already have the optimal build available.”
- “Pretty good, fun, well optimized with a good foundation to grow from.”
- “Starting the game, the game was so unoptimized, GPU running at 90% with no changes and it was on high settings. I do not understand why it would be in that state with a 1070.”
- “The game runs very poorly. I played a few games with my friends and every single game had stuttering problems with a GTX 1660 and i5-9700KF.”
- “It's not optimized at all; you'll spend most of your time matchmaking, then waiting to join.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
73%
The game generally runs well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and features appealing graphics. However, it suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, random freezes, and controller setup problems, which detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential as an esport, the game's instability and lack of community engagement are notable concerns.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck and scratches that Mario Kart itch very well.”
- “From a pro's side, the game looks great, runs great, and is available on a few different platforms.”
- “Also runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “Fun game, really buggy, takes 16GB for no reason.”
- “Still a buggy mess.”
- “- There are random freezes in the game, even though it runs at 60 FPS.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers an emotionally engaging experience through its engrossing storyline and well-developed characters, which add depth often missing in similar titles. While some gameplay elements can be frustrating, such as the daunting challenge of achieving certain awards, the overall fun and cute aesthetic contribute to a wholesome atmosphere that resonates with players. Despite occasional frustrations, the ability to enjoy the game with friends enhances its emotional appeal.
- “Moreover, the game's engrossing storyline and multifaceted characters serve to further elevate the overall gaming experience, providing a level of emotional depth and nuance that is often sorely lacking in other games of its genre.”
- “It's very touching.”
- “Wholesome fun, so cute.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming character designs and customization options, while others criticize certain designs as uninspired and poorly rendered. The attention to detail in environments enhances the overall appeal, but specific character choices have raised eyebrows among users. Overall, while the graphics and customization are appreciated, the execution of character design leaves room for improvement.
- “The attention to detail in the environments, along with the charming character designs, adds to the game's overall appeal.”
- “Love the kart customization options and character designs.”
- “Pros: good graphics, drifting is great, cool character designs, balanced racing system not pay to win, custom vehicle coolers and decals, the map designs are really cool and fun to play on, item shop is reasonably priced and so is battle pass, rewards quite nice, and the game being cross-platform is a major plus in my book.”
- “The character designs were uninspired and poorly rendered, failing to capture the iconic charm of Mario and his friends.”
- “Some character design is questionable to say the least (dude with wigs; small animal twerking; fragile 'elves'; masculine female).”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while daily challenges and events provide opportunities for customization and engagement, the lack of diverse game modes, such as a ranked queue, significantly limits its long-term appeal. Comparisons to other games like Mario Kart highlight the shortcomings in replay value, leading to a consensus that the game struggles to maintain player interest over time.
- “Daily challenges, events, and more make the game replayable and give you a chance to earn different customizations.”
- “Replayability is enhanced by the variety of daily challenges and events available.”
- “There's a reason why Mario Kart has replayability; it offers diverse gameplay experiences that keep players coming back.”
- “No replayability.”
- “Replayability: this is where the no modes issue comes in.”
- “- no ranked queue mode - this would make this game much more replayable, in my opinion.”