NASCAR 25

About

NASCAR 25 is a multiplayer racing game. It was developed by iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, LLC and was released on October 14, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

NASCAR 25 offers the most authentic NASCAR racing experience, featuring all four National Series and the ARCA Menards Series. With laser-scanned cars and tracks alongside expert-tuned physics based on real driver feedback, players enjoy unmatched realism. Multiple modes like Quick Race, Championship, Multiplayer, and Career provide diverse and immersive racing challenges.

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74%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,144 reviews

graphics65 positive mentions

optimization14 negative mentions

Great graphics and sound design, creating an immersive racing experience.
Fun and engaging career mode with a solid progression system.
Improved driving physics and AI behavior compared to previous NASCAR games.

Frequent crashes and performance issues, especially with wheel support.
Lack of depth in career mode, including no DNFs and limited customization options.
Poorly implemented corner-cutting penalties that disrupt gameplay.

graphics
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
39%
7%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their beauty and realism, particularly in terms of track detail and car models. However, some users criticize the graphics for feeling outdated, likening them to PS4-era visuals, and express disappointment over specific elements like rearview mirror detail and optimization issues. Overall, while the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience, there are notable areas for improvement.
- “The graphics are beautiful.”
- “The graphics and audio are excellent, contributing to the overall NASCAR experience.”
- “The visuals are sharp, the tracks feel alive, and the overall handling model gives each race a real sense of speed and consequence.”
- “The graphics of this game look like they're from the PS4 era, which is fine, but it runs poorly for what it looks like.”
- “The graphics are unbelievably disappointing.”
- “I noticed from the very start that the graphics are very basic; there's not a lot of sharpness or clarity, and it seems like they put very little effort into the graphics compared to what they advertised.”
music
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the eclectic soundtrack that includes a variety of genres such as rock, country, and rap, while others express dissatisfaction with certain song choices and the lack of an option to disable or customize the music. Players appreciate the immersive atmosphere created by the music and the inclusion of podcasts featuring Dale Jr., but some feel that the overall selection can lead to tonal whiplash and that the soundtrack could benefit from more depth and variety. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are calls for improvements in customization options and a more cohesive musical experience.
- “The soundtrack is amazing, there's immersive details in-game, and in general you get the sense the team cares about NASCAR.”
- “The overall vibes with the menu music, pre-race cutscenes, game presentation, and even the Dale Jr. download segments are a great touch and really immerse you in the world of NASCAR like no other games have even come close.”
- “I like most of the musical selections for the soundtrack; we're back to that EA-level soundtrack with banger after banger in it.”
- “Game has no depth; nobody retires, same drivers every year, no pit animations. Cars will wreck, causing a caution and restart in front. You have unskippable cutscenes of Dale Jr. talking like that podcast. Jr. cares more about the music than the quality of the game, which after four seasons becomes boring.”
- “I would have liked the ability to disable all music, or certain songs.”
- “The music is pretty awful; some of the content is just poor taste.”
optimization
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
62%
23%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and stuttering, particularly on certain tracks and with specific hardware setups. While some users experienced solid performance on high-end systems, others noted that the game is poorly optimized for PC, lacking essential features and settings that could enhance gameplay. The consensus suggests that while the game has a strong foundation, it requires substantial optimization improvements to fully realize its potential.
- “Performance is solid at 4K on my i9 9900K + RTX 4070 Ti.”
- “It's very well optimized, in comparison to most UE5 games, and should run fine on most PCs.”
- “With 20 hours on the game, I have had no major bugs and everything runs smoothly.”
- “While the pros are stellar and there is a good foundation to be had, terrible optimization, inconsistent AI, and the worst career I've ever played in a NASCAR game render any pluses moot.”
- “The game lacks basic features which have existed in this franchise since 2004, but the overall poor optimization, poor scalability, and lack of useful settings were the nail in the coffin for me.”
- “The game is unfinished, full of bugs, and not optimized for PC.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many praising its core racing mechanics and immersive track experiences, while others criticize the AI behavior, lack of depth in career mode, and various gameplay bugs. Although some players find the racing enjoyable and reminiscent of earlier NASCAR titles, issues such as poor online experiences, limited graphics options, and unrefined pit mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the game shows promise and improvement over previous iterations, it still requires significant refinement to fully satisfy players.
- “The gameplay is really well done and it feels like being back in the early 2000s with the NASCAR games.”
- “The core racing mechanics are exceptional, complemented by laser-scanned tracks that deliver an immersive experience—you can genuinely feel the bumps along the apron in turns 1 and 2 at Las Vegas, which is remarkably authentic.”
- “Credit where credit is due, though, NASCAR 25 lays a very nice foundation for the future, with very good gameplay, a very in-depth roster with all the four main series, and astonishingly well recreated tracks, making for what is definitely the most solid NASCAR game in years.”
- “The entire game's mechanics look and feel like they were copied and pasted from the Heat series; the AI is by far the worst I've ever seen across any game I've ever played.”
- “Many others say the same thing: the off-track mechanic on road courses is probably the worst implementation of it I've found in a game in recent memory.”
- “The gameplay is alright for the most part, but the crashing AI is terrible; the hits are too spongey.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting persistent bugs and glitches, particularly with wheel and pedal setups, while others have found it to run smoothly after recent patches. Many users noted that while the game can be buggy, it remains enjoyable and fun, especially in multiplayer settings. Overall, the experience varies significantly depending on individual setups and expectations.
- “Man, I don't know what these jokers are crying about, but the game runs great and is as challenging as you want.”
- “Plays great and runs great for me.”
- “After getting everything set up, it runs great on my PC.”
- “Even after all the patches and time passed, it's still buggy.”
- “Game is buggy, incompatible, and generally unplayable in its current state.”
- “Got my wheel set up to work once and never again; tried with a controller and that doesn't work either. This game claims to support controller and wheel yet it's a buggy mess.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players expressing a desire for a more immersive and purpose-driven narrative beyond the basic racing progression. While the career mode is considered enjoyable, many feel it lacks depth and organic storytelling, often resulting in a scripted experience rather than a dynamic one. Overall, while the game excels in gameplay mechanics, the storyline leaves room for improvement.
- “Best NASCAR game we have had in years! The story mode is really fun.”
- “Career mode is good, but it needs a story-driven feel.”
- “In conclusion, yes, this is a good racing game, but that's not the only reason why people buy these games - we want a storyline beyond just winning an arcade contest and moving up the series.”
- “We want a game that has a career mode with immersion, a storyline, and a purpose.”
- “Instead of organic rivalries and surprising storylines, you often get a repetitive leaderboard that feels more scripted than simulated.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding it entertaining, particularly in career mode where unexpected moments can lead to laughter. While the game has had updates that may have diminished its comedic elements, multiplayer sessions still generate amusing interactions. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch, especially in chaotic random lobbies.
- “Don't let this review fool you into your decision on getting the game; it's really fun, and multiplayer produces some moments that may have you on the floor laughing, especially in career mode.”
- “It was funny to see Amber Balcean mad at my driving one race and then saying, 'It was refreshing to see Rob Lowe driving clean today!' the next race when I raced her a little cleaner.”
- “Random lobbies are crazy and a little funny.”
- “Heat 5 was a worse deal just because it was not funny.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
- “I expected more humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the immersive sounds, music, graphics, and attention to detail in race day experiences. The inclusion of tributes to Dale Jr. enhances the overall feel, while suggestions for features like a day-night cycle indicate a desire for even deeper immersion. Overall, the game's atmosphere reflects a strong passion for racing culture.
- “From career progression to the atmosphere of race day, it’s clear a lot of passion went into bringing this game to life.”
- “The atmosphere and overall feel of the game, along with a small tribute to Dale Jr. in the career mode opening and his podcast sections throughout career mode.”
- “The atmosphere and overall feel of the game, along with a small tribute to Dale Jr. in the career mode opening and his podcast sections throughout career mode, are lacking.”
- “A day-night cycle would also be amazing; doing something like the Coke 600 from daylight into darkness would add so much atmosphere.”
- “While we got the atmosphere, the sounds, the music, the graphics, the tracks, and the cars, it still feels incomplete.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to a frustratingly slow progression. While some appreciate the immersive sound design during downtime, the lack of quality-of-life features, such as copying and pasting decals, adds to the overall tedium of the grinding experience. Despite these issues, many still enjoy the game and are eager to continue their career mode.
- “The above creates an extremely tedious and repetitive progression that manages to feel completely unengaging.”
- “You're also not able to copy and paste decals you've already moved and resized, and that, along with not being able to hold the directional button to scroll the decal to the desired spot, makes for an extremely tedious process that takes way longer than it realistically should.”
- “Even sitting in the garage between races in your career and being tabbed out reading something on the side, the sound of someone grinding metal or dropping a tool will keep that level of immersion going.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Reviewers indicate that while the game attempts to enhance replayability through its career mode, it ultimately falls short, offering limited content and lacking depth. Many feel it does not deliver the engaging experience expected from a top-tier NASCAR game.
- “Something to keep the career mode fresh and add replay value.”
- “The game lacks elements to keep the career mode fresh, which significantly reduces its replay value.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there isn't much incentive to replay the game.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics makes it hard to find reasons to revisit the game.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is heavily influenced by its branding, with iRacing as the publisher promoting it as a premier NASCAR experience. However, some users feel that this focus on branding may detract from the game's authenticity, suggesting a "simcade" approach rather than a true simulation.
- “The iRacing branding in the ads is misleading; they are the publishers, not the developers, which is why this feels more like a simcade.”
- “During the development of this game, the developers were adamant about promoting it as the best NASCAR game ever, but the monetization practices suggest otherwise.”
- “The aggressive monetization strategies overshadow the gameplay experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine racing simulation.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely lacking, with a linear career progression that feels devoid of meaningful interactions or emotional depth, such as team dynamics or sponsor relationships. While the graphics and car handling have improved, the gameplay mechanics, particularly regarding collisions, detract from the overall emotional engagement.