NASCAR Heat 3

About

There are more ways to race than ever before in NASCAR Heat 3! Jump into the enhanced Career Mode, build your own race team and compete in the Xtreme Dirt Tour. Prove that you are the best in the world in the new Online Tournaments feature. Plus, all your favorite modes are back and better than ever.

Genres & Tags

Racing

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 760 reviews

graphics31 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and engaging NASCAR experience, especially for fans of the series.
Improvements in graphics and gameplay mechanics, particularly in the dirt racing aspect, have been noted positively.
The career mode allows players to build their own team and offers a variety of racing series, adding depth to the gameplay.

Many players have experienced significant technical issues, including crashes and poor wheel support, which detracts from the overall experience.
The AI behavior is often criticized for being unrealistic, leading to frustrating racing experiences.
Lack of customization options and a subpar sound design have been highlighted as major drawbacks.

graphics
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
56%
17%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are decent and show some improvement over previous titles, they still fall short of modern AAA standards. Some users appreciate the realistic car models and track designs, but others criticize the aging visuals, low detail in certain areas, and pixelation issues. Overall, the graphics are considered satisfactory for gameplay but are not a standout feature of the game.
- “This is a great game with awesome graphics. If you love NASCAR, even though this is an older game, it's still fun and exciting to play and very realistic. I enjoy it and I give it a 10 out of 10.”
- “Amazing graphics and a good realistic game.”
- “The graphics have improved a bit as well and the blurriness up the track isn't as profound as the years before.”
- “Ai is terrible, physics are terrible, graphics are mediocre.”
- “The graphics settings aren't serviceable, and the config file is nowhere to be seen.”
- “With today's innovations, these graphics are just unacceptable.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
Overall, the gameplay is described as fun and engaging, with improvements noted over previous iterations, particularly in mechanics and single-player experiences. While graphics and crash damage are praised, some players express concerns about online gameplay and the need for further refinement of core mechanics. Despite these issues, many reviewers have enjoyed hours of racing and customization, indicating a solid foundation for enjoyable gameplay.
- “A very fun game with decent graphics and gameplay.”
- “It's difficult to review, as the gameplay itself is really fun and it's a good solution for a single-player oval racer.”
- “The gameplay has definitely improved over the last 2.”
- “On to the other issue that this game currently has, online gameplay.”
- “Also in relation to the player's car, there should be mechanical failures capable of compromising or terminating the player's participation in the races.”
- “The gameplay graphics are heavily pixelated and the physics are choppy.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
17%
13%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the quality and selection of the soundtrack, describing it as "pretty good" and noting the developers' good taste in music. However, some users have criticized the volume levels, stating that the music can be excessively loud, and expressed disappointment in the car sounds, suggesting that actual NASCAR engine recordings would enhance the experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is a highlight, it is overshadowed by issues with sound balance and the quality of vehicle audio.
- “The soundtrack, however, is pretty good.”
- “Soundtrack is so damn good.”
- “Developers have great music tastes.”
- “No matter how much you turn the music down, it's still loud unless you turn it off. I know it's not me; I run this on my Xbox and NH2 and don't have that issue.”
- “The music is just endless and repetitive, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “Turn off the music so you can hear your car, wheels, and spotter. Sound is your UI replacement for force feedback when driving with a controller, and it is honestly very good feedback.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the stability of the game is described as generally acceptable, with minimal bugs and glitches reported. However, some users experienced notable issues, including physics glitches during dirt racing, occasional car disappearances, and game freezes, which detracted from the overall experience. While these problems are present, they are often seen as typical for the NASCAR game series rather than unique to this edition.
- “Very buggy, very underwhelmed by this edition of NASCAR Heat.”
- “I've only encountered a couple of physics glitches in dirt racing; one where the nose of my car dipped below the surface of the track and hit something, causing my car to front flip onto its roof (it happened to an AI car one time as well), and the other is some of the AI cars get up on two wheels way too easily, some flipping over, some all by themselves.”
- “I did notice a couple of glitches such as cars disappearing when they crash and then reappearing.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The story is perceived as lacking depth, with minimal narrative content and a focus on clichéd themes of perseverance. Some users criticize its overtly patriotic elements and poor execution, leading to a sense of disappointment even at a low price point. Overall, the storytelling fails to engage or resonate meaningfully with players.
- “Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “It's got the cringiest 'we stand for the flag cos of muh freedum' livery possible, it's got trash physics, barely any story, and I felt ripped off when I bought it for 49 cents on a very legal tm website.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely negative, with players expressing frustration over the unrealistic mechanics that lead to chaotic and uncontrollable gameplay, particularly when colliding with other cars. This sense of helplessness detracts from the overall experience, leaving players feeling disconnected and annoyed rather than engaged.
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has been rated highly for its replayability, scoring 8.7/10, indicating significant value in playing multiple times. However, some users express strong reservations, stating they cannot recommend it due to a perceived lack of replayability.
- “But I cannot recommend a game that has no replayability.”
- “Replayability (how much value in playing multiple times): 8.7/10”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, indicating that it can feel repetitive or tedious.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
- “The grinding aspect can become tedious after a while.”
- “I found the grinding to be excessive and not very rewarding.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Users praise the game's optimization for delivering a realistic performance, indicating that it runs smoothly and efficiently across various systems.
- “The optimization in this game is truly impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the developers have fine-tuned the mechanics for maximum efficiency, making every action feel responsive.”
- “The attention to detail in optimization really enhances the overall experience, ensuring that the game runs flawlessly.”
- “The game struggles with optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite its potential, the lack of proper optimization makes it nearly unplayable on lower-end systems.”
- “I was disappointed to find that even on high-end hardware, the game still suffers from significant performance issues.”