NASCAR Heat 3
- September 7, 2018
- Monster Games
Nascar Heat 3 really brings a whole new level of racing experience to those arm chair drivers!
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreThere 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.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game is fun and provides an enjoyable NASCAR experience, especially for fans of the series.
- Graphics and sound have improved compared to previous titles, enhancing the overall immersion.
- The addition of a dirt racing series and improved career mode adds depth and variety to gameplay.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including poor wheel support and bugs that affect gameplay.
- AI behavior can be frustrating, with instances of unrealistic driving and collisions.
- Lack of customization options and a robust paint booth detracts from the overall experience.
- graphics44 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in 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 lack of customization options. Overall, the graphics are considered satisfactory but not groundbreaking, with a consensus that they could benefit from further enhancements.
“This is a great game, 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 in previous years.”
“The graphics and sounds of the cars are decent and the tracks look good, but some tracks have a lot of jaggies and the level of detail on the ground ahead of the car is low.”
“Ai is terrible, physics are terrible, graphics are mediocre.”
“Graphics are decent but certainly not up to today's capabilities.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is described as fun and engaging, with improvements noted over previous iterations, particularly in mechanics and physics. While the graphics and crash damage are praised, some players express a desire for further enhancements, especially regarding online play and mechanical failures during races. Despite these critiques, many users have enjoyed extensive hours of gameplay, indicating a solid foundation for an enjoyable racing experience.
“A very fun game with decent graphics and gameplay.”
“The gameplay has definitely improved over the last 2.”
“It's difficult to review, as the gameplay itself is really fun and it's a good solution for a single-player oval racer.”
“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.”
“Fix your core mechanics and then maybe I'll take another look.”
- music10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as enjoyable and well-curated, while others note issues with volume control and a limited selection of songs. While the menu music is appreciated, some players feel that the sound design, particularly the car sounds, falls short of expectations. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, but there are areas for improvement.
“The soundtrack, however, is pretty good.”
“Soundtrack is so damn good.”
“And then nothing but the endless hourglass with various other songs until I eventually kill it.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
“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.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is described as generally minimal in terms of bugs and glitches, with some users noting occasional physics issues, particularly in dirt racing. While some players found the glitches to be a nuisance, others reported only a few instances, suggesting that stability is relatively acceptable compared to previous NASCAR titles.
“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.”
“From bugs to glitches, it’s very minimal but they’re in every other NASCAR game, so it’s really not even a glitch, just a nuisance.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is perceived as lacking depth and coherence, with some users finding it overly simplistic and filled with clichés about perseverance. Additionally, the narrative is criticized for its heavy-handed patriotic themes and poor execution, leading to a sense of disappointment among players.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life holds in store for you. If I had 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 because of my freedom' 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 website.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating mechanics, such as the inability to control the vehicle after minor collisions, which detracts from the overall experience and immersion. Players express disappointment over the lack of realistic driving dynamics, leading to feelings of helplessness.
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game's replayability to be high, rating it 8.7/10, indicating that it offers significant value for multiple playthroughs. However, some reviewers express concerns about the lack of replayability, suggesting it may not be worth recommending for those seeking extensive replay value.
“The game offers a wealth of choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
“The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
“But I cannot recommend a game that has no replayability.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, suggesting that it can detract from the overall experience.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
“Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious after a while.”
“I found myself spending too much time grinding for resources.”
Critic Reviews
NASCAR Heat 3
Finding Some Grip
75%NASCAR Heat 3 Review
Just how authentic do you want a NASCAR game to be?
60%NASCAR Heat 3 Review – Making Progress On The Inside
The improvements to NASCAR Heat 3 are so profound that it’s hard to believe that this is even from the same team. It’s still no Forza, or even Driveclub, but the game is moving in a decent direction that makes it easier and fun to play than previous games.
70%
