Star Drift Evolution

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Star Drift Evolution is a single player and multiplayer arcade racing game. It was developed by Catze and was released on August 27, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Star Drift Evolution" is a top-down arcade-style racing game with intense drift-based gameplay. Choose from a variety of ships and engage in various modes such as time attack, league, and online multiplayer. Upgrade your ship and perfect your drifting skills to climb the leaderboards and become a racing legend.

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 171 reviews

graphics9 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Star Drift Evolution offers a fantastic variety of cars and tracks, with over 75 tracks and 51 vehicles, each providing a unique driving experience across different surfaces like dirt, asphalt, and snow.
The game features an engaging and addictive handling model that balances arcade fun with skill-based drifting, making it easy to pick up but challenging to master.
Multiplayer options, including local split-screen and online play, enhance the experience, allowing for competitive racing against friends or global leaderboards.

The AI can be frustrating, often getting in the way during races and making it difficult to achieve optimal lap times.
Some players have reported issues with the physics and controls, particularly when using a keyboard, which can lead to an inconsistent driving experience.
The lack of manual transmission options and certain gameplay features may disappoint players looking for a more traditional racing simulation.

graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The graphics of Star Drift Evolution feature a minimalist, low-poly aesthetic that enhances gameplay clarity and performance, making it accessible even on lower-spec systems. While the visuals are generally clean and stylish, reminiscent of retro titles, some inconsistencies in detail and audio quality have been noted. Overall, the game's art style is praised for its charm and effectiveness in complementing the driving experience.
- “The low-poly art style, clean lines, and bright color palettes create clarity during high-speed action, ensuring that visibility and flow are never compromised.”
- “The graphics are clean and stylish, sharing a similar low poly look to art of rally.”
- “I cannot recommend this game enough - it shines with beautiful low poly graphics that perfectly align with the game's biggest strength, car physics.”
- “The visuals are a bit plain, and a lot of the audio sounds like the developer just picked the first sound he found on freesound.”
- “You can totally see that it's made by a super small team; the UI is fine but could use some work. There are some inconsistencies in the graphical part, like on dirt you get some beautiful low poly tire smoke, and on the road where you would expect the same with a different color, you get a way more generic looking realistic smoke.”
- “If you have slowdown in split screen, just turn down the graphics and it doesn't look much different.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
35%
13%
Star Drift Evolution offers an engaging racing experience that expertly combines accessible arcade mechanics with the depth of high-skill drifting, emphasizing feel over realism. Players appreciate the game's satisfying drift mechanics, varied tracks, and robust multiplayer options, all while enjoying a nostalgic 90s aesthetic. The gameplay is designed to be easy to pick up yet challenging to master, making it a standout title for both casual and dedicated racing fans.
- “Star Drift Evolution is an energetic, precision-driven racing experience that blends accessible arcade gameplay with the rewarding depth of high-skill drifting.”
- “Catze has crafted a modern love letter to drifting—one that balances accessibility and skill with remarkable finesse, reminding players that sometimes, pure gameplay is all a great racing game needs.”
- “Getting the hang of the game initially was a bit challenging, but working out how all the mechanics interplay with the different cars and road surfaces is really rewarding when you eventually start pulling off seamless drift after drift.”
- “Sometimes the car will just barrel roll for no good reason (some kind of game mechanic in the air).”
- “Getting the hang of the game initially was a bit challenging; I wasn't exactly sure how hard you're supposed to go at it, when to handbrake, when to regular brake, and when to just ease off the accelerator. But working out how all the mechanics interplay with the different cars and road surfaces is really rewarding when you eventually start pulling off seamless drift after drift with your eyes fixated on the road ahead and your palms sweaty against the controller, your mind in a kind of zen-like state of focus.”
- “Are you a gamer, and not a mechanic?”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its electronic and synthwave-inspired tracks that enhance the racing experience and maintain a rhythmic flow. Players appreciate the hypnotic quality of the soundtrack, which complements the gameplay without being distracting, although some suggest the option to customize playlists would be a welcome addition. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The music is on point for such a skill-driven game.”
- “The audio is decent, it gives audio cues as expected, the cars all sound different and it's got a lovely retro soundtrack to boot.”
- “The sound design and music contribute to this atmosphere, with a mix of electronic and synthwave-inspired tracks that build energy during races and reinforce the game’s rhythm.”
- “Suitably hypnotic in its simple rhythm and melody and never distracting (bar maybe one song that has an annoying vocoder speech part), and I like how the playlist is never interrupted by events like finishing/restarting a race or exiting to menu.”
- “A nice addition to the game here might be the ability to point to a folder of songs on the computer and have the game cycle those in place of the included playlist so players can bring their own soundtrack.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing team dynamics, quirky AI names, and the hilarity of unconventional track-car combinations, especially in multiplayer modes. Players find joy in the game's lighthearted challenges and the camaraderie that develops within the community, making for a fun and entertaining racing experience. Overall, the game successfully balances competitive racing with a comedic touch, enhancing the enjoyment for players.
- “Personally, I find the teams mode especially funny; it manages to balance team assignments quite well.”
- “I enjoy the fully customizable camera, the AI's hilarious names, and the creativity on some tracks... they are kind of cool, especially in the special career.”
- “It's a great chill-out kind of racing game with a small community where people form rivalries with each other and beat everyone's record, which is both hilarious and actually pretty cool.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is highly optimized for performance, supporting ultra high refresh rate monitors and offering smooth gameplay with excellent camera controls and well-designed menus. While the asynchronous ghost system enhances competitive play, some users experienced occasional stuttering in online multiplayer. However, the requirement to unlock tracks and vehicles based on campaign performance may hinder access to content for less skilled players.
- “The asynchronous ghost system also adds a competitive dimension for solo players, allowing them to race against their own best performances or the replays of others on the leaderboard.”
- “Very easy and fast to pick up and play, very well optimized for ultra high refresh rate monitors. Tons of maps, a good amount of vehicles with clearly shown differences to help understand the pros and cons, and an exciting way to challenge yourself by automatically choosing the closest opponent by skill. Excellent camera control options and well-made menus compared to many horrific counterparts in the same genre. The maps are unique and fantastically laid out, and the driving is balanced—neither too realistic to break the casualness nor too arcadey. There are lots of small details perfected, like cutting the red to green light time when resetting a race, saving a second or two every time you reset... and so much more.”
- “Online multiplayer also works quite well, but from time to time I experienced some stuttering.”
- “I find it frustrating that the unlocking of tracks and cars is tied to performance in the campaign, as this means that those who struggle with the game initially will be denied access to a significant amount of content - the tracks they could otherwise use to improve and learn from.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game lacks traditional cinematic storylines or elaborate campaigns, focusing instead on skill-based progression and daily quests. However, players appreciate the engaging experience of exploring various tracks and cars, with each combination offering a unique narrative, making it enjoyable even for those who typically prefer story-driven games.
- “There are no cinematic storylines or elaborate campaigns; progression is tied to skill, not narrative.”
- “I mean, honestly, I'm that kind of player who dives almost only into short story-driven games, so I would have never spent 30+ hours crashing, driving, improving, and laughing if I didn't really like it.”
- “There are a lot of tracks and cars; each combination is a different story.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable, with a generous money system that allows for progression without excessive grinding. While novice levels can be completed easily, expert levels may require more effort and strategic car selection. Overall, the game offers a balanced experience where skill is prioritized, though some players feel that grinding in the campaign is necessary for full progression.
- “The difficulty is balanced nicely (e.g. if you've played racing games previously and are reasonably good at them you will pick up the novice level awards fairly easily - expert however requires grinding or in some cases finding the right car).”
- “Grinding the campaign seems to be the only way unfortunately, but this can be rewarding in its own way and is certainly one way to improve.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players find the game highly replayable due to its diverse selection of characters and tracks, which encourages mastery of unique mechanics. Each session offers opportunities to improve skills and achieve better performance, making familiar experiences feel fresh and engaging.
- “It’s the kind of game that feels endlessly replayable, where each session invites you to chase smoother lines, cleaner drifts, and faster laps.”
- “The generous selection encourages players to find their favorites and master their unique quirks, adding layers of replay value that make even familiar tracks feel new again.”
- “After completing the game, I found little motivation to replay it. The lack of new content or challenges made it feel repetitive.”
- “While the initial experience was enjoyable, I quickly realized that there wasn't enough variety to keep me coming back for more.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, offering a traditional "play to win" model instead of the prevalent "pay to win" approach, which is considered a refreshing change in the current gaming landscape.
- “Absolutely no microtransactions, which is a rare thing these days.”
- “No stupid in-game purchases, just old school 'play to win' instead of 'pay to win'.”
- “Absolutely no microtransactions (which is a rare thing these days).”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is enhanced by a compelling sound design and a blend of electronic and synthwave-inspired music, which energizes races and complements the game's rhythm effectively.
- “The sound design and music contribute to this atmosphere, with a mix of electronic and synthwave-inspired tracks that build energy during races and reinforce the game’s rhythm.”

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78%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Star Drift Evolution - Recensione
Ign.com
78%

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1000h Median play time

1000h Average play time

1000-1000h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Star Drift Evolution is a arcade racing game.

Star Drift Evolution is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 1000 hours playing Star Drift Evolution.

Star Drift Evolution was released on August 27, 2021.

Star Drift Evolution was developed by Catze.

Star Drift Evolution has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its optimization.

Star Drift Evolution is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Circuit Superstars, art of rally, Inertial Drift, Super Woden GP 2, Drag and others.

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