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The Drone Racing League Simulator

The Drone Racing League Simulator Game Cover
92%Game Brain Score
graphics, story
stability, monetization
92% User Score Based on 3,488 reviews

Platforms

PCMac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
The Drone Racing League Simulator Game Cover

About

The Drone Racing League Simulator is a single player and multiplayer racing game. It was developed by The Drone Racing League and was released on November 1, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

"The Drone Racing League Simulator is a true-to-life drone racing game that utilizes advanced aerodynamic modeling and one-to-one physics for an authentic experience. The game includes an interactive training tutorial, replays for perfecting racing lines, and the option to connect your transmitter for added realism. Master the simulator for a chance to become a professional pilot in the Drone Racing League."

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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,488 reviews
graphics120 positive mentions
stability36 negative mentions

  • Excellent training tool for beginners, with a well-structured tutorial system that helps users learn to fly drones effectively.
  • Great variety of maps and customizable drones, providing an engaging experience for both racing and freestyle flying.
  • Active community and regular updates from developers, enhancing the overall experience and keeping the game fresh.
  • Physics can feel floaty and unrealistic at times, making it difficult for users to transition to real-life flying.
  • The user interface can be cumbersome, with some users reporting issues navigating menus and connecting controllers.
  • Some users experience crashes and bugs, particularly on certain systems, which can hinder the overall gameplay experience.
  • graphics
    200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in this simulator receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as impressive and well-optimized for various hardware, while others criticize them as dated or lacking polish. Many users appreciate the visual quality and detail of the maps, enhancing the immersive experience, but some note performance issues and subpar optimization. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good for the price, though they may not meet the standards of more expensive simulators.

    • “Drl simulator boasts impressive graphics and sound design, creating a visually stunning and immersive world.”
    • “The graphics are excellent and the maps are exceptionally well done... you will spend hours just exploring one of them!”
    • “What really impressed me was the graphics and the wide selection of highly detailed maps covering many different and unique locations which, in my opinion, offers a much more interesting learning experience than the barren, open fields that most beginner pilots would start out in.”
    • “Outside of this, the graphics in DRL are of the worst that I have seen in anything produced in the last ten years.”
    • “And don’t even get me started on the abysmal optimization – you’d think with visuals this rudimentary, they could’ve at least ensured smooth performance!”
    • “Just hard to get going... graphics are lame... just not user friendly compared to Velocidrone.”
  • story
    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of the game is primarily conveyed through its training missions, which are designed to progressively build skills for new pilots. Players appreciate the interactive and engaging nature of these missions, noting that they effectively teach essential flying techniques while allowing for customization and flexibility in progression. However, some users have pointed out technical issues and a lack of narrative depth, suggesting that the game could benefit from a more structured storyline or progression system.

    • “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.”
    • “Actually, the graphics tell a story - look at the older DRL 2017 maps vs things like Campsite and the 2020 maps and you can see there have been improvements over time!”
    • “I cannot stress how good the training missions are to hone your skills and point you in the right direction to learn the skills necessary.”
    • “Imagine a racing game with no story, no progression, everything is unlocked from the beginning.”
    • “When I click the next button to pass from the current mission to the next mission, it freezes and nothing happens.”
    • “Training missions could still be improved; I got lost in the section of flying sharp corners.”
  • stability
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various glitches, particularly during loading and mission transitions. While some players have had a smoother experience on lower graphics settings, the overall consensus highlights a need for substantial improvements in collision detection and general performance. Despite its potential, the game is marred by its instability, making it frustrating for many players.

    • “I have been running this on an ultrabook with Intel graphics and it runs great.”
    • “Good sim, recommend you try it out, especially at the current price. Runs great with low graphics on my Ryzen 2500U laptop. I fly FPV and find the sim pretty accurate, and you can change physics if you don't like some aspects. In terms of online play, I like it more than Liftoff, but it has its ups and downs.”
    • “The game freezes constantly.”
    • “Glitches after restart/crash, broken waypoints, bots flying through walls, long waiting times (competing with GTA5 online?), annoying beep sounds when passing a checkpoint.”
    • “I have a 50/50 chance that it loads or it freezes on the loading screen and crashes.”
  • optimization
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while many users report smooth performance across various platforms, some express frustration with the optimization given the game's simple visuals. Recent updates have improved performance, allowing it to run well even on lower-end systems, but a few players with high-end PCs still experience less-than-smooth gameplay. The ability to adjust graphics settings for optimal performance is a notable positive aspect.

    • “The game runs smoothly on most platforms, and helps a lot with flight of drones.”
    • “The graphics are great and can be adjusted to whatever computer you have so you will have optimal performance.”
    • “Menus, navigation, and normal play is far more optimized than the beta.”
    • “And don’t even get me started on the abysmal optimization – you’d think with visuals this rudimentary, they could’ve at least ensured smooth performance!”
    • “Performance - I have a very beefy PC, I can run full specs fine but it just doesn't feel that smooth.”
    • “Awesome but my laptop is a bit too slow to play at full performance, so I'm away to buy on Xbox.”
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally praised for its accessibility, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced FPV flyers, with solid mechanics and engaging tutorials. Users appreciate the slick graphics, variety of maps, and the ability to learn from watching others' gameplay, although some note that the tutorial could be improved compared to other games. While the physics and crash mechanics are well-received, a few players find the flight mechanics unrealistic, which may detract from the experience for some.

    • “The physics are pretty good, although crash mechanics allow you to recover from some serious impacts; nevertheless, this is an excellent training aid whether you want to race, freestyle, or just learn the ropes.”
    • “Great for first-time and veteran FPV flyers to work on mechanics and flight ability that easily translates to the real thing.”
    • “The menus, graphics, and gameplay are slick, and there is a fair selection of maps, so plenty of replay value.”
    • “For the mere fact of the flight mechanics not mimicking that of the unkempt and retrofitted lump of drone you soar with, does not equate to your entertainment being flawed!”
    • “I never did get DRL tuned and it looks like the time I spent trying to tune the game counts as extensive gameplay???”
    • “I'm fairly new to drone flying, but the mechanics in this game are very unrealistic.”
  • music
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the overall experience, with many players finding it relaxing and enjoyable while flying or racing. However, some users feel that the soundtrack could be improved, noting that a competing game has a better selection. Overall, the combination of great visuals and music contributes positively to the gameplay, although some players express frustration with the pacing during certain moments.

    • “The background music is pretty sweet.”
    • “It was a good choice as I'm having even more fun, enjoying the music and the maps.”
    • “Get your friends to join and just freestyle fly with no objective together and put on some chill music.”
    • “Only complaint is that DCL has a better soundtrack.”
    • “It is too long for me to sit there doing nothing as the music swells and I stare at a still shot of a quadcopter and the race time counts up and some bars animate and here's a ranking and restart... oh now we have to reload the entire level?!”
    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes to this music long enough to realize that I was going to be okay.”
  • monetization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features unexpected microtransactions that were not disclosed on the store page at the time of purchase, leading to frustration among players. Reviewers emphasize the need for clearer communication regarding monetization plans, including whether future transactions will be limited to cosmetic items. There is a strong call for developers to update the store page to accurately reflect the game's monetization model to avoid surprising customers.

    • “I would request devs to fix their store page sidebar icons, and clarify their future plans regarding microtransactions (are more coming? Will they be limited to aesthetic only? Plans around monetization need to be super clear and should be on the store page so buyers aren't surprised.)”
    • “Warning - this game includes microtransactions, despite the store page not indicating so (at least at the time of this review.)”
    • “I don't mind free-to-play games, but I don't like when microtransactions are in a game I already bought.”
    • “And I *hate* being surprised with microtransactions when the store page doesn't indicate they are included.”
    • “Steam includes a store page flag for games with microtransactions, and that should have been enabled instead of surprising customers with an unexpected business model.”
  • grinding
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of drone racing games like 'Liftoff' and 'DRL Sim' to be tedious and frustrating, often due to poor level design and challenging controls that detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite efforts to make practice modes engaging, the repetitive nature of grinding remains a common complaint.

    • “Drl sim's practice mode is as tedious as it sounds, although DRL tried their best to make it as fun as possible.”
    • “Take 'Liftoff', my previous favorite drone racing game; the level design is mostly big flat open fields with tiny rings stuck 5 feet off the ground. It was just tedious how often and easy it was to crash or get stuck. Merely controlling the drones felt impossible and just not fun.”
    • “Better start grinding.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight strong replayability due to well-tuned controls that cater to both beginners and experienced players, alongside slick menus and graphics. The variety of maps available further enhances the game's replay value, making it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The menus, graphics, and gameplay are slick, and there is a fair selection of maps, providing plenty of replay value.”
    • “The menus, graphics, and gameplay are slick, and there is a fair selection of maps, providing plenty of replay value.”
    • “The menus, graphics, and gameplay are slick, but there is a lack of variety in gameplay modes, which limits replayability.”
    • “While the controls are well-tuned, the overall experience feels repetitive after a few playthroughs.”
    • “The game has a fair selection of maps, but once you've played through them, there's little incentive to return.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the DRL Simulator is highly praised for its authentic replication of the thrilling environment found in the official Drone Racing League, effectively immersing players in the excitement of competitive drone racing.

    • “One of the standout features of DRL Simulator is its focus on replicating the exhilarating atmosphere of the official Drone Racing League.”
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8h Median play time
25h Average play time
4-55h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Drone Racing League Simulator is a racing game.

The Drone Racing League Simulator is available on PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and others.

On average players spend around 25 hours playing The Drone Racing League Simulator.

The Drone Racing League Simulator was released on November 1, 2017.

The Drone Racing League Simulator was developed by The Drone Racing League.

The Drone Racing League Simulator has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its stability.

The Drone Racing League Simulator is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Liftoff, TRYP FPV: Drone Racer Simulator, DCL: The Game, Liftoff: Micro Drones, FPV Air 2 and others.