What makes drifting games different
In a racing game you win by being first. In drifting games you win by looking good while staying in control. Most drift games score you on how long you hold a slide, how sharp the angle is and how fast you are going, and they multiply those points when you link several corners without straightening up. That changes how you drive: instead of braking into a corner, you throw the car in early and steer with the throttle.
Types of drift games
One-button drift games
These are the quickest to learn. In Kigali Drift King the car rolls forward on its own and you simply hold left or right through endless hillside curves, building a combo as you go. Drifting Mania swaps steering for a rope you hold and release at each corner. Both are perfect for short breaks.
3D drift simulators
Simulators add a handbrake, gears, upgrades and proper car physics. Drift City gives you an open city to slide through for points, bonuses and new cars, while Neon City Drift Racing takes the action to glowing night-time streets where chaining slides earns the biggest rewards.
Mission-based drifting
Some drift games give you goals beyond a high score. Furious GT Drift sends you through dozens of floating arenas with different mission types, a rival car to beat and eight cars to upgrade, all while keeping your tyres off the kerb.
How to drift: the basic technique
- Carry speed into the corner. A drift needs momentum. Arrive too slowly and the car simply turns.
- Unsettle the rear. Tap the handbrake, or flick the steering away from the corner and back, to break traction at the back wheels.
- Counter-steer. As the rear swings out, steer the opposite way to stop the car from spinning.
- Balance with the throttle. More throttle widens the angle, less throttle tightens it. Lifting off completely usually ends the drift.
- Look ahead. Plan the exit of one corner as the entry to the next. Linking drifts is where the big scores are.
Drifting tips for keyboard players
On a keyboard you cannot apply half throttle, so drift by tapping rather than holding. Short taps on the accelerator keep the slide alive without spinning, and quick taps on the steering keys stop the car snapping back straight. If a game lets you upgrade, tyres and handling usually make drifting easier than raw engine power.
Keep going
Enjoy the speed but want to race for position? Try our racing games. Prefer precision to sideways style? Our parking games are the opposite challenge. For games that load fast on restricted networks, see unblocked car games.