Overtaking, swerving, burning rubber, the smell of gasoline, thundering engines, breakneck speeds - there is no doubt that motor racing is one of the most spectacular sports disciplines in the world. But within this sport there is a modality that is even more breathtaking: drifting. This is a driving technique that consists of skidding the vehicle as it passes through a curve, letting the rear wheels slide to the outside of the turn. In doing so, the car, instead of following a straight line on the logical racing line, moves forward with an almost horizontal trajectory. This automotive art is the most exciting thing that can be seen on a racetrack.
Drifting was born in Japan, where there is a whole community around it. There are drifting competitions where the priority is not to cross the finish line first, but to obtain the highest possible score by drifting. And of course, the world of video games has also absorbed this discipline on numerous occasions with more than satisfactory results.
RFactor 2
Despite its release in 2012, rFactor 2 is probably the most realistic racing game nowadays in terms of physics. It is a full-featured PC-only racing simulator that has been designed to be modified by players. This game allows users to download many of the best and most famous cars and tracks in the world, and for drifting enthusiasts, there are some amazing drifting mods available that make the drifting element of the game more realistic.
To play rFactor 2 to its full potential, players would need a good racing wheel and pedal, but it's well worth the investment: the game continues to be updated regularly, with a large community of online drifting enthusiasts with whom players can team up and improve their skills. Some of its features, such as tire deformation and damage, have not yet been surpassed by other game developers, making the game perfect for learning the basics of car reactions. RFactor 2 is also fantastic in the way it conveys force response to the steering wheel, giving players the feel and feedback they need to get the best drifts.
Assetto Corsa
Assetto Corsa combines realistic controls with a large modding and drifting community. It is considered by many to be one of the most excellent purebred simulators overall, and also one of the best games for drifting realism.
The title was released in 2014 on PC and in 2016 on PS4 and Xbox One, however, it is important to note that, due to its customizable nature, only PC users can enjoy the mods and get the full drift experience. Thanks to the huge online community, there are plenty of user-created tracks, as well as classic Japanese tracks such as Nikko, Meihan and Ebisu, and plenty of JDM drift cars and drifting mods that make the game a pleasure to play. The game can be simple or extremely difficult, making it the perfect title for training since it gives beginners a place to learn.
Live For Speed
Live For Speed is a classic drifting simulator for racing fans exclusively on PC. This game is not as well known as it should be, but it paved the way for games like Assetto Corsa and the original rFactor, being one of the first racing simulators to allow users to create their own mods. The title only has a limited number of fictional cars and tracks, but the track editor allows users to customize their own layouts with autocross-style cones. The graphics and sounds are a bit rudimentary, but the gameplay and physics are very good, and there is a large online community.
Some members of the drifting community consider it the most authentic drifting simulator. In addition, Live For Speed is one of the few simulators that offers online drifting competitions in the form of the Lislon Drift Challenge.
Forza Motorsport
Forza Motorsport is one of the most successful franchises in the world of racing games. In all the series' games, accuracy is key, and everything feels realistic due to the amount of detail present. However, not only does this Xbox exclusive franchise's unparalleled realism make for some of the best simulation-based racing games for PC, but it is one of the best options for drifting. With a huge selection of tracks, cars and tuning options, there's plenty to do.
Many will say that Forza Motorsport 4 was the pinnacle of drift physics in the series, with the legendary Fujimi Kaido hill giving gamers a place to test the mechanics, but the upcoming Forza Motorsport 7 could provide many more unique driving opportunities. While waiting for more details to be announced about the new installment, of which some features were already shown at the Xbox and Bethesda Developer Direct, fans can go back to past entries for some stylish swerving.
Forza Horizon
What Forza Motorsport is to the racetracks, Forza Horizon is to the streets. The Horizon series has more arcade-like controls than the Motorsport series, but there's no denying the fun that drifting provides in Horizon.
The latest installment in the series, Forza Horizon 5, is set in Mexico, and everything from the roads in the middle of desert wastelands with steep dunes to the dangerous jungle that players can slide through offers a complete driving experience. In addition, Forza's large selection of vehicles and modifications as well as its huge online community make it a perfect title for drifting.