The kart racing genre is very hit-and-miss, especially for us Xbox players. Sure, we have had some decent stuff across the years such as Crash Team Racing and even Team Sonic Racing. What I found with those two games though was the competitive edge died off as there wasn’t much in the way of deep stat tracking or ranked modes. Beyond unlocking everything, they became quite stale very quickly despite being exceptional in their mechanics and gameplay. It’s no secret that Mario Kart is the daddy of the catalogue, but is locked to Nintendo. Fear not though, KartRider Drift has landed suddenly on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5, Windows PC and also iOS/Android.

Introduction

KartRider Drift is a kart racer that caters for up to 8 players online or you can go alone against AI opponents. Cross-play and cross-progression are featured flawlessly between the Xbox family of consoles, PlayStation 4 and 5 along with Windows PC and mobile device users. I know this works well as I managed a six-hour session in my first sitting and then downloaded and tested the game using my Oppo mobile phone.

I was able to pick up exactly where I left off from the console version from the comfort of my sofa which is a massive plus if you want to continue progression if your other half is watching her favourite soap or your kid is smearing their grubby mitts across your pride and joy while watching Peppa Pig. The point is though, it encourages you to drive your karting career whether you’re on one console or the other, on the toilet on your phone or at your desk if you’re PC master race.

Gameplay

There is an absolute feast of content in KartRider Drift and the beauty of the game is that you can choose to play against AI or competitively online. As someone who is obsessed with multiplayer titles over campaign-based games, I was immediately all over the PVP element of the game. There are several race types to divulge in along with some other good stuff and I was impressed with the amount of stuff to do in this first season. Getting used to the control layout is super simple even for the most casual amongst us and my five-year-old son loves racing against AI bots. If he can pick up and play, anyone can.

Tutorial, Race Modes & Licenses

There is a tutorial, to begin with, which is short and sweet, it will guide you in the basics of acceleration, drifting and using item boxes along with how to use power-ups. The main two modes are item races which will have power-ups such as banana skins, rockets, speed boosts and other quirky projectiles which can be deployed whenever and however you see fit. Two power-ups can be stored at one time, so be sure to use them to your advantage as soon as you can. Speed races are straightforward with the focus on accumulating nitro speed boosts and drifting around corners to keep that high adrenaline pace going in an attempt to come out on top. Each race can be played as every person for themselves, as a duo with four teams of 2 or as a squad with 2 teams of 4 for those times with mates.

Licenses reminded me of the fun I used to have with Gran Turismo and obtaining specific licence classes to slot into relevant events. It is very similar here with several licences to work through. Each licence has several challenges to work through which aren’t easy but are enjoyable to try and master. It may be collecting coins on a track as fast as possible or threading through tight barriers that appear suddenly in front of you. Each challenge has a star rating which will unlock cosmetics and go towards earning that particular driving license.

Grand Prix

This is certainly where the hardcore of the KartRider Drift community will eventually gather. Here you’ll be competing to be amongst the season’s best racers with the opportunity to climb the leaderboards. Not only this though, but you can also work through a set of ranks which consist of Bronze, Silver, Gold, Master and the top of the tier which is Grandmaster. Be mindful though, you need a license to enter this area, so you better get practising.

Time Attacks & Custom Races

If the above wasn’t enough already, then there are time attacks across 40 different tracks. You can attempt these as many times as your heart desires to become the overall time leader, only the very best will make it! Custom races can be hosted by yourself or you can be invited by friends and have up to 8 in the room. Choose from 22 different tracks and 6 game modes with a unique room key so that only your friends can join. Perfect for private races and we are going to have fun on Complete Xbox Community nights with this game for sure.

Battle Pass & Cosmetics

As with all free-to-play games, they have to drive some revenue in some way and that is usually through paid battle pass systems and paid-for cosmetics. There is a free tier battle pass and a premium layer for more of the good stuff which is a very reasonable price at just shy of a fiver. Whether this is the norm or just for this first introductory season remains to be seen, but it is a great price and worth it for the content on offer.

In-game currency can be used to unlock some amazing themed content and this is known as Lucci and can be gained from racing and hitting challenges. Those with Xbox Game Pass will find a perk which will grant you 14,000 Lucci which is enough to buy some great stuff in the store. I was surprised at how much impressive gear could be unlocked by just playing, normally free-to-play games leave you with just the basics unless you’re willing to pay in. KartRider Drift doesn’t go down that route and rewards you for putting the hours in. Vehicles can be upgraded with Lucci as well to give your favourite karts that all-important boost in the right areas.

Graphics & Audio

Having played through every single testing phase of KartRider Drift, it’s a joy to see how far the game has come on. Everything from the vibrant menus to the on-screen action is flawlessly displayed. You are presented with a generous spread of karts, riders and cosmetic items to get you going and with daily and consistent challenges you can unlock many more. After playing Kartrider Rush+ on mobile devices during the lockdown of 2020, I can see they have borrowed plenty of inspiration from those entries when it comes to the aesthetics and content unlocking. 

The art style has a cute cartoony look about it and it reminds me of Fall Guys for some reason, perhaps because the in-game music is so bouncy and jolly with similar personalities in the characters. What is most impressive is the overall design of the circuits and cosmetics. As the life of the game progresses we are bound to see racers in different concoctions of kart with different outfits on the characters. Opening up the game for the first time on Xbox grants some exclusive rewards for you to use which in all honestly are really exceptionally done with great attention to detail.

In Conclusion

Kartrider Drift is clearly in the scene for the long game. You can already see the window for longevity and replayability. Cross-play and progression work seamlessly so there will never be the risk of a low player base. I’m glad the team has taken its time to get this exactly spot on. It’s as close to Mario Kart as we’re going to get on Xbox and I’m pleased to say it’s just as exhilarating and fun. 

With the game being free to play there is absolutely no risk in giving it a go. If you want to flutter some cash away on the game then you have the option of a premium battle pass and cosmetics. You’ll be delighted to hear that nothing that is paid for will give a leg up to players. The game relies on personal skill level and driving ability which makes it balanced across the board. Kartrider Drift is not only the best kart racer on Xbox, but it’s also one of the best free-to-play titles on the market and absolutely worth a download.