First Racer

You get three ways to drive. In racing you fight for the finish line on tracks and city streets. In drifting you slide long through corners for points on speed, angle and style. In off-road racing you throw heavier cars with bigger tires and better traction over dirt and gravel, where staying fast matters more than staying clean.

Controls stay simple, so you spend your time braking late and hunting the racing line. You steer from third person, with a gamepad or a FANATEC wheel if you have one, and damage can show on the body and change how the car handles unless you turn it off.

You buy cars with race winnings and climb from modest city runabouts to high-speed supercars, with 17 cars to collect. Each one can be upgraded for handling, speed and acceleration, then fine-tuned with settings for your driving style.

Looks are half the fun. You pick colors, stickers, wheels and body extras, so your fastest car can also be your most questionable one. Progression is quick, and a full career can be done in an evening, which suits players who want tuning without a long grind.