Ember Road Rivals

Ember Road Rivals goes for the fun-first school of racing. You're not managing tire temperature or fuel maps here — you're throwing the car sideways around neon corners and chaining drifts for speed boosts. It's loud, fast and very forgiving, in the best way.

The handling model deserves credit. Cars feel weighty without being sluggish, and the drift mechanic is easy to trigger but takes real practice to use well. We spent a surprising amount of time just replaying one coastal track to shave off half a second.

Progression is steady and never feels like a grind. New cars unlock at a pace that keeps you playing one more race. If you want a pure arcade racer for your commute, this one's hard to beat.

What we liked

• Satisfying, boost-rewarding drifts
• Fair unlock pacing
• Great sense of speed