Absolute Drift

 Switch
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Pure Nintendo
    Jan 4, 2021
    70
    Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is a peaceful driving game crafted to focus on control, precision and challenging yourself.
  2. Cubed3
    Dec 17, 2020
    60
    It's really sad that the learning curve is so massive that it acts like a wall that keeps most players from enjoying this. It's sad, because those who'll persevere, and manage to reach that 'Zen' level of razor-sharp precision, are the only ones who can really understand how exciting Absolute Drift can be. That being said, when a game is all about drifting, the fun factor won't last for long.
  3. Nintenderos
    Dec 16, 2020
    82
    Absolute Drift is a perfect game for fans of driving games. It's a nice experiment with simple but hard-to-master mechanics.
  5. TheGamer
    Dec 4, 2020
    60
    Although I would have liked for that Zen to have come into play way earlier than it did, once everything clicked, Absolute Drift became worth picking up for a quick race whenever I have a spare moment. Just don’t expect to reach that level of driving skill quickly… if at all.
  6. Hey Poor Player
    Dec 4, 2020
    70
    It’s like this — Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is undeniably a good game, but I can’t say it’s for everyone. It’s a bit like baseball vs. golf — one is all about hitting that ball as hard as you can and running like the devil’s after you, whereas the other is all about keeping track of things like terrain, wind speed, and 42 different clubs while you plan your varying strategies. Sure Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is a driving game, but it’s the golf of driving games; if you’re more of a batting cages kinda player like I am, this one might be more of a swing and a miss, no matter how pretty it is (and it is pretty). However, if you’re more of a golfer, this is absolutely a hole in one — it just depends on which stick you like to use to whack a few balls, really (that’s a sentence I wrote and I’m sticking to it).
  7. Finger Guns
    Dec 3, 2020
    90
    A minimal-looking aesthetic that fits the Switch perfectly, Absolute Drift is a delight to get absorbed into. You won’t master it straight away, but when you get the hang of it you’ll be hooning about in no time.
  8. NintendoWorldReport
    Dec 3, 2020
    70
    Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is a cozy, tranquil game with a single mission: to provide the perfect experience to facilitate the player’s growth in skill. It succeeds flawlessly in this mission but could still use a bit more content for those who don’t want to dedicate themselves to becoming drift masters on the same few tracks.
  9. Switch Player
    Dec 2, 2020
    70
    Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is easy to pick up, but can be tricky to master. Once you get the hang of the drifting, there is plenty of enjoyment to be had with high scores to chase, even without an online multiplayer component.
  10. Nintendo Life
    Dec 2, 2020
    60
    Absolute Drift is the kind of game that can quite easily provide a good hour or so worth of entertainment on a rainy day. Our fear with this one, however, is that the learning curve is so brutally steep, it may put you off before you even properly get into it. If you do manage to power through, though, it’s a genuinely relaxing, satisfying experience. It’s just a shame the game is hampered by poor design choices and crippling technical issues.
  11. Screen Rant
    Dec 2, 2020
    70
    While it took a long time to reach Nintendo's hybrid console, Absolute Drift's gameplay is a great fit and great value for those looking for a new challenge on their Switch. It's playable in short or long bursts and is simultaneously relaxing or challenging. While those looking for an in-depth racing experience are better off waiting for Gran Turismo 7, Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is a great minimalist experience available for good value.

User Reviews

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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. trigger7
    May 11, 2021
    2
    The game's aesthetics are subjective, but I like the minimalist look.
    The driving is very challenging and will take a while to master, but is    The game's aesthetics are subjective, but I like the minimalist look.
    The driving is very challenging and will take a while to master, but is fun for the most part (clipping zones are sometimes finicky).
    However !
    The game is very unstable. It will freeze randomly, after a few minutes or after an hour.
    It's already bad, but to make things even worse, you loose all your progress when it happens...
    Spending an hour completing a challenge is fun the first time, but when you have to do it three times in a row because the game froze and "forgot" to save your progress, it spoils any enjoyment.

    The Switch version also lacks analog throttle. This is mainly due to the fact Nintendo didn't include analog triggers on the joy-cons, but it makes a hard-to-control game even harder.    … Full Review »
  2. Notmyfirstrodeo
    Feb 18, 2021
    5
    First off, the games learning curve is so steep that most players are “driven” away 4 minutes into the game, a new player might see the gameFirst off, the games learning curve is so steep that most players are “driven” away 4 minutes into the game, a new player might see the game and think that there about to experience a fun drifting game but what they get is rage inducing gameplay that only true car/drift enthusiasts can power through.
    The design choice was a good idea but the maps are almost impossible to navigate because of the overly bright palette, it makes the simplest of turns Aggravating and unpleasant, especially the tutorial.    … Full Review »
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