Drifting Mania
Table of Contents
Drifting Mania Summary
This endless 2D car drifting game looks deceptively simple with its arcade-style physics and one-tap controls. But you’ll soon regret judging this book by its cover!
Think of Drifting Mania as the perfect mashup of other popular browser game classics you’ll likely be familiar with – Drift Boss, Drift Donut, and Sling Drift.
Despite its simple concept, navigating the endless, tight, twisty turns requires near-perfect execution, and it’s surprisingly unforgiving. One wrong move will leave you crashing into the barriers. Think of it as a (deceptively) simple touge mountain road.
Drifting Mania’s fast-paced gameplay and varied levels make it perfect when you’ve only got a few minutes to burn – just be careful, as break time will be over before you know it!
Controls
Drifting Mania runs perfectly on any device, whether you’re using a PC, laptop, Chromebook, tablet, or mobile.
PC/Chromebook/laptop
Left mouse button press – Press and hold to attach the sling/rope, and then release when your drift car is facing the right direction.
Mobile/tablet
Screen press – Press and hold the screen to attach the sling/rope, and then release when your drift car is facing the right direction.
Don’t forget – we also have plenty of other mobile games to check out once you’ve mastered Drifting Mania.
How to play Drifting Mania
Getting started
When you launch Drifting Mania, click ‘PLAY’ from the main menu. Then, you’ll be greeted with a tutorial that shows you exactly what to do.
The one-tap concept is straightforward – just left-click and hold your mouse button (PC/laptop/Chromebook) or hold the screen (mobile/tablet).
When you press the button, a rope attaches from the anchor point on the corner and pulls your car through the drift. Release the button when you reach the right angle.
This is the biggest challenge in Drifting Mania, and you’ll realize it quickly – your car needs to be pointing as straight as possible when you let go. Release too early or too late, and you’ll be heading straight for the barrier.
When you release the button, you need to be confident about where your car is pointing. If it’s aimed at the wall, there’s no correcting it.
Watch out for the back end of your drift car, too. It has a slight correction at the end of each drift that can be unpredictable when you’re getting started. However, you’ll soon understand how the weight transfer and transitioning work.
What’s the objective?
The goal is to rack up the highest score possible, and building combos is the fastest way to boost your numbers.
Once you’re consistently pulling off clean drifts, you can show off your skills on the endless track by chaining together high combos and earning gems. Earning these lets you unlock new cars and customizations.
When you’ve got the hang of things, check the ‘ACHIEVEMENTS’ section on the main menu for rewards. If there’s a number next to it, you’ve got a gift waiting. Make sure you check each page, as some rewards are hidden until you move to the next page.
Once you claim the rewards, they’re then added to your bank balance at the top of the screen. With your hard-earned cash, you can now head to ‘CUSTOMISATION’ from the main menu to either purchase new cars or change your car color.
You can also purchase a ‘MUSIC PACK’ if the in-game music isn’t your thing (or just toggle it at the top of the screen). But honestly, save that for last. Getting the best rides and making them look awesome should be any drifter’s priority!
Car selection
To choose your car, head to ‘CUSTOMISATION’ from the main menu.
You’ll start with one car already unlocked. In total, Drifting Mania has 13 drift cars to unlock.
Scroll through the car list using the left and right arrows, then click the price (gems) below the car you want to purchase.
I went with the Nissan 370Z for my first upgrade, then used my extra gems for the teal colorway. For a little extra cash, you can also unlock the custom design on each car.
Although you only get a bird’s-eye view of the cars, eager drifting fans will recognize many of them. See if you can spot some of the drifting classics like the Nissan 370Z, Mazda RX-7 FC, and Ford Mustang.
Once you purchase the second car for your garage, more new Achievements unlock, so head back to grab them right away.
As you build your drift car garage, each vehicle has four different colors to choose from. Each car also has its own premium custom livery – these are the ultimate Drifting Mania flex to show off to your friends!
Drifting Mania tips and tricks
Here are a few pointers to help you rack up combos and earn plenty of cash in no time.
Always aim for the middle of the track
This strategy has multiple benefits. It ensures you’re as far away from each wall as possible, giving you more room for error if your angle isn’t perfect. It also lets you automatically collect the gems (placed in the middle) when you level up.
And it sets you up perfectly for the next tip…
Focus on building your combos
As mentioned, the game rewards you for staying middle-track – it’s how you prove you’ve nailed the corner, but this is also one of the trickiest parts of Drifting Mania.
When you start, it’s just about surviving. But as you progress, building combos becomes essential for racking up cash quickly.
To do this consistently, you need to ensure you release the drifting button at the optimal time. The combos are earned with long, sweeping, controlled drifts with the car pointing straight ahead.
You’ll develop a feel for nailing these consistently. But if you find you’re not earning the combo rewards, the solution is typically to hold the button for slightly longer than you think you should.
Watch out for the (unpredictable) tail-happy action
When you release the drifting button, the rear end of your car stabilizes with a little wiggle. It’s like a mini counter-drift which happens automatically.
If you’re too close to the wall, even when you think you’ve saved it, that rear-end action can cause a crash. Be careful here, because depending on how close you cut it, it could end with game over. (Until you return for one more run, of course.)
Unfortunately, wall runs aren’t rewarded in this game. You’ll want to check out more realistic browser drifting games like Drift Hunters or Drift Hunters MAX to earn bonuses for showing off your wall-running skills.
Be careful when timing the button release
When you release the button, if your car is heading toward the wall, it’s probably game over.
The sling only pulls you into corners, and it doesn’t work the other way around. So if you come out of a corner at the wrong angle, it’s too late to correct the mistake. Your car is fully committed to wherever it’s pointing.
Drifting Mania FAQ
Here are a few of the frequently asked questions from Drifting Mania fans.
Does Drifting Mania have tuning and upgrades?
No. The ‘CUSTOMISATION’ menu only offers new cars and paint/livery options to unlock.
How many cars are in Drifting Mania?
Including the free starter car, there are 13 drift cars total. Many are familiar classics that drifting fans will recognize.
Is Drifting Mania mobile-friendly?
Yes. It’s optimized for any device. We recommend using Google Chrome for optimal gameplay.
How do I save my game?
Your game save is automatically stored in your browser cache. As long as you don’t empty/delete your cache, when you return to Drifted, you’ll see your cars, credits, and customisations.
Does Drifting Mania require downloading?
No. You can play it directly in your browser without downloading anything.
Written by:
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Bill is a writer and photographer who has been part of the Drifted team since 2015. His work extends to various print and online publications, including Wangan Warriors.
As part of the King of Nations team, he traveled extensively for several years, capturing top-tier international drift events worldwide. His hands-on experience, including rebuilding his own Nissan Silvia S15 drift car, gives him unique insights into drift car building and global drift culture.
When not behind the lens or keyboard, Bill can be found browsing classifieds for his next JDM project or shredding virtual tires on popular simulators like Assetto Corsa, CarX, and Forza.
You can learn more about Bill’s story here or follow his socials on X (formerly Twitter), Flickr, Facebook, and Instagram.
