Summary

Skyline Drift 3D is a free-roam city drifting game built around one of the most iconic JDM cars of all time – the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34. After being handed the keys, you’re provided with a selection of body kits, paint jobs, and in-depth tuning options, all available from the start with no in-game purchases required.

It’s the final entry in the Drift 3D series (after Supra Drift 3D and RX7 Drift 3D), and arguably the best, thanks to its unique scored Drift Mode (with combo multipliers) that didn’t feature in the others.

Whether you’re planning to chase high scores or just enjoy the opportunity to throw the R34 GT-R sideways (and maybe backwards eventually!) through back alleys and underground parking garages, there’s something for everyone. It’s also a great entry point to drifting games if you’re looking to practice and understand the impacts of tweaking the RB engine and suspension setup.

Skyline Drift 3D features

• Release date – November 29, 2019
• Difficulty – Beginner
• Levels/environments – 1 (free-roam city)
• Number of vehicles – 1
• Vehicle customization/upgrades – Yes
• Multiplayer – No
• Mobile – No
• Developer – Smartline Games

Physics

Smooth and predictable, the physics respond well to quick directional changes. It doesn’t compete with the best drifting games for realism (you’ll want something like Drift Hunters MAX for this). However, the handling is consistent enough to have fun practicing big-angle entries, transitions (rewarded with the new combo system), and target the makeshift clipping points.

As with the previous games, even the RB engine has a habit of getting bogged down unless you keep the revs up. However, with a few engine tweaks and a manual gearbox (no clutch to worry about), you’ll be able to keep the rear wheels spinning and the revs close to the limiter.

Graphics

Visually, it’s functional rather than flashy. The Skyline looks good, and the city looks decent, but the modern games have come a long way in this regard. A real positive is that it runs well even on older machines, though, making it a decent option for lower-spec Chromebooks and older laptops. You can change the quality from ‘Lowest’ to ‘Ultra’ in the settings, so start on the higher side and dial it back if things start to stutter.

If you want something that looks closer to an AAA game in your browser, UNBOUNDED features streetlit city roads at night, with stunning reflections bouncing off the wet tarmac, and you also get to meet your friends in online lobbies for tandems. It’s a whole different level, but the GPU requirements are significantly higher.

Skyline Drift 3D controls

PC/laptop/Chromebook

• W/Up arrow – Accelerate
• S/Down arrow – Brake/reverse
• A/Left arrow – Steer left
• D/Right arrow – Steer right
• Space – Handbrake
• F – Nitrous
• Left Shift – Upshift
• Left Ctrl – Downshift
• C – Camera
• B – Look behind
• G – Slow motion
• L – Headlights
• Q/E – Indicators
• Z – Hazards
• R – Record
• P – Replay recording

The controls are identical to those of the other Drift 3D games, so fans of the series will feel right at home.

Mobile/tablet (iOS/Android)

Skyline Drift 3D isn’t available on mobile devices. If you’re on your phone, Drift Hunters runs on practically anything with smooth physics and a choice of 26 JDM legends. You can also browse our mobile-optimized games for plenty more options.

How to play Skyline Drift 3D

Initial setup

When you load the game, you’ll see your Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R (BNR34). There are no R32/R33’s on offer here, unfortunately.

If the game isn’t going full screen, try pressing the inner full screen button rather than the one on the Drifted frame.

In the main menu, you’ll see color options on the left and body kit choices on the right. The default blue looks close to the iconic Bayside Blue that Skyline fans will recognize immediately, and there’s a deep purple with a subtle pearlescent finish (not quite Midnight Purple, but good enough!). There are eight colors in total, including some brighter options if you’re feeling bold.

Before jumping in, press the settings cog in the top right to adjust graphics quality. Consider starting ‘High’, or ‘Ultra’, and drop it down if your device struggles.

You’ll also notice two mode options in this one: ‘Free Driving’ and ‘Drift Mode’. We’d recommend starting with Free Driving so you can access the in-game tuning menu and dial in your setup without the pressure of the clock counting down.

Getting started

Once you’re in the city, click the settings cog (yes, again!) to access the full tuning menu. Here, you can fine-tune the wheels, suspension, steering assists, configurations, and colors, which you can’t access from the main menu. All of the changes are free.

We recommend swapping out the “stock” wheels first off. They look weirdly similar to E36 M3 rims, and don’t quite match the JDM vibes you’re probably hoping for. Click ‘Change wheels’ and scroll the slider through the seven options until you find something more fitting (the final option resembles proper GT-R wheels).

Left-click and drag on the car to spin the camera and check your fitment while adjusting camber and ride height to dial in the perfect stance. Important note: the camber slider is inverted. Positive values add negative camber, so dial it up if you want the fitment on-point. Don’t drop the ride height all the way to zero either. It looks sick, but the car will just scrape and bottom out constantly.

The city combines wide roads for building speed, tight corners for technical practice, back alleys for threading the needle, and an underground parking garage with pillars that make perfect clipping points. Practice clipping them cleanly for a satisfying shower of sparks. Don’t worry, there’s no damage here, so it’ll remain pristine!

Game modes

Free Driving

The same free roam mode as the Supra and RX-7 versions. No timer, no scoring, or objectives. Just you, the R34, and an empty city to burn rubber and get used to the physics. Use this mode to tweak and test tuning changes and learn the car before jumping into Drift Mode.

Drift Mode

This is what separates the Skyline version from its siblings. You get two minutes on the clock to rack up the highest score possible with epic drifts and combos. The longer you keep the rear wheels spinning, the bigger the combo multiplier grows.

It can be a little buggy at times (an ‘OK’ button of doom pops up and fires you back to the main menu), so remember to press ‘Save Stats’ in the tuning menu after any tweaking, or you might find your settings have reset. If this happens, loading your stats from the settings menu fixes it quickly.

Want a multiplayer experience instead? Drift King lets you free roam across six maps in online lobbies, where you can battle and tandem with your friends and other drifting fans.

Tuning and upgrades

Identical to the other Drift 3D games, the tuning system is more capable than the main menu lets on. Everything is accessible through the in-game settings menu.

Suspension

• Camber (front/rear) – remember, positive values = negative camber
• Spring force (front/rear)
• Dampers (front/rear)
• Ride height

Power and drivetrain

• Max speed slider
• Torque slider
• Brake power
• Drivetrain selection
• NOS, turbo, rev limiter, and exhaust flame toggles

Assists

• Traction control (TCS)
• ABS
• ESP
• Steering helper
• Counter-steer assist

For the R34 specifically, the extra weight compared to the RX-7 means slightly stiffer springs help keep body roll in check. The car tends to bog down if you’re relying purely on top-end power, so up the torque a little, and always ensure the turbo is toggled on.

You’ll want to dial in a bit of negative camber at the front (aim for around 3-4 degrees) and around 0.5 at the rear. If you want to know more about camber, our negative camber guide covers the real-world theory behind these adjustments.

If you want even more tuning and upgrades, Force Drift Racing: Aussie Burnout offers (arguably) the biggest selection of tuning and upgrade options you’ll find in a browser game. Swap out tire compounds, try different forced induction applications, and fine-tune the suspension geometry with full-blown Ackermann adjustments and way more.

Customization

On the main menu, you’ll get to pick from eight paint colors and three body kits.

Bodykit 1 keeps things mostly stock with a small splitter and diffuser.

Bodykit 2 goes street-style with a GT-R-style rear wing, extended side skirts, an aggressive front splitter with support struts, tow hooks, plus a bucket seat and roll cage inside.

Bodykit 3 looks ready to hit the track, featuring a massive BGW rear wing, lightweight Recaro-style bucket seat with harnesses, and the most substantial roll cage of the three.

From the in-game menu, you also get seven wheel options, alongside customizable headlights and tire smoke with a full color palette for both. Preview buttons in the tuning menu let you see exactly how the smoke and flames will look before heading out.

For more modification across a selection of JDM legends with widebody kits, various paint types, and rim styles, Drift Hunters Pro features golden-era icons like the S15 Silvia and Toyota AE86, where you can show off your skills in online lobbies.

Advanced tips and tricks

Use the underground garage for clipping practice

Pillars in the parking garage are perfect for practicing drifting in a tight, lower-gear scenario.

You can also aim for the (seemingly concrete) trash cans on the inside of most corners around the city for another fun challenge, and try linking multiple clips together to build consistency before heading to Drift Mode.

Practice using the handbrake for initiations

Tapping the Space key to flick the rear end out before catching it with the throttle is the quickest way to start a drift in tight sections. It’s especially useful in the back alleys where you don’t always have room for a long, sweeping entry. Don’t hold it too long, unless you want to scrub off speed.

Make sure you’ve got the turbos activated

Out of the box, the car lacks top-end power, so enabling ‘Turbo’ and ‘NOS’ in the configurations menu should be one of your first moves. The difference in power delivery is immediately noticeable, and you’ll struggle to maintain long drifts without these.

Challenge your friends to beat your Drift Mode score

The two-minute timer makes it easy to hand the keyboard over and see who can set the highest combo. It gives the game replay value that the other two entries lack. Or, if you’re not with them right now, Drift Hunters MAX lets you prove your skills with real-time leaderboards across unique layouts with clipping points and judged scoring, with 39 drift cars and 13 tracks to choose from.

Dialed in the perfect tuning setup? Be sure to use ‘Save Stats’

The tuning system can be buggy and problematic. So, make sure you press ‘Save Stats’ in the tuning menu every time you make changes, and ‘Load Stats’ if you get fired back to the main menu at any point to reload your setup. It takes two seconds and saves a lot of frustration.

Skyline Drift 3D FAQ