To be honest, I've played so many racing games that I'm no longer surprised by anything. Until I played Drive in Russia. This time, it didn’t feel like I was “playing a racing game.” It felt more like I was genuinely learning to drive. And once I realised that essence, everything was different.
The first thing that impressed me when I started to play the game was the Russian environment with its huge towers and big parking lots. This environment had a totally different sense from other racing games I'd played.
But it was not only the surroundings that pulled me into the game. It was how the car reacted to my every move.
The first time I tried to drift, I was confident I could do it. I put my foot down, yanked the handbrake and waited for the car to slip elegantly. It just twirled around like a top and I just smacked into the wall.
Then I realised that Drive in Russia is not a game you can “take for granted.” The physics system needs a very specific mix of three things: appropriate speed, nuanced steering angles and steady throttle control.
I played and played for approximately two weeks and then I started to feel the groove of the automobile. Things I formerly thought were "too complicated" just came naturally, almost instinctively.
I realised that the best way to start is not to jump right onto the hard roads. Instead, I began in open parking lots where I could get a feel for small, clear drifts.
A short, well-executed drift is better than a long one where you just luckily avoided hitting something. Once you understand the feel of the car, extending the drift becomes much more natural.
I also learned how to utilise the handbrake correctly. Sometimes you need to hold it softly and sometimes you need to press forcefully, depending on the circumstances. These subtleties are what make the difference between a successful drift and a crash.
When I started playing, I only used the default car. But then I discovered the tuning, and everything changed.
I can change the paint color, rim type, and lighting style to make the car my own. But more than that, there's the technical update. I can put in a new engine, tweak the suspension and change the exhaust. Each of these alterations has a direct effect on how the car performs on the road.
I can't just go and upgrade everything. My car is built for drifting on tight roads, prioritising traction and steering feel over top speed. This creates a unique kind of "progression," not from one level to the next, but rather my development as a player combined with the car's development.
The game's controls are very simple: WASD for movement, Space for the parking brake, C for changing camera angle, R for shifting gears. The beauty here is that simplicity is key. When you only have to worry about the basic keys, you can focus on feeling the car. It's just you, your car, and the road.
When I started playing, I thought the map was just an empty space. But then I realized everything was designed with purpose. There are wide parking lots for practice, narrow roads where one wrong move will send you crashing into a wall, and corners that require careful planning.
This map is like a instruction manual, but nobody tells you. It teaches you from easy to difficult, by cleverly organizing the space.
What I love most about Drive in Russia is that it doesn't force me to race if I don't want to. I can just drive freely, practice drifting, explore the map. No timers, no artificial opponents chasing me, no rankings on the dashboard.
This gives me a sense of freedom I rarely feel in racing games. I can play my own game, at my own leisure. I can still if I wish to compete for money or update my car. But it is discretionary not necessary.
Developer WolfVay published Drive in Russia in November 2024 and I instantly fell in love with this racing game. It's not a perfect game, but it has something special: a combination of skill challenge, freedom of play, and a realistic driving feel.
If you love drifting, if you like a game where you can play completely your way, or if you just want to sit back and enjoy the feeling of driving on Moscow's streets, then Drive in Russia definitely deserves a place on your game list. I still play it daily, discovering new ways to play, and upgrading my car.
If Drive in Russia appeals to you, then GT Traffic Racer will give you a different perspective on racing games with realistic urban elements, or you can try Motor Sport Challenge Type R for a more challenging, professional racing experience.
