NASCAR 25 Review: Is It Worth the Hype?
▼ Summary
– NASCAR 25 is the first NASCAR console game in five years and the first by iRacing, built with pedigree from NASCAR Racing 2003 Season’s source code.
– The game excels in single-player racing with fast, nuanced gameplay and impressive, tunable AI that drives credibly and matches player skill levels.
– Oval racing in NASCAR 25 requires adaptation and patience, featuring dynamic racing lines and tense, engaging doorhandle-to-doorhandle competition.
– Handling is strong with a wheel and approachable on a controller, though it suffers from a lack of meaningful rumble and a floaty sensation on expert settings.
– NASCAR 25 has weaknesses in information presentation, spotter accuracy, career mode customization, and multiplayer, which is basic and lacks scheduled events.
The early 2000s delivered some unforgettable cultural moments, from blockbuster comedies to remarkably durable mobile phones. For racing enthusiasts, that era also produced what many consider the golden age of NASCAR video games. Titles like NASCAR Dirt to Daytona, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, and NASCAR Thunder 2004 have remained largely unchallenged for two decades. Now, NASCAR 25 arrives with a mission to reclaim that legacy. While certain aspects feel unfinished and the multiplayer offering falls short, its core single-player racing delivers fast, intense, and surprisingly detailed competition. It doesn’t quite surpass the all-time greats, but it comes closer than any licensed NASCAR game has in twenty years, making its arrival genuinely noteworthy.
This marks the first NASCAR console release in nearly five years and represents iRacing’s debut in the console space. Given that iRacing’s foundation was built using code from the legendary NASCAR Racing 2003 Season, the pedigree here is undeniable. That heritage brings high expectations, and while NASCAR 25 clearly has room to grow, it succeeds impressively in the areas that matter most for dedicated racing fans.
Where NASCAR 25 truly shines is on the track, trading paint at blistering speeds. Oval racing demands a different approach than traditional circuit racing, with no single consistent racing line. The fastest path through a corner might be low, middle, or high against the wall, requiring constant adaptation. This strategic depth, combined with the patience needed for races spanning hundreds of laps, creates both tension and an almost meditative rhythm as you stalk opponents lap after lap, waiting for the perfect moment to make your move.
The game’s highly tunable AI deserves significant praise for making this experience feel authentic. What many players want from a racing title is believable competition that matches their skill level, without dealing with unpredictable human opponents online. NASCAR 25 delivers exactly that fantasy of racing against professionals who drive with convincing intelligence. They hold smooth lines through corners, execute smart passes in traffic, and effectively utilize drafting techniques. Their credibility is only undermined by an overly aggressive penalty system for track limits that can abruptly halt your car, causing chaotic pile-ups that shatter immersion.
AI difficulty operates on a sliding scale from 85 to 105, with around 100 proving ideal for super speedways in testing. Numerous customization options allow players to adjust how prone AI drivers are to losing control, their recovery skills after incidents, and their resistance to collisions. These settings create flexibility in how you experience the racing, whether you prefer strict simulation or something with more dramatic, Hollywood-style action.
Handling generally feels responsive and challenging, particularly with a racing wheel. The laser-scanned track surfaces imported from iRacing ensure that bumpier circuits genuinely affect driving dynamics race to race. Cars remain balanced and controllable at high speeds, and the controller implementation is notably accessible for a console-focused title. Various driving assists are available, along with a simplified tuning slider that lets players quickly adjust their car’s handling between tight and stable or loose and aggressive without diving into complex setups.
One controller issue involves surprisingly weak force feedback, creating a disconnect between visual information and physical sensation. This floaty feeling becomes problematic when you can’t detect rear tire spin through vibration, making expert handling settings more frustrating than necessary. The lack of tactile feedback also contributes to a slippery sensation on road courses where feeling the edge of grip is crucial.
Information presentation stands as another weakness. The game does little to educate players about oval racing strategies or track limits, and basic details like opponents’ qualifying times remain hidden until you return to pit lane. The spotter occasionally provides incorrect information about surrounding cars and delivers messages with robotic detachment that lacks any authentic enthusiasm, missing opportunities to inject personality into the experience.
Career mode presentation feels somewhat sterile, with your driver represented only as a silhouette and no option to select a hometown or country. Vehicle customization combines preset designs with basic shapes, but the livery editor feels underdeveloped. While a one-button system syncs your design across driver and team gear, basic features like flipping designs from one side of the car to the other are absent. Custom shapes also cannot be applied to online liveries, a restriction uncommon in other racing titles.
The custom racing operation evolves visually as you progress through four series, and you can compete in two series simultaneously. However, this career mode feels basic compared to offerings in other official motorsport simulations. A straightforward economy system requires budget management between races using “work points” for repairs, but it rarely demands deep engagement.
Multiplayer represents NASCAR 25’s most disappointing aspect, particularly surprising given iRacing’s extensive online racing background. The implementation amounts to basic random race lobbies without scheduled events or special competitions. While performance remains smooth and reliable even with two dozen opponents, the experience feels directionless and lacks the structure that could make online racing compelling.
(Source: IGN)
