Learning to drift in Nitro District

Nitro District looks like a button-mash racer, but there's real technique hiding under the neon. The drifting system is forgiving, which fooled us into thinking we were good until we hit a leaderboard full of players three seconds faster.

The biggest improvement came from lifting off acceleration slightly before a corner instead of drifting on full throttle. It feels counterintuitive in a speed game, but it lets you exit the turn cleanly and rebuild speed faster.

Car choice matters more than the upgrade numbers suggest. Heavier cars are frustrating on tight tracks but brilliant on the wider highway stages, so don't just drive your fastest car everywhere.

Finally, replay your ghost. Racing against your own best lap taught us more about each track than any guide could, including ours.