NASCAR 25 Review (PS5, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

If you’ve followed NASCAR games for the last few years, you know it’s been a bumpy road. Fans have had plenty of reasons to be frustrated: rough launches, clunky handling, bugs that broke immersion, and games that didn’t feel like NASCAR. So when iRacing stepped in to take over the series, expectations skyrocketed. People wanted something authentic, something that truly captured the sound, speed, and spirit of stock car racing.

Now that NASCAR 25 is here, it’s safe to say iRacing has done more than patch up old problems. They’ve given the franchise a proper restart. This game features cleaner visuals, more intelligent AI, and a career mode that actually makes you feel like a real racer. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid return to form and the best NASCAR console experience in a long time. That said, let’s dive in for more details.

A Fresh Look Under the Hood

The first few minutes tell you everything you need to know about NASCAR 25. The presentation is slick, the graphics finally feel modern, and the overall polish is miles ahead of NASCAR Ignition or Heat 5. Tracks look amazing and authentic too; you can see the shimmer of sunlight on the asphalt, bits of rubber building up on the racing line, and reflections bouncing off your car’s paint. The sense of speed is there, making every corner feel alive.

On the other hand, the visual improvements go beyond the races themselves. The menus are easier to navigate, the HUD feels less cluttered, and the broadcast-style camera work gives races a more realistic presentation. You get small touches like lens flare when the sun hits your windscreen, dust kicking up on short tracks, and sparks flying when cars brush the wall. It’s the kind of detail that helps you forget you’re staring at pixels.

Additionally, performance is solid too. Even during heavy traffic with thirty cars fighting for position, the frame rate holds firm. Notably, this racing game doesn’t lag like older entries used to, which is a huge relief. There are a few texture pop-ins when browsing through cars or paint jobs, but nothing major. iRacing’s visual overhaul pays off here; this is the first NASCAR game that truly looks built for current-gen consoles.

Pimp Your Car

Customization has always been a big part of NASCAR games, but NASCAR 25 takes it further. Whether you’re fine-tuning your car setup for each track or crafting the perfect paint job, there’s a sense of freedom that fans will love. The paint booth is one of the most satisfying features this year. It’s fast, intuitive, and detailed enough to make your ride stand out. You can play around with layers, sponsors, colors, and shapes until your car feels like your own. Creating a unique livery for your team’s Cup Series debut or bringing your local short-track design to life feels great.

Now, the customization doesn’t stop there. You can set up your driving style, full simulation, or a balanced mix of sim and arcade, and adjust AI strength, damage realism, and tyre wear. There’s room for casual players to have fun, but also enough depth for sim enthusiasts who want every pit stop and tyre change to matter.

There are still a few minor annoyances, though. Players using racing wheels like the Logitech G29 might find the paint editor awkward to control since you have to tap through options instead of holding down buttons. You also can’t use every car number you want, which feels odd in a racing game that otherwise embraces creativity. Currently, custom liveries aren’t available online, which diminishes the pride in showcasing your designs. Nevertheless, the freedom to shape your racing identity makes this one of the most personal NASCAR experiences ever released.

Full Throttle Fun

At the end of the day, the real question is: how does it drive? And the short answer is, much better than before. The handling feels smooth, weighty, and confident. Cars respond to your inputs without that delayed, floaty feeling that plagued previous games. It’s not pure simulation like iRacing on PC, but it’s close enough to feel real while still being approachable for new players.

Each track demands something different. At Talladega, drafting and timing are everything. At Bristol, you’re fighting tight corners and walls that love to scrape your fenders. The physics system rewards patience and precision, and when you nail a perfect exit off turn four to take the lead, it’s a genuine rush.

That said, the force feedback on wheels feels a bit muted. You can sense car movement, but it doesn’t consistently deliver the weight and texture you’d expect from a proper racing setup. iRacing has confirmed that updates are coming to fix this, and once that’s done, the driving will feel even better.

Damage and cautions still need work, too. Sometimes a tiny tap sends a car spinning like it was hit by a rocket, while other times, full-speed crashes barely trigger a yellow flag. It’s inconsistent but manageable. What’s impressive, though, is how the AI behaves. The drivers feel competitive without being unfair; they’ll block, bump, and even make mistakes. It’s the kind of organic racing the series has been missing.

Climbing the Ranks

Career mode is easily the highlight of NASCAR 25. You start small, just you, a basic car, and a dream. Dale Earnhardt Jr. even gives a short voiceover to set the stage, which immediately adds authenticity. From there, you begin in the ARCA Menards Series and work your way through Xfinity, Trucks, and eventually the Cup Series.

Each step of the journey feels meaningful. You’re not just jumping between random events; you’re managing your reputation, choosing sponsors, hiring crew members, and upgrading your car’s performance. The game also includes a mock social feed where journalists and fans react to your races, with actual names from the real NASCAR world, like Jeff Gluck, commenting on your results. It’s a simple system, but it adds personality and realism.

Money and reputation matter. Performing well earns better contracts, and choosing the right sponsor deals can make or break your season. Clean racing and consistent finishes boost your image. However, wrecking rivals can turn fans and sponsors against you. It’s a clever way of adding stakes without overcomplicating things.

The pacing is just right. Each race contributes to your long-term progress instead of blending into the next one. By the time you’re running Cup Series events, you genuinely feel like you’ve earned your place there.  Compared to the grind-heavy, repetitive feel of past NASCAR careers, this one actually motivates you to keep going.

Take it Online

Online play in NASCAR 25 is surprisingly stable, and it’s one of the best multiplayer experiences in a NASCAR title so far. Connecting to races is quick, and matchmaking feels fair. You can easily find lobbies that match your skill level, whether you’re looking for serious competition or casual fun. When the green flag drops, the netcode holds up well, and races run smoothly with very little lag. The cars behave consistently even in big packs, which is impressive considering how intense online drafting can get. 

The biggest issue is the lobby system. There’s no automatic countdown to start races, meaning you can be stuck waiting around for a host who’s AFK or indecisive. It’s a minor frustration that could easily be fixed with a patch. Also, as mentioned earlier, custom paint schemes don’t currently appear online. It’s a shame because showing off your design is half the fun of multiplayer. Still, even without that feature, online play is engaging and competitive enough to keep you coming back.

Verdict

NASCAR 25 isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; it’s trying to fix it. And for the first time in a long time, it actually succeeds. The visuals are crisp, the racing feels good, and the career mode is worth sinking hours into. You can tell iRacing took feedback seriously. They focused on what matters most to fans: solid driving physics, meaningful progression, and real NASCAR energy.

There are still rough spots, sure. The force feedback needs more punch, the caution system could be more innovative, and some customization limits are confusing. But none of those issues takes away from how fun it is just to race. What makes this game special is how it captures the thrill of the sport. You’re not just racing laps; you’re building a career, managing sponsors, and chasing that dream of becoming a NASCAR champion. It’s personal, it’s immersive, and it feels alive in a way past games didn’t.

When the post-launch updates roll out, NASCAR 25 has the potential to be the best NASCAR console game ever made. For now, it’s already a great one and a huge step forward for the series. If you’ve been sitting on the fence, wondering if this one is worth it, well, now you know. It’s not flawless, but it’s finally the NASCAR game fans have been waiting for.