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NASCAR 25 Reviews: What Critics Say About the Racing, Career Mode, and More

NASCAR 25’s PS5 Metascore is 73 from nine critic reviews. Critics largely praise the on-track racing but differ on career depth, variety, and supporting systems.
Entry862 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
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NASCAR 25 has a 73 Metascore on PlayStation 5, based on nine critic reviews. Metacritic classifies that result as “Mixed or Average”: three reviews are positive, six are mixed, and none are negative. The reviews generally favor the on-track racing and presentation, while raising concerns about career objectives, variety, and supporting systems. That score is a PS5-only snapshot, not a combined rating across platforms.

What is the NASCAR 25 critic score?

Metacritic lists a 73 Metascore from nine PS5 critic reviews, with three positive reviews, six mixed reviews, and zero negative reviews. Its label for the score is “Mixed or Average.” The number summarizes the reviews on that PlayStation 5 page; it should not be read as a score for every version of the game.

Metacritic’s NASCAR 25 critic page is the source for the aggregate and the individual review scores below.

What do critics like about NASCAR 25?

The clearest positive theme is the racing itself: reviewers cited the feel of driving, the on-track presentation, and the range of ways to race.

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#1 Best Overall
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  • But Why Tho? — 80: Called the game “a much-needed shot in the arm for NASCAR video games” and praised its authentic, fun experience and presentation.
  • TheSixthAxis — 80: Said the on-track rendition of the sport “absolutely shines,” while also noting that some supporting elements need improvement.
  • COGconnected — 77: Praised the scope of the Quick Race, Championship, Multiplayer, and Career modes.

Those assessments help explain why the game may appeal most to players who primarily want to race NASCAR events rather than spend most of their time on extensive customization or management systems.

What are the main criticisms?

Several mixed reviews draw a line between the quality of the driving and the depth or polish around it. The specific concerns differ by outlet, so they should be treated as individual reviewers’ observations rather than a checklist every critic agreed on.

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  • Hardcore Gamer — 70: Praised the physics and racing, but criticized career sponsorship objectives, limited customization, and sound.
  • GamingBolt — 70: Described the game as solid but not distinctive enough as a racing simulator, and said it was easier to recommend to NASCAR enthusiasts than to other players.
  • CGMagazine — 65: Pointed to “very few options for variety” and a lack of depth.

Taken together, the reviews suggest a stronger core racing proposition than a uniformly polished package. Whether the shortcomings matter depends on what you expect from a career mode and how much variety you want away from the track.

Is NASCAR 25 worth buying for you?

The critic scores do not establish one universal verdict. Use them alongside your interest in NASCAR and the kind of racing experience you want.

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A stronger fit if you are a NASCAR fan

If you follow the sport and want to race its licensed series, the positive reviews give you a reason to look closely at NASCAR 25. Steam lists ARCA Menards, NASCAR Xfinity, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, and NASCAR Cup series, as well as Quick Race, Championship, Multiplayer, and Career modes. The official game site describes career progression, more than 150 officially licensed drivers, and online multiplayer for up to 40 players.

A more cautious choice if you want depth and variety

If your priority is deep customization, varied career objectives, or a highly developed set of supporting systems, the mixed reviews give you reasons to temper expectations. Critics did not all identify the same weakness, but concerns about career sponsorship tasks, limited options, and depth recur across individual reviews.

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Controller or wheel?

Hardcore Gamer argued that the physics are best appreciated with a force-feedback or direct-drive wheel, while saying a controller works adequately for casual players. That is one reviewer’s opinion, not a compatibility guarantee for a particular wheel or a hands-on test here. Check platform support for both the game and the wheel before buying hardware.

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Critic reviews and player ratings are different measures

Store ratings provide a separate snapshot of player feedback, not a substitute for Metacritic’s critic score. The figures below were displayed on October 8, 2026, and can change; they come from different platforms and review populations.

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Source and platform Rating snapshot What it measures
Metacritic, PlayStation 5 73 Metascore from 9 critic reviews; 3 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative Critic reviews, as displayed October 8, 2026
Steam 72% positive from 1,784 all-time user reviews; 76% positive from 39 recent reviews Steam user reviews, as displayed October 8, 2026
PlayStation Store, India storefront 4.27 out of 5 from 3,370 player ratings Player ratings on that storefront, as displayed October 8, 2026

The Steam and PlayStation Store percentages and star rating are platform-specific user feedback; they are not directly comparable to the critic aggregate. Steam’s NASCAR 25 page also lists the PC release date as November 11, 2025.

Which platforms have NASCAR 25?

NASCAR.com reported the console launch on October 14, 2025, describing NASCAR 25 as the first NASCAR-licensed console game in more than four years and the first NASCAR console title produced by iRacing. Steam lists the PC release as November 11, 2025. The game is published and developed by iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, LLC; NASCAR.com reported that Monster Games was instrumental in development.

The official game site describes NASCAR 25 as “Digital Download Only.” Release dates and the available platforms should not be confused with the PS5-only scope of Metacritic’s 73 score.

Quick Recap

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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