Sunset Switchback

• Zoom Lane
• Buttons, mouse or keys: arrows or A D to steer, Down to brake, Space to boost. Mouse: slide from an arrow onto BRAKE to drift
• Racing
• Fast
• 1 player

Swoop around bendy coastal roads and over hills before the checkpoint clock runs out.

A road racer in the spirit of the arcade classics: the road rushes at you, bends round the horizon and rolls over hills, with traffic to weave through and rival cars to catch. Gas is automatic, so you steer, brake into hairpins, drift for a turbo and save your nitro for the straights. Every checkpoint adds time, and when the clock hits zero the run is over. Race through five cups of coast, desert, neon city, mountain pass and sunset, take the fork you like, earn bronze to platinum medals, and use your cash to buy new cars, tune them and paint them. There is a new daily road every day.

How to play

1. Gas is automatic. Steer with the left and right buttons under your thumb, or the arrow keys or A and D. Every way of steering turns the car at the same speed.
2. Hold the brake while you steer through a bend to drift. A long drift pays off in a turbo when you let go. Press the boost button, Space or Up to spend a nitro tank. With a mouse, slide from an arrow onto BRAKE to drift.
3. Reach each checkpoint before the clock runs out; every one adds time. Bumping traffic or driving on the grass slows you down, so stay on the road and pick the lane that is free.
4. Finish a stage faster for a bronze, silver, gold or platinum medal. At a fork, steer left or right through the finish to pick the next road. Stars open new cups, and cash buys cars, tuning and paint.

Every way to play is equal here: touch, mouse and keyboard all move at the same top speed, so scores are fair whichever device you use.

Tips

• Ease off the steering on straights. The car drifts to the outside of a bend, so start turning before the curve arrives, not in the middle of it.
• Hold the brake and steer together through a bend to drift. Keep drifting until the bar passes the mark, then let go for a turbo.
• Save your nitro for a clear straight. A boost into a car you cannot dodge costs more than it gains.
• Follow close behind a car for a moment: the slipstream refills your nitro.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes. It's free to play in your browser, with no download and no sign-up. The cash you earn in the game and the coins you earn on the site can never be bought.

How do I steer on a phone?

Use the two big arrow buttons under your left thumb, and the brake and boost under your right. Hold a button down to keep steering. You can swap the sides in the pause menu.

Is steering the same on a keyboard and a touch screen?

Yes. Touch, mouse and keyboard all steer left, right or straight at the same speed, so the same skills earn the same times on every device.

How do I drift with a mouse?

A drift needs the wheel turned and the brake held at once. A mouse is one pointer, so hold an arrow, then slide onto BRAKE: the wheel stays turned while you hold it. On a touch screen you can do the same with one thumb, or use two thumbs. On a keyboard, hold Down and an arrow.

Can I upgrade my car?

Yes. Win cash in races, then buy new cars and tune the engine, tires, brakes and nitro in the garage. Higher ranks open higher levels.

Is there a daily challenge?

Yes. A new road arrives every day at 00:00 UTC, the same for everyone. Finish it each day to build a streak.

Achievements

Earn coins for each one. Coins buy hats, outfits and more for your character.

• Checkered flagBronzeCross the finish line of a stage.10
• SidewaysSilverEarn 3 drift turbos in one run.30
• Medal rackSilverCollect 12 stars from your medals.30
• Full tourSilverClear four stages in one run.40
• Secret achievementSilverKeep playing to find it.50
• Gold rushGoldWin gold or better on 10 stages.70
• Daily driverGoldFinish the daily road 7 days in a row.80
• Secret achievementGoldKeep playing to find it.90
• Flawless dozenGoldWin 12 different stages flawlessly: first place, no bumps, no grass.100
• Mile markerGoldClear 500 stages in total.120
• Switchback LegendDiamondWin platinum on every stage.Title: Switchback Legend250
• Master mechanicDiamondMax out every upgrade on all 8 cars.Title: Master Mechanic250