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NASCAR Heat 5 Review: Is It Worth Playing or Buying?

NASCAR Heat 5 is a substantial game for NASCAR fans, but its familiar feel makes the upgrade less compelling for Heat 4 owners. Compare editions and check current availability before buying.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Verdict: NASCAR Heat 5 is a solid, content-rich racing game for NASCAR fans, with a long career, Testing Mode, challenges, and several NASCAR series. Its main drawback is how much it resembles NASCAR Heat 4: if you already own and enjoy Heat 4, the sequel’s familiar feel may not justify buying it unless you specifically want its 2020 content and additions.

What reviewers liked—and what they didn’t

Windows Central’s review describes NASCAR Heat 5 as a complete, enjoyable package for NASCAR fans. It highlights the official cars and circuits, the lengthy career mode, Testing Mode, and recommended car setups. The review also found the presentation and driving experience very close to NASCAR Heat 4, calling out familiar graphics, interface, and physics as the central reservation. Its other criticisms include numb force feedback, no photo mode, and no 60 FPS mode on Xbox One X. The reviewer played the Gold Edition on Xbox One X; that setup is useful context, not a guarantee of identical experience on every platform. Windows Central’s review

PS4 critic excerpts collected by Metacritic show a range rather than a single verdict: some reviewers praise the gameplay, controls, and accessible options, while others find the presentation familiar or the game short on originality. Metacritic’s PS4 critic excerpts

What’s included in NASCAR Heat 5?

The game covers NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, Truck, and Xtreme Dirt racing, alongside career play, online challenges, Testing Mode, and multiplayer. Motorsport Games’ July 2020 launch announcement listed single-player, two-player split-screen, and online races for up to 40 racers. These are launch-era product details; roster and season content should be understood in their original release context rather than assumed to reflect current NASCAR lineups. Motorsport Games’ launch announcement

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#1 Best Overall
Nascar Heat 5 (PS4)
  • Career mode progress through the Feeder series (xtreme dirt, gander trucks and xfinity series) to reach the NASCAR Cup series or jump right in and start at the top
  • Improved stats track your progress through the career with more detailed and improved statistics offering far more insight
  • Gameplay enhancements improved AI, more player camera options and dnfs
  • Brand new testing mode perfect your racing lines and experiment to find the best car setup for each track
  • Challenge mode brand new online challenge mode gives you unique race scenarios to complete with a variety of gameplay. Official tracks 34 Officially licensed tracks for you to race on across the various series, including Daytona international Speedway, Indianapolis motor Speedway and talladega Super speed way, plus five fictional dirt tracks.Multiplayer Race online with up to 40 players or enjoy local split screen multiplayer with a friend.eSports support Take part in the EN as car Heat Pro League qualifiers for a chance to race for a real life NASCAR team.Paint booth even more enhancements, including new number fonts and schemes

Track totals are inconsistent across the available descriptions. Motorsport Games stated 34 authentic tracks at launch, while the Steam Community game description lists 39. The sources do not explain the difference, so neither figure should be treated as an uncontested current total. Motorsport Games · Steam Community description

Which edition or DLC should you look for?

Edition or add-on Documented content
Gold Edition At launch, included Tony Stewart content, a season pass with four DLC packs, and in-game cash. Motorsport Games
Ultimate Edition The publisher’s product page describes it as including the Standard Edition and 2020 DLC packs with paint schemes and challenges. Motorsport Games product page
Next Gen Car Update Adds 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen cars, paint schemes, and team and driver rosters. The publisher says this content can be used in Race Now, Career, and Online Multiplayer, but the update did not change race schedules or tracks. The FAQ gives a historical launch price of $9.99; that is not a current price. Motorsport Games FAQ

The launch announcement confirms Gold Edition for PlayStation 4, Xbox One (including Xbox One X), and PC via Steam. The ESRB lists Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with an E for Everyone rating and Mild Lyrics, Users Interact, and In-Game Purchases disclosures. Motorsport Games · ESRB rating

Rank #2
Sale
NASCAR Heat 5 - PlayStation 4
  • Pre-order NASCAR heat 5 now and receive a free Career booster Pack and in-game cash to build your own team.
  • Nascar heat 5, the official video game of the world's most popular stockcar racing Series, puts you behind the wheel of these incredible racing machines and challenges you to become the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
  • Features all the official teams, drivers and cars from the three NASCAR national series as well as the Xtreme dirt Tour, racing on 38 Authentic tracks.
  • All official 2020 NASCAR tracks, teams, cars, drivers and schedule from four racing Series - the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY series, NASCAR gander rv & outdoors Truck series and fan-favorite, the extreme dirt Tour
  • Split screen multiplayer allows you to race against your friends on the same screen

Should you buy it if you own NASCAR Heat 4?

For someone new to the series, Heat 5 offers a broad NASCAR-focused package and several ways to race, especially if its career, series coverage, and included edition content match what they want. The stronger case for an existing Heat 4 owner is narrower: Windows Central’s review emphasizes how familiar the core presentation and physics feel. Consider upgrading if you specifically want Heat 5’s content and modes; if you are satisfied with Heat 4, the review evidence does not point to a major reinvention. Windows Central’s review

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Where can you buy NASCAR Heat 5?

The sources establish the platforms and launch distribution, not whether the game is currently available digitally or in physical stock. A Steam Community user has asked why Steam says the game is no longer available, but an individual post does not establish the storefront’s present status. Before paying, check the live listing, platform compatibility, edition name, and whether the offer is for a new or used copy. Steam Community page

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Nascar Heat 5 (PS4)
Nascar Heat 5 (PS4)
Gameplay enhancements improved AI, more player camera options and dnfs
$20.49
SaleBestseller No. 2
NASCAR Heat 5 - PlayStation 4
NASCAR Heat 5 - PlayStation 4
Split screen multiplayer allows you to race against your friends on the same screen
$39.84
SaleBestseller No. 3
NASCAR Heat 5 - PlayStation 4 (Renewed)
NASCAR Heat 5 - PlayStation 4 (Renewed)
Split screen multiplayer allows you to race against your friends on the same screen
$34.65
Bestseller No. 4
After the Fall Frontrunner Edition (For Playstation VR) PS4
After the Fall Frontrunner Edition (For Playstation VR) PS4
Go solo or team up in intense 4-player co-op play; Conquer the ice-covered ruins of dystopian LA
$23.99
Bestseller No. 5
Assetto Corsa Competizione - PlayStation 5
Assetto Corsa Competizione - PlayStation 5
Assetto Corsa Competizione allows you to feel the real atmosphere of the GT3 championship
$28.00
Best Value
Assetto Corsa Competizione - PlayStation 5
  • Assetto Corsa Competizione allows you to feel the real atmosphere of the GT3 championship
  • Compete against official drivers,teams, cars circuits reproduced in game with the highest level of accuracy ever achieved on console
  • Sprint, Endurance, and Spa 24 Hours races come to life with an incredible level of realism, in both single and multiplayer modes
Rank #4
After the Fall Frontrunner Edition (For Playstation VR) PS4
  • Go solo or team up in intense 4-player co-op play
  • Conquer the ice-covered ruins of dystopian LA
  • Fight huge hordes, special enemies and bosses
  • Craft, upgrade and wield weapons with real-life movements
  • Go head to head in fast-paced 4v4 combat
Rank #3
Sale
NASCAR Heat 5 - PlayStation 4 (Renewed)
  • Pre-order NASCAR heat 5 now and receive a free Career booster Pack and in-game cash to build your own team.
  • Nascar heat 5, the official video game of the world's most popular stockcar racing Series, puts you behind the wheel of these incredible racing machines and challenges you to become the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
  • Features all the official teams, drivers and cars from the three NASCAR national series as well as the Xtreme dirt Tour, racing on 38 Authentic tracks.
  • All official 2020 NASCAR tracks, teams, cars, drivers and schedule from four racing Series - the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY series, NASCAR gander rv & outdoors Truck series and fan-favorite, the extreme dirt Tour
  • Split screen multiplayer allows you to race against your friends on the same screen

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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