How to Play Overdrive

The goal

Weave your car through rear-view neon traffic at high speed on a first-person synthwave highway without crashing.

Overdrive is a first-person pseudo-3D arcade racer in the OutRun tradition. You tear down a procedurally winding synthwave highway with sweeping curves, S-bends, and rolling hills, weaving through five lanes of rear-view traffic as a slatted sun sets over a neon skyline behind you.

Controls

• Left and right arrow keys to steer between lanes
• Up arrow to boost above cruising speed
• Down arrow or B to brake
• On mobile, use the on-screen steer, boost, and brake buttons; P or Esc to pause

Strategy and scoring tips

• Brake before the hard corners, not during them. Steering at full boost through a tight bend flings you into traffic.
• Score close calls by threading gaps at speed, but never commit to a gap that is already closing.
• Ease off the boost on blind hill crests where traffic appears late. Speed you cannot react to is speed wasted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of Overdrive?

Weave your car through rear-view neon traffic at high speed on a first-person synthwave highway without crashing.

How do you control Overdrive?

Left and right arrow keys to steer between lanes. Up arrow to boost above cruising speed

Is Overdrive free?

Yes. Overdrive plays free in the AetherWave Arcade in your browser, with no download and no account.