Racing games are better with headphones

I ran a small experiment: play Neon Drift Circuit muted, then with headphones. The difference is night and day.

With sound off, it's a competent little racer. With headphones, the engine growl and the beat sync turn it into something you don't want to stop playing. Speed feels faster when you can hear it.

Arcade racers lean hard on audio feedback. The whoosh of a boost, the screech of a drift, the pitch of the engine climbing. Mute all that and you're missing half the game.

So next time a racer feels flat, check your setup before blaming the game. It might just need a decent pair of earbuds.