Races are viewed from a third-person perspective. The main objective is to win events, earn cash, and advance through the street-racing campaign by improving the selected car.

Events include standard races and other arcade-style challenges. Performance upgrades improve competitiveness, while visual customization changes the car's appearance. The Nintendo DS version is a separate adaptation rather than a direct technical equivalent of the larger releases.

Prioritize performance upgrades before expensive cosmetic parts. Learn each course's corners and avoid collisions, since recovering speed is often more important than taking risky shortcuts.

Use earned money carefully and select a car whose handling suits the events you find most difficult.