Thumb Drift
{{Short description|2016 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| developer = SMG Studio
| publisher = SMG Studio
| platforms = iOS, Android, tvOS
| genre = Action
| modes = Single-player
| released = {{Ubl|iOS|February 18, 2016|Android|March 2, 2016|tvOS|September 19, 2016}}
| image = App icon of Thumb Drift, 2016.png
| caption = App icon
}}
Thumb Drift is a 2016 action game developed and published by the Australian indie studio SMG Studio. In the game, the player has to control a car to avoid hitting obstacles or the edge of the track using their thumb. It was released for iOS on February 18, 2016, followed by a port for Android in March 2016 and tvOS in September 2016.
Gameplay
The gameplay consists of the player drifting a car along different tracks.{{Cite web |author=Allen |first=Jennifer |date=2016-02-23 |title=Thumb Drift Review: Steady Fingers |url=http://www.gamezebo.com/2016/02/23/thumb-drift-review/ |access-date=2017-03-02 |website=Gamezebo}} This is done by the player dragging their finger left or right causing the back of the car to move in that direction. There are coins on the track which the player can collect.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Jennifer |date=2016-02-24 |title=Thumb Drift Tips, Cheats, and Strategies |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/walkthroughs/thumb-drift-tips-cheats-and-strategies/ |access-date=2017-03-02 |website=Gamezebo}} These coins can be spent on buying new cars for the player to play the game with.{{Cite news |last=Slater |first=Harry |date=February 19, 2016 |title=Thumb Drift - Smashing a tank sideways into a white picket fence |url=https://pocketgamer.com/thumb-drift/thumb-drift-smashing-a-tank-sideways-into-a-white-picket-fence/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |work=Pocket Gamer}} If the player collides with the edge of the track or an obstacle the game is over.
Development and release
Thumb Drift was developed by the Australian indie studio SMG Studio, who previously produced games such as One More Line and One More Bounce.{{Cite web |last=Dotson |first=Carter |date=September 4, 2015 |title=Thumb Drift is the Next Game from One More Line Developers SMG |url=https://toucharcade.com/2015/09/04/thumb-drift-is-the-next-game-from-one-more-line-developers-smg/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=TouchArcade}}
A game demo of Thumb Drift was shown at PAX Prime 2015, and the game was released for iOS on February 18, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Dotson |first=Carter |date=February 15, 2016 |title=Thumb Drift from the Developers of One More Line Releases This Week |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/02/15/thumb-drift-release-date/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=TouchArcade}}{{Cite web |last=Hodapp |first=Eli |date=February 17, 2016 |title=New iPhone Games Out Now (And Coming Tonight): Thumb Drift, Tennis Champs Returns, Blocky Rugby, Rayman and More |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/02/17/new-iphone-games-out-now-and-coming-tonight-thumb-drift-tennis-champs-returns-blocky-rugby-rayman-and-more/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=TouchArcade}}{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Jared |date=February 17, 2016 |title=Out Now: Stellar Wanderer, Tennis Champs Returns, Blackwell 5: Epiphany, Thumb Drift, Lost Portal CCG, Fantasy Mage, The Swords and More |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/02/17/new-iphone-ipad-games-february-18th/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=TouchArcade}} A port for Android was released on March 2, 2016,{{Cite web |title=Thumb Drift — Fast & Furious C |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smgstudio.thumbdrift&hl=en_US |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=Google Play}} followed by tvOS on September 19, 2016, under the name Thumb Drift GT-V.{{Cite web |last=Dotson |first=Carter |date=September 19, 2016 |title=SMG Brings Thumb Drift GT-V to Apple TV |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/09/19/smg-brings-thumb-drift-gt-v-to-apple-tv/ |access-date=October 9, 2024 |website=TouchArcade}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
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The game was praised by multiple publications.{{cite web |last=Reinauer |first=Nathan |date=2016-03-03 |title=Thumb Drift Review – Slip Slidin' Away |url=https://toucharcade.com/2016/03/03/thumb-drift-review-slip-slidin-away/ |accessdate=2017-03-02 |website=TouchArcade}} On Metacritic, the game has a "generally favorable" score of 79 based on four critics.{{cite web |title=Thumb Drift - Furious One Touch Car Racing |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/thumb-drift-furious-one-touch-car-racing/ |accessdate=October 9, 2024 |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive}}
References
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