The game is built around an open-ended design. The single-player menu has three player options: Mode (Time Trial, Single Race, and Drift Trial), Car, and Track. The player can select from various circuits and vehicles, with credits earned based on the difficulty, performance, and several laps chosen. The number of laps available to players ranges from one to 99. There are 45 tracks (including layout variations) with the bonus of reverse on most of them, bringing the total track count close to 75. For the first time in the series, the game includes custom soundtracks, allowing players to listen to their music while racing, but this feature must first be unlocked by completing section B of the Driving Challenges. Music tracks can only be played in the "MUSIC folder" and can be used for offline and online races.