DriveClub is a road racing game that combines both offline and online races with a global experience level for both players. The game's focus is on forming an online racing club with up to six racers in total. Each club member can race with a different car, but they can share emblems and decorations to distinguish themselves as a club. The score system ties the single-player performances to the online ones, where an entire club can benefit from a single player's successes.
The gameplay mixes arcade elements with simulation, as players are rewarded for being patient, learning corners and takeover opportunities, and following the ideal racing line. However, bumping into other cars and cutting them off is also possible. Players can compete in offline single races against AI-controlled cars, or participate in a single-player tour with a campaign of about fifty events divided over five levels.
The game features licensed cars divided into five classes: Hot Hatches, Sports, Performance, Super, and Hyper. Cars are unlocked gradually by reaching a new driver level, based on four main statistics: acceleration, top speed, handling, and drifting. The tracks are inspired by locations around the world and feature three types of events: time trials, regular track races, and drifting challenges.