Split/Second is a TV show about cars, destruction and explosions, looking for new participants. For its twelve episodes of the new season, it hires the player to be one of the eighth drivers and perhaps even become the next champion. The game is an arcade-focused racing game with fake-named sport cars inspired by real-world cars.
The gameplay revolves around accessing a power play bar, which can be filled by performing drifts, drafting, jumping or avoiding activated power plays. Filling up the third section of the bar gives access to level two power plays, which offer more destructive events such as exploding barrels or trains crashing down. The player must activate these power plays strategically to wreck their opponents or create shortcuts on the track.
The game features various modes besides normal racing, including Destruction, Air Strike, Air Revenge, Time Trial, and Elimination. The campaign mode rewards credits for finishing events, unlocking access to elite races, new cars, and special decals. Each episode also has a bonus event that can be unlocked by meeting specific criteria.
Multiplayer modes are available on all platforms, including split-screen for two players and online multiplayer for up to eight players with three different game modes.