Star Wars: Galactic Racer Review

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a racing arcade game that is actually fun. Mario Kart is great and all, but there has been a craving for a new racing arcade game for a while, ever since I got to look at the reveal of Star Wars: Galactic Racer. After learning that the senior Devs at Criterion Games put this project together, I was all in, especially since the team has great experience creating Need for Speed and Burnout. Now, after playing the game myself, I can confidently say that it is the best Star Wars racing title that has come out in decades. This is our review of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, developed by Fuse Games and published by Secret Mode.

World & Atmosphere

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set in the Star Wars universe, specifically in the lawless Outer Rim. It is set during the New Republic Era and puts you in the Galactic League, which is an outlaw racing circuit. The whole atmosphere of the game captures the underground racing culture alongside the scrapyard wreckage, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions. Moreover, the races take place on different planets, with each planet having its own environment and atmosphere.

Gameplay

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a racing arcade game that offers a roguelite campaign. There are three gameplay modes, including campaign, podracer, and multiplayer. The campaign is super fun and innovative, especially for a racing game. Each run is procedurally generated with different race types, hazards, and rivals, requiring you to adapt constantly to hazards, put on new upgrades, and experiment with builds. There are four different race types that you encounter during the campaign. These include Circuit, Eliminators, Field Tests, and Boss Races.

The customization and classes are good too. You get three types of classes to choose from, including Landspeeders, Speeder Bikes, and Skimspeeders. Each class has its own perks, so it is up to you which route and build you want to go with. During the run, you get random upgrades, ranging from boost efficiency to armor plating, hazard resistance, and offensive takedowns.

The podracer mode is pure nostalgia, and I love that the Devs put it in. It is purely a throwback to Star Wars Episode I podracing. The multiplayer mode lets you join online races with other players. Although there is not a ranking system for multiplayer in the game yet, it is possible to match up against sweaty players with aggressive builds.

Crashing can knock you out of the race, but if you manage to chain boosts, then it becomes a high-risk, high-reward situation. You can ram and make other racers crash or force them into the hazards. Moreover, the Takedowns feel great and are inspired by Burnout.

Sound and Visuals

The sound design of Star Wars: Galactic Racer is very impressive. You get to hear the vehicles’ hums, roars, and sputters, which sound clean and crispy. The sounds of boosts, landings, and crashes are heavy and give a sense of weight. Visuals are phenomenal in Star Wars: Galactic Racer, with great detail on vehicles and environmental hazards. Moreover, the lighting and bounce effects are great for further immersion.

Verdict – Score 9/10

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an amazing racing arcade game that brings back the nostalgia of Star Wars Episode I and provides a modern-day experience with great sound and visuals. The unique roguelite take on the campaign makes it more intuitive, with random upgrades and branches, requiring you to adapt and experiment mid-run. Multiplayer is fun, and you can play with your friends in online races, but there is no couch co-op or split-screen, which could have been a blast for this game.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.