From The Drive · Adam Ismail · · 1m 50s
Star Wars Galactic Racer Review
Star Wars Galactic Racer combines arcade racing with the franchise's universe for a punishing yet rewarding experience.
In brief
Star Wars Galactic Racer combines arcade racing with the franchise's universe for a punishing yet rewarding experience. Star Wars Galactic Racer offers a punishing but rewarding racing experience in the Star Wars universe with a roguelike progression system. Originally reported by The Drive.
Author's background
I know nothing about Star Wars but was excited to combine the franchise's distant-universe steampunk vibes with arcade racing fundamentals.
Fuse Games background
Fuse Games is a new British studio formed by Criterion alumni behind Need for Speed and Burnout.
Game's core loop
Galactic Racer uses a runs-based system where you build your craft before racing, then restart from scratch after crashing.
Vehicle types
Four vehicle types exist: Landspeeders, Speeder Bikes, Skim Speeders, and Podracers with distinct handling characteristics.
Initial difficulty
The first race feels like a loss with no retries, but the game rewards learning through repeated failures.
Boost mechanics
Two boost types exist: Afterburner for modest speed bumps and Ramjet for powerful but risky boosts that can cause explosions.
Planet effects
Each planet has unique environmental effects like cooling Ramjets on Lantaana or freezing craft on Ando Prime.
Racing challenges
The game's difficulty increases with planet progression, making Ramjet use risky in tight corners.
Visual presentation
The game runs at 60 fps on PS5 with stunning visuals using Unreal Engine 5 and filmic effects.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer operates on the same basis as single-player with up to 12 cross-platform players.
Overall experience
The game's punishing yet rewarding loop makes it a refreshing experience despite initial frustration.
Game specs
Galactic Racer costs $59.99 (Deluxe $79.99) and releases October 6, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Author's conclusion
The game's beauty and arcade racing fundamentals outweigh its frustration, potentially motivating the author to watch more Star Wars films.
At a glance
Star Wars Galactic Racer offers a punishing but rewarding racing experience in the Star Wars universe with a roguelike progression system.
