I’ve got a long history of being an embarrassingly big Star Wars guy with a particular affinity for the prequel era, which, naturally, includes Podracing. Though I’m not a huge racing game fan, I did love Star Wars Episode I: Racer, so the first trailer for Star Wars: Galactic Racer, which seemed to be in the same vein as the aforementioned title, got me good. After finally getting to play it at Summer Game Fest 2026, I’m extremely excited to get my hands on the full game – even more so than I had originally anticipated.
Since it’s developed by Fuse Games, which is made up of plenty of former Criterion alumni (the studio responsible for plenty of Burnout and Need for Speed games), it makes sense that Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a smooth and wildly fast feel right from the get-go. I was quickly shown the ropes on how to use a few different vehicle types, from the sharp skimspeeder to the dangerous but maneuverable speederbike. Each one handled totally differently and was a blast to control, but I only got to mess with the majority of them for a couple of minutes, so I’m excited to really dive into each type in the full game.
Credit: Fuse Games
There’s a smooth but speedy feeling to every race that’s a bit hard to describe, but it feels totally natural within minutes of learning the controls. The best comparison I can think of is F-Zero GX, which features similarly fluid, fast racing, as well as the ability to crash out of a race, like in Star Wars: Galactic Racer. From the sounds to how you drift, every detail is pulled straight out of the Star Wars universe, providing the visceral feeling that you truly are piloting a speeder straight out of the films.
I didn’t anticipate the game having a little roguelite mechanics spread throughout its campaign. You basically do “runs,” made up of races, ghost trials, and other familiar racing game staples, as you try to come out on top in each circuit. I found this to be a super unique angle for an arcade racer, and the couple of runs I took part in were extremely fun thanks to the bite-sized events and rewards, so I’m curious to see what the races on later planets in the full game are like.
Credit: Fuse Games
There’s also a wild amount of customization in Star Wars: Galactic Racer, with players being able to swap out specific pieces of their vehicles, change colors and patterns across the body, and more. I only got a taste of it, given the demo’s nature, but I was surprised at how far you could go with customization, as it seems incredibly easy to make your vehicle your own.
I got to check out the beginning of Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s story mode, which takes place in the time between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. You play as a customizable courier who ends up racing in the Outer Rim’s Galactic League at the behest of its Besalisk owner Darius Pax. Pax is being edged out by the nasty Kestar Bool – a talented racer who is almost comically antagonistic – leading the owner to have you race to take Bool down. It’s a straightforward but suited story for this sort of game, and I like that it seems more focused on exploring a pretty untouched corner of the Star Wars universe, rather than any of the characters or premises that seem to pop up in every show and game.
Credit: Fuse Games
Star Wars: Galactic Racer even features a scarily fast Podracing format.
The separate Podracing format is nothing short of exceptional, delivering racing thrills at insane speeds that straddle the line between pulse-pounding excitement and terrifying tension. I’m not sure I’ve ever played a racing game that went as fast as Star Wars: Galactic Racer’s Podracing mode, but it never felt so fast that I was unable to keep up with what was going on. Every turn, and even the most minute directional changes, can make or break you, which provides both pressure and exhilaration in equal measure.
I crashed plenty of times and made other opponents crash frequently because of how fast and fragile Podracers are, which creates a unique “risk vs. reward” feeling. Plus, you can play as both new characters and beloved Podracers like Sebulba and Ben Quadinaros, which I deeply appreciate as a Phantom Menace-loving freak.
Credit: Fuse Games
Despite my overall apathy towards the racing genre, Star Wars: Galactic Racer has become one of my most anticipated titles of 2026. My hour-long demo completely sold me on the game, which combines the incomparable feeling of being in the Star Wars universe with arcade-style racing that is just pure, adrenaline-filled fun. I’ll be counting the days until it launches on October 6 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and I think I’ll have to revisit Star Wars Episode I: Racer in the meantime.
