Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a brilliant racing game that will have you clenching your teeth with every turn. The ridiculously high speed makes for flashy races without ever getting so fast you can’t keep up, and the story is perfectly cheesy. The way enemy crashes are shown can be a little confusing, but the number of different modes, vehicles, and racers to play as makes this a Star Wars game nobody should miss.
Credit: Fuse Games
I was thoroughly impressed with Star Wars: Galactic Racer when I played it at Summer Games Fest earlier this year, as it nailed the feel of previous Star Wars racing games while bringing that high-octane energy into the modern era of gaming. I’m not a huge racing games guy, but I’m definitely a huge Star Wars guy, so I was more than happy to check out the full game to see if it could keep my interest in the long term, and, thankfully, it certainly did.
You’d hope that the racing in Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a highlight of the experience, and it certainly is. The wild speed of each race is thrilling and makes every millisecond count, to a degree I haven’t experienced in other similar games. The numerous vehicle types, driving styles, and abilities offer surprising customization (in addition to the already impressive visual customization available for each ship), and experimenting with them all is a blast. I think the abilities will need a bit of balancing, as Auto-pilot is nothing short of busted, but it’s a minor issue.
Credit: Fuse Games
The courses cover planets from across the franchise, each with its own unique mechanics and stunning visuals. Essentially, the game nails the Star Wars vibes while also being incredibly fun to play almost all the time. My only issue is that making foes crash triggers dramatic camera shots, which is cool in theory but makes it nerve-wracking to suddenly take control of your speeding vehicle again as soon as the crash ends.
What might surprise you most about Star Wars: Galactic Racer is that its campaign is a roguelite. As you move through each racing circuit, you choose the events you want to take part in, from straightforward races to adventure-game-esque interactions with other racers. Winning nets you upgrades and perks to use for that run, while losing most event types puts you back at the start of the run. I mostly don’t mind this system, but it can be annoying to restart a run when you face one of the harder bosses at the end of a circuit, like the infamous Sebulba. Still, I can appreciate how different this approach feels to other racing games, and creating your own loadout throughout each run is a lot of fun.
Credit: Fuse Games
In terms of the narrative itself, Star Wars: Galactic Racer puts you in the role of the enigmatic racer Shade, who can look and sound different depending on your avatar choices. You’re sort of tricked into joining the Galactic Circuit, but end up finding a personal reason to stay and take down every sleemo in your way. It’s a story of rivalry and melodrama, making it a perfect fit for both Star Wars and a racing game in general. The plethora of memorable alien species and planets, along with its place between the original trilogy and the sequels, will appeal to any fan of the series, as it fits perfectly within the ever-expanding canon.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer has plenty to do outside of the Campaign.
Beyond the campaign, there’s an Arcade mode and Scenario mode to check out. Scenario mode lets you play as specific racers as you take on gauntlets and challenges suited to them and their vehicle. The chance to play as your rival racers is great, since they’re all quite different from Shade, and the roster includes all sorts of alien species and racing styles, which adds variety to the game.
Credit: Fuse Games
Arcade mode lets you take on time trials and the like with the various vehicle types, so you can measure yourself against the times of both story mode characters and your own friends who also play Star Wars: Galactic Racer. You can even take part in the beloved (and incredibly dangerous) sport of Pod racing in Arcade mode, which is even faster and riskier than the main racing modes. I dig this inclusion (and not just because I’m an eternal Phantom Menace apologist), as it gives players another gameplay style that keeps the whole package interesting.
Credit: Fuse Games
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The Final Word
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a fantastic racing game that perfectly captures the breakneck speed of the source material’s iconic vehicles. The story and abundance of modes make for a unique racing experience, and though a couple of small rough edges exist in how it’s presented, this is a brilliant title that had me frequently jolting to the edge of my seat. Whether you like Star Wars, racing games, or both, there’s lots here for you to sink your teeth into.
