Here’s why Star Wars: Galactic Racer could be great, according to early reviews

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PC (via Steam and Epic Games), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The first reviews are already online, however – and they suggest that Fuse Games' Star Wars racing game could be really good. At the time of research, Metacritic already lists 58 critic reviews, resulting in a solid Metascore of 88. Several publications – including IGN Germany and Eurogamer – have awarded the game a perfect score of 100.

Blistering speed, precise controls and a well-executed roguelite formula

The strong reviews are largely due to the exhilarating sense of speed and engaging roguelite campaign. Reviewers praise the blistering pace, precise controls and spectacular crashes. Comparisons to Episode I: Racer, Burnout and WipeOut come up repeatedly. IGN Germany (10/10) particularly highlights the sense of speed. Manuel Fritsch writes: “The sense of speed is probably the best it's been since the first WipEout.”

The roguelite campaign adds a fresh twist. During each run, players continuously unlock new upgrades and abilities for their vehicle. Losing a run means losing these upgrades, but permanent progression carries over into the next attempt. According to GameSpot, which awarded Galactic Racer 9 out of 10, even a failed run immediately makes you want to jump into the next one. Galactic Racer is also impressive visually. Sammy Barker of Push Square, which also gave the game 9 out of 10, writes: “The excellent handling and breathtaking presentation alone would be enough to recommend the game.”

Track selection remains somewhat limited

The most common criticism is the relatively limited selection of planets and tracks. IGN awarded the game 8 out of 10 and criticized the campaign for eventually becoming somewhat repetitive due to constantly returning to the same worlds. Some reviews also criticize the lack of clarity amid the chaos of races, the balancing and a story that doesn't always keep pace with the gameplay. It's also a shame that there is no split-screen mode.

Reddit is full of excitement

A Reddit thread about the reviews is generating plenty of excitement. Many users are surprised by the numerous high scores and are reminiscing about Episode I: Racer on the N64. The prospect of a mix between podracing and Burnout is even convincing some to put their gaming backlogs aside for now and announce plans to buy the game at launch. Only a few users say that the lack of split-screen or the limited track variety criticized in reviews has somewhat dampened their excitement.