I’m just going to come right out and say it. It’s a Star Wars year. And no, not in the way anybody would expect. It wasn’t some new KOTOR or remake of a beloved classic that popped off, no, no, no. It wasn’t a groundbreaking update for The Old Republic (although that game is in a great state these days); instead, smaller studios with big inspirations and talent created something special. In the case of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, FINALLY, we have something that touches on the legacy of Burnout in a way that will instantly remind you of that classic, while also forging its own identity to create a special, white-knuckle, fun racing experience.
Midichlorians Per Hour Are Escalating
It is strange and honestly pretty great that two of this year’s biggest Star Wars surprises are built around ideas that already worked brilliantly somewhere else. Star Wars: Zero Company borrowed the squad building, permanent consequences, and tactical combat that made XCOM special. It did not simply copy that formula and cover it with Clone Wars paint. It understood why people loved those games and found a natural place for those ideas inside Star Wars.
Now, Star Wars: Galactic Racer pulls off a similar trick with an amazing arcade racing legacy, most notably Burnout. That comparison isn’t made lightly. Fuse Games includes developers who previously worked at Criterion, the studio responsible for several classic Burnout and Need for Speed games. You can feel that experience almost immediately. This isn’t a safe, sterile racing game where everyone respects the ideal line and avoids each other like a polite Sunday cruise. The other racers are aggressive, the environments are dangerous, and crashing is inevitable; all that matters is who comes out on top.
Faster Than 12 Parsecs
The best arcade racing games make slowing down or playing it safe feel impossible. You know you should slow down before this next hairpin turn, but if everything has the right feel- drifting mechanics, speed, the sense of control even at wild speeds- then it’s easy to be convinced anything is possible. Then you try a risky move, and most times, especially early on, it ends with a fancy crash animation, often hurling your racer through the air with glee. But once you dial it in, nothing beats that burst of adrenaline as your momentum keeps growing.
That is pretty much what playing Galactic Racer feels like.
Each vehicle has enough weight to make collisions feel impactful, but it still responds quickly when you need to slide around an opponent or dodge some poison liquid on the track. Races regularly put you in situations where survival and positioning depend on tight timing, hand-eye coordination, and quick decisions. You can take the safer route, which will cost you position as the AI is incredibly savvy, or aim for a narrow opening that might send you directly into a wall. It brings back the wonderful tension of Burnout, where driving fast, precise, and dangerous is actually required if you want to do anything other than finish outside the podium.
Unlike most racing games lately, Galactic Racer features a solid suite of modes to chew on, even if you play solo. It includes a full-blown campaign, complete with customization, dialogue options, and a pretty fun, albeit light, story. It won’t be confused for the next Star Wars epic by any means, but it also does a fair job of keeping you invested and wanting to see it through to its end, which is commendable for any racing title, let alone an arcade experience set in a universe like Star Wars.
Multiplayer, which I was only able to test briefly, seemed like a true highlight. If you ever loved playing Hot Pursuit or my personal PvP racing fave, Blur, online, having late-night sessions until the wee hours, then this seems like that next great bit of online action. It’s fast; the single-player danger and intensity just get ratcheted way up online, and it has decent progression too. Definitely something I intend on coming back to upon full release.
Last but not least, the racing structure itself is quite unique. It adapts a roguelike experience that actually channels some arcade racing homages like Outrun and other run-based games from the old days, mixed with unique perks and upgrades that make progression and the challenge meaningful.
Visually, Galactic Racer goes right for one of Star Wars‘ most underrated styles. The homegrown, rusty-metal, tinkering look and feel fit the vibe and racing perfectly. Everything appears functional enough to work, but dangerous enough that nobody should be surprised when it explodes.
It looks and sounds incredible, runs at a rock-solid pace, and the frames never dip, so the only excuse for being bad at podracing is your own skill, unfortunately.
Another GOTY Contender
Star Wars: Galactic Racer works for the same reason Zero Company did: it understands the game that inspired it instead of simply borrowing a recognizable formula. Fuse Games captured the speed, aggression, satisfying crashes, and constant risk that made the best Burnout games so addictive, then found a corner of the Star Wars universe where it fits in perfectly.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer (PS5 Review)
Star Wars: Galactic Racer captures the speed, aggression, satisfying crashes, and constant risk that made the best Burnout games all time racing classics.
Pros
- Incredible visual and audio presentation
- Superb controls and depth
- Excellent variety for solo and online players
Cons
- A steep learning curve
