Barro

About

Barro is a single player and multiplayer casual racing game. It was developed by SC Jogos and was released on March 28, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Barro is a simple arcade racing game for one or two players (in split-screen). Players can race on nineteen tracks in different weather conditions against three CPU opponents (or two in two-player mode) or do a time trial solo. Track profiles go up and down wildly and many of them loop over. Running off the track is the main danger in the game and once you do that, your car disappears and resets b…

Skip User Reviews

70%Audience ScoreBased on 1,410 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

Simple, easy to pick up and play arcade-style racing game suitable for all ages.
Includes a variety of colorful tracks with weather and time of day variations, plus local multiplayer support.
Extensive achievements and trading cards that are easy and quick to earn, appealing to achievement hunters.

Limited content and variety with repetitive track design and only a few cars that feel similar.
Poor driving physics and controls leading to frustrating collisions and lack of driving challenge.
Achievement spam with many achievements unlocking instantly on launch, detracting from meaningful gameplay experience.

gameplay
119 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
71%
13%
The gameplay is generally described as simple, lightweight arcade racing with basic mechanics and limited variety in tracks, cars, and features. While some find it fun and relaxing for short bursts or casual play, others criticize it for unpolished controls, lack of depth, repetitive loops, and an overabundance of trivial achievements that detract from meaningful gameplay. Overall, it offers modest, accessible entertainment but lacks engaging or innovative racing elements.
- “Bright and fun arcade with charming graphics and engaging mechanics.”
- “It’s a lightweight, low-cost title designed for quick fun rather than deep engagement, focusing on simple mechanics, short races, and local multiplayer.”
- “Barro's mechanics are surprisingly good, albeit simple (which is a good thing).”
- “I mean I'll describe a regular round: driving around the same-looking maps, with zero music, only the screeching of the wheels and the droning of the engine, respawning after accidentally mounting curbs, with zero catch-up mechanics.”
- “- very limited variety in tracks, cars, and mechanics.”
- “Bottom line, the core gameplay is not really fun.”
graphics
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The graphics are consistently described as simple, colorful, and retro-inspired with a minimalist, low-poly aesthetic that evokes early 3D or classic arcade racing games. While some find the style charming and suitable for casual or nostalgic players, others see it as basic, repetitive, and underwhelming, with limited visual variety across tracks. Overall, the graphics run smoothly even on low-end systems but prioritize atmosphere and nostalgia over realism or high fidelity.
- “Bright and fun arcade with charming graphics and engaging mechanics.”
- “The visuals are deliberately simple, featuring small, colorful vehicles that look like toy models gliding across bright, uncluttered environments.”
- “The graphics, the art style and art direction are simply wonderful.”
- “The menu and in-game controls are bad (with no way to remap them), the physics are bad, the graphics are bad, there's no minimap, but at least you can get a bunch of achievements without having to play the game, and you can get 100% of them (beat every level in arcade) in ~20 minutes.”
- “Dull game, the racing is terrible, the sound is terrible, the graphics are terrible, there are 4 different cars that all seem the same.”
- “Completely dismal graphics.”
music
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
58%
18%
The game's music is limited to a single, somewhat epic track in the menu, with no soundtrack during races, leading to a largely silent or monotonous audio experience dominated by engine noises. While some find the menu music fitting or enjoyable, most users describe the in-race audio as repetitive, underwhelming, or even annoying, often recommending players add their own music for a better experience. Overall, the lack of varied or engaging in-game music is a common complaint impacting the game's atmosphere.
- “The artistic design is simply stunning, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
- “From the level design to the absolute killer of a soundtrack, this game has it all.”
- “The visual artistry is breathtaking, and the music perfectly enhances the overall mood.”
- “Audio is similarly underwhelming—sound effects are basic, and the music loops without adding much energy.”
- “I enjoyed the time I had playing barro, however the absurd price, lack of music when you're on a racetrack, and the high pitch noise of the engine while on a racetrack takes away the majority of enjoyment this game gives.”
- “But in comes the reasons why I think this is pretty bad… there is no music which makes for the sound effects to be the only thing for audio… and for the love of God the turning sound is awful.”
story
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
81%
12%
The game "Barro" has little to no explicit story, with many users noting the absence of a traditional narrative. Instead, storytelling is subtle and primarily conveyed through atmospheric and environmental elements, appealing mainly to players who enjoy interpretive and minimalistic narratives. Overall, the story aspect is minimal and not a central focus of the game.
- “Support their mission as you would a king returning from exile, for they bring forth joy eternal.”
- “The game is based off of a real story, which makes it even better.”
- “Through the visual storytelling, you're inspired by the world of Barro and instantly submerged into the living world of its desert maps.”
- “No story.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no story to speak of.”
- “Not only that, but the emergent storytelling that may be fabled to exist in a racing game is very lackluster in this one.”
grinding
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
16%
74%
The grinding in this game is heavily focused on achievement farming, with numerous easy but tedious achievements designed primarily to boost completion stats rather than provide engaging gameplay. While it can be completed quickly and may offer brief entertainment, the repetitive nature and lack of depth make the grind feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience. Overall, grinding is excessive and driven by achievement collection rather than meaningful progression.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Too much grinding.”
- “Average level of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life, maybe some macros, and a will to live for grinding.”
- “The game's entire tactic for engagement is just achievement farming, making it the most bare-bones racer I've ever played.”
- “Achievements are super easy to get but somewhat tedious, as you'll have to set various racing conditions to get them all.”
humor
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely appreciated for its absurdity, glitchy mechanics, and silly physics, often leading to genuine laughs despite simple or poor design. Many find it amusing as a light, casual experience, especially in multiplayer, though some note the humor can wear off quickly or feels repetitive. Overall, the comedic charm stems from its low-budget, quirky execution and playful achievements.
- “For half a dollar, it’s hard to complain, especially since it made me laugh out loud more than once.”
- “The humor comes from the absurdity of it all.”
- “19 tracks, weather variations, a selection of cars, and some hilarious physics.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game generally runs smoothly with minimal glitches and good map design, and it performs well even on the Steam Deck. However, there are notable stability issues with buggy physics and collision mechanics, as well as some buggy achievements and multiplayer features. Overall, while bugs are present, the game remains functional and enjoyable for its price.
- “For a grand total of $0.99 you get a bug free racing game that competes with the likes of Dirt Rally and F1 Racing. I say this game is more than worth it even if you didn't get it for free; definitely worth a try.”
- “The only positive that I can come up with is that it runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Some achievements are buggy.”
- “The buggy keeps flipping over and the sedan bounces off the sides of the track in an unpredictable manner, making it spend most of the time sideways or pointing in the wrong direction.”
- “- Any collision is super 'buggy'; basically your car will turn wherever it feels like.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game generally runs smoothly with lightweight performance that allows it to run on most systems without issue. However, optimization declines in later levels, with controls deemed inconvenient and minimal differences in car performance, indicating inconsistent effort in refinement. Overall, while accessible and stable, the game shows signs of subpar optimization in some areas.
- “It’s accessible, runs smoothly, and doesn’t overcomplicate anything.”
- “Colorful visuals and lightweight performance make it run on any system.”
- “The game presumably runs smoothly, with no significant performance issues reported in the brief playtime.”
- “Needs optimization.”
- “Optimization is bad; graphics are normal, but the controls are awful and not convenient. The maps are different but similar to each other.”
- “You can see as the levels progress they become less optimized with effort dropping. The four cars are basically the same with no advantage or disadvantage, and 90% of the achievements are just given to you.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its thoughtful, charming, and immersive qualities, enhanced by weather effects, muted visuals, and a fitting soundtrack. It successfully creates a mood-focused experience centered on exploration and storytelling, though some users find the slow pacing and rough mechanics detract from its overall enjoyment.
- “Barro is an indie game that seems to focus on atmospheric storytelling and exploration, possibly incorporating puzzle or narrative-driven elements.”
- “The artistic design is simply stunning, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
- “The game’s atmosphere has a certain charm, but it’s weighed down by slow pacing and rough mechanics.”
- “The game includes a handful of different weather and lighting conditions, such as fog and rain, which add a touch of atmosphere without altering gameplay mechanics.”
- “Barro seems to be a brief but thoughtfully crafted experience focusing on atmosphere and exploration.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The monetization in this game is widely criticized as a low-effort cash grab, especially since it charges for additional content despite not being free. Users feel the developer repeatedly exploits this tactic unethically, diminishing the overall value and trust.
- “I would give this credit if this was free but since it’s not and it offers more cars for $.99-2 dlc this is just a cash grab.”
- “The developer started off decent enough but anything done by sc jogos is now just low effort cash grabs.”
- “Sc jogos has shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Barro provides moderate replayability, driven by its 109 achievements that encourage thorough exploration despite the game's short length. However, overall replay value is rated as average.
- “With 109 achievements, Barro offers a substantial number of challenges or collectibles relative to its short duration, which may incentivize replayability and thorough exploration.”
- “Replay value: ★★★”
- “Is this game itself worth a lot of replayability?”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional experience is largely negative, marked by frustration due to frustrating multiplayer mechanics and unpredictable gameplay elements that disrupt immersion. Overall, players feel discouraged rather than engaged or emotionally connected.