Formula Retro Racing

Formula Retro Racing is far from a bad racing game. It’s perfectly fine, it handles well enough and it does a good job of replicating the art style of the early '90s arcade era. But its performance issues on Switch and the frustrating AI behaviour means that it should only really be considered if you’ve absolutely rinsed everything to do in Sega Ages Virtua Racing and are looking for something else to scratch a similar itch.

70%Game Brain Score

graphics, music

gameplay, stability

71% User Score Based on 100 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 2 reviews

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About

Formula Retro Racing is a single player and multiplayer arcade racing game. It was developed by Repixel8 and was released on May 14, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Formula Retro Racing" is a fast-paced arcade-style racing game with low poly visuals and a retro soundtrack. Race through 8 unique tracks in either classic checkpoint or eliminator game modes, with up to 4 player split screen local multiplayer. Challenge yourself and others on the online leaderboards for best lap and race times. *Retro arcade racing *8 unique tracks, up to 4 player split screen *Online leaderboards for best lap and race times.

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+11

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

graphics17 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic arcade racers like Virtua Racing, with vibrant graphics and enjoyable handling.
It offers a fun and straightforward racing experience with multiple game modes, making it accessible for casual players.
The driving mechanics are responsive, and the game provides a satisfying sense of speed, especially when mastering the tracks.

The AI is erratic and can lead to frustrating collisions, often causing players to restart races due to unpredictable behavior.
There is a lack of content, with only 8 tracks and 1 car, which can make the game feel repetitive and lacking in variety.
Collision detection is inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where minor contact results in significant penalties or crashes.

graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
42%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro aesthetic, featuring simplistic polygonal designs that evoke the early days of 3D racing games. While some players appreciate the clean, colorful visuals and nostalgic feel, others find the art style lacking in depth and polish, resembling an unfinished model. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the arcade gameplay, though opinions vary on their execution and appeal.
- “Polished graphics, nice sound and gameplay that will keep you occupied for a while.”
- “The art style is a modern, HD take on Virtua Racing and it looks fantastic.”
- “The arcade physics, Virtua Racing-inspired graphics, and overall appearance of UI definitely give it a solid retro arcade racer vibe.”
- “But everything else is severely lacking, with an art style that looks like the beginnings of a model rather than the final product.”
- “The biggest plus and also my biggest complaint is the graphics.”
- “It's definitely not fancy but the simplistic polygonal graphics harken back to the earliest era of 3D racing games, back at a time when the best you could get on console were sprite-scaled representations of driving.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The music in the game is characterized by a catchy, chip-tune-inspired soundtrack that aligns well with its retro arcade racing theme, though it tends to be repetitive. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and find the tunes enjoyable for cruising, others express a desire for a more varied selection and the option to completely turn off the music. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as fitting but could benefit from expansion and refinement.
- “It does come at a very nice price point for that arcade racer kick, and even though it has only one music track for racing, it really hits those retro notes.”
- “The music is chip-tune-ish square wave stuff and pretty cheery.”
- “I love the retro styling and the music is awesome.”
- “The music is catchy but a little repetitive.”
- “When music is set to 0%, you still have tunes playing when you are not racing.”
- “I would like to be able to choose no music at all as I listen to my own tunes and just have sound effects on.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay is a mix of polished graphics and nostalgic 90s arcade style, featuring excellent analogue controls and a challenging mastery curve. However, it suffers from limited mechanics, poor AI, and issues with controller support, which detracts from the overall experience. While the drafting mechanic adds depth, the simplicity of tracks and the handling of other drivers can lead to frustrating moments.
- “Polished graphics, nice sound, and gameplay that will keep you occupied for a while.”
- “Excellent analogue controls and handling, beautiful Sega blue skies and flat shaded visuals, and the perfect old school arcade gameplay.”
- “The gameplay sounds simple, but it is really hard to master.”
- “The AI isn't very good, crash mechanics aren't great, and it claims to have full controller support, but I've found the Switch Pro controller doesn't work properly after playing for a short period of time and uses strange controls that cannot be remapped.”
- “There are no other cars, the tracks are fairly simple and short, and the mechanics of the game are limited.”
- “Gameplay aside, the game is lacking in some areas, such as a way to configure controls in settings.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including buggy collision physics and numerous glitches, leading to a lack of polish. Additionally, the absence of wheel support and overall content shortcomings contribute to a perception that it does not justify its price.
- “The collision physics are buggy, there's no wheel support, it feels like a Newgrounds game and certainly not worth the asking price.”
- “Game is full of bugs, glitches, lacks polish, and is missing a bit of content for its price.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the game to have high replayability, noting that recent updates have significantly enhanced its playability and overall enjoyment. Many users express that they continue to have fun with the game, indicating a strong incentive to revisit it.
- “This makes the game infinitely more playable.”
- “Since my original review, the game is much more playable and I have fun with it.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The story aspect of the game is perceived as having a fun and engaging premise, with players noting its potential for further development. While the current narrative is enjoyable, there is a strong desire for more depth and expansion in future updates.
- “Long story... so much potential - if they continue!”
- “The story had so much potential, but it feels like it was never fully realized.”
- “The narrative was convoluted and left many plot points unresolved.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking depth.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is marked by frustration and unpredictability, as players experience inconsistent interactions with the environment, leading to moments of confusion and disappointment.

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68%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

4-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Formula Retro Racing is a arcade racing game.

Formula Retro Racing is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Formula Retro Racing.

Formula Retro Racing was released on May 14, 2020.

Formula Retro Racing was developed by Repixel8.

Formula Retro Racing has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

Formula Retro Racing is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Hotshot Racing, Slipstream, Old School Rally, Horizon Chase Turbo, Circuit Superstars and others.

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