Golden Lap

About

Golden Lap is a single player casual racing game. It was developed by Strelka Games and was released on September 26, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Fast. Exciting. Deadly. The Golden Era of open-wheel racing is about to begin. Do you have what it takes to lead an iconic team through one of the most exciting decades of motorsport history? As the head of a team, you'll make pivotal decisions that shape the destiny of your drivers and the performance of your cars. Allocate your budget wisely across drivers, support staff, car development, and s…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and casual racing management experience, making it accessible for both new and seasoned players.
The minimalist design and engaging gameplay loop provide a satisfying experience, especially for fans of vintage F1.
The developer is actively engaged with the community, promising updates and improvements, which shows potential for future enhancements.

The game lacks depth and complexity, making it feel repetitive and too easy after a few seasons.
Qualifying mechanics are overly simplistic, relying on luck rather than strategy, which can lead to boredom.
There are significant content limitations, such as a 10-season cap and minimal management options outside of races.

gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
76%
7%
The gameplay has been described as simplistic and repetitive, with a core loop of upgrades and races that can become monotonous after a few hours. While some players appreciate the minimalist approach and find satisfaction in the basic mechanics, many feel that the game lacks depth and strategic complexity compared to other racing management titles. There is potential for improvement through community mods, but currently, the gameplay experience is seen as limited and not particularly challenging.
- “Additionally, the driver injury and death mechanic is a really well-implemented system since it not only pays homage to a very deadly period of racing history but also forces you to think carefully about whether it's worth it to force your drivers to push during the race and risk losing them.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying for what it is and I'm excited to see how future community mods will take it even further.”
- “The gameplay loop is so satisfying and the seasons are just long enough to get invested while also dangling the possibilities that next season will bring.”
- “The gameplay loop is essentially, new season sign drivers and chiefs, sign sponsor, do initial upgrades, race, upgrades, race, upgrades, race etc. That's it. There are some interesting moments like a crash can leave drivers in the hospital or someone can turn up with a hangover, but they don't really spice up the gameplay much or are related to your actions at all.”
- “Game elements (teams, pilots, car parts stats) and mechanics (pit-stop choices, team economy, primitive tuning 'minigame') are simplified below the point of being variable or challenging. Player decisions are extremely limited and pretty obvious, such as waiting for yellow/red flags to change tires and repair parts out of schedule.”
- “The core gameplay loop of upgrade/build - qualify/tune - race/pit gets repetitive after a season or two and doesn't really offer any level of strategy or randomization to keep it interesting for longer.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The graphics of "Golden Lap" are praised for their beautiful yet minimalist design, which effectively captures the essence of the era it represents without requiring high-end hardware. Players appreciate the tasteful aesthetics and the ability to modify visuals, finding that the simplicity enhances strategic gameplay rather than detracts from it. Overall, the game is noted for its engaging visual style that complements its management mechanics, making it appealing even to those who typically prefer more detailed graphics.
- “Beautiful visuals that do not require the latest and greatest graphics card is a welcome approach.”
- “Funselektor created another super aesthetically pleasing game, taking charge of a racing team from the early 70's.”
- “I didn't think I'd love the graphic style as much as I do.”
- “Unlike other simple clicker games, no saving grace like extensive history and stats, content variability (for example big library of tracks or rules changing between seasons) or cute visuals.”
- “Golden lap is easy to learn, has enough depth to keep me interested, and somehow nails the feeling of the age despite having minimal graphics.”
- “Thought I would miss the visuals of a conventional racing game, but the minimalist design allows for pure strategy, which is what you need in a game like this.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the community-driven music settings and the overall environment it creates. However, many criticize the soundtrack for being sparse and lacking the engaging tracks found in previous titles, with instances of silence during gameplay that may be intentional or a bug. Overall, the music experience has been a significant disappointment for those hoping for a vibrant soundtrack.
- “Simple, community helped, music setting, what an environment for everyone to thrive, just wonderful.”
- “Absolute Drift made me really like drum & bass, and Art of Rally had some real bangers as well.”
- “Sometimes it's just quiet, not sure if it's a bug or if that's the intent, and music during races only plays if you speed up the simulation to like 4x or 8x the speed.”
- “One of my major criticisms is that the soundtrack feels like it barely exists compared to the previous two games of theirs.”
- “Absolute Drift made me really like drum & bass and Art of Rally had some real bangers as well, but Golden Lap doesn't seem to have a lot of music at all.”
- “Sometimes it's just quiet; I'm not sure if it's a bug or if that's the intent. Music during races only plays if you speed up the simulation to like 4x or 8x the speed.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Motorsport Manager is praised for its high replayability, offering players the opportunity to explore various strategies and narratives, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy immersive and strategically deep gameplay.
- “The replay value is in trying different things and telling different stories.”
- “If it's something you enjoy, then you can always jump into Motorsport Manager, which is still the undisputed king of the genre in terms of immersion, strategic depth, and replayability.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious after a few seasons, as it is relatively easy to achieve success and acquire multiple golden tunes. While some still enjoy the process, there are suggestions for the developers to introduce more challenging elements, such as limited resources, to enhance the decision-making experience.
- “Qualifying can be a bit tedious as the decisions are pretty easy and it isn't difficult to get multiple golden tunes. I think the devs could make this a bit harder (limited tires?) to increase the decision space.”
- “It is easy to become unstoppable within 3 seasons, which can become a tad tedious, but you can still have fun with it.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game features a narrative that encourages players to create their own storylines, particularly after each race, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the freedom to imagine and develop personal narratives alongside the main story.
- “I love the little storylines that I can make up in my head after each race.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization aspect of the game is noted for providing significant value, with players receiving around 110 performance for a cost of $6-9, compared to only 5 performance for $3. This system rewards players with fixed earnings plus additional bonuses based on their racing performance, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “You get around 110 performance for $6-9 rather than about 5 for $3.”
- “Each one will provide you with a fixed amount of money plus extra depending on your performance in races.”
- “You get about 110 performance for $6-9 rather than around 5 for $3.”
- “Each one will give you fixed money plus extra depending on your performance in races.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as "laughingly simple," contributing to an enjoyable experience despite the game's lack of content. Reviewers appreciate the lightheartedness, though they note that the game could benefit from more depth.
- “This is a bare-bones race day simulator, laughingly simple and enjoyable, though it needs a massive amount of content.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its artistic and immersive qualities, providing a unique and engaging experience in racing management.
- “A very artistic and atmospheric take on racing management.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly noted for its smooth performance on the Steam Deck. Users report a consistently positive experience without significant issues.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck as well.”