New Star GP

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 852 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
New Star GP Game Cover
Bite sized sim racer for the beginner F1 enthusiast
Starting at $19.77Buy now
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"New Star GP" is an arcade racing game where you manage your own motorsport team, making important decisions both on and off the track. With its stunning retro visuals and 1990s-inspired driving experience, the game challenges you to master race strategy, tyre choice, fuel load, and more to lead your team to victory from the 1980s to the present day. Your choices truly matter in this immersive and engaging racing experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 852 reviews
graphics58 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Engaging mix of arcade racing and team management, providing depth and fun.
  • Beautiful retro graphics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic racing games.
  • Dynamic AI and varied track designs keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
  • Can feel repetitive after a while, with limited variety in gameplay mechanics.
  • AI behavior can be frustrating, often leading to aggressive and unfair racing situations.
  • Lacks certain features like online multiplayer and manual transmission options.
  • graphics102 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro arcade style, reminiscent of classics like Virtua Racing, combining a charming low-poly aesthetic with modern touches that enhance the overall visual appeal. While some players find the graphics simplistic or lacking in depth, many appreciate the vibrant colors and playful design, which contribute to an engaging and nostalgic atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, complementing the fun gameplay and extensive content.

    • “The graphics here are superb, putting modern flourishes on a very low poly visual style that give it this wonderful, playful, and colorful aesthetic.”
    • “Very nice graphics, giving that proper Virtua Racing vibe through and through.”
    • “The graphics and the circuits are beautiful, the upgrades and the relationships with the team are great...it's my peak of the year!”
    • “Don't let the graphics deceive you.”
    • “I loved Virtua Racing at the arcades, this looks like it from the screenshots but feels like a mobile game instead, no graphics options, bad menus that never end, digital steering or super twitchy.”
    • “Due to the graphic design of the game, I also kind of find it hard to see the end of a road just due to the textures, and this also makes spotting the pitting lane a pain sometimes.”
  • gameplay83 mentions

    The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, addictive racing loop, and a blend of arcade and simulation elements that keep it engaging. Players appreciate the depth of customization and career progression, although some find certain mechanics frustrating, such as track boundaries affecting speed. Overall, the game is described as fun, accessible, and polished, with a good balance of challenge and simplicity.

    • “Excellent arcade racing gameplay combined with a career/upgrade system that's interesting but doesn't get in the way.”
    • “The gameplay and driving mechanics are spot on, and the mods/progression make you want to race 'just one more time' to improve your car's performance.”
    • “This is such a refreshing game, it has a surprising amount of depth to the gameplay.”
    • “I liked the style, the music, and the racing, but most of the other mechanics in this game were annoying.”
    • “Price definitely higher for the amount of gameplay offered.”
    • “Doesn't feel like crashes harm you that much mechanically, only making the punting rivals even more annoying as they can get away with just a slight loss of speed, while you are spinning through the gravel trap and getting your car components worn down extra fast.”
  • music60 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its upbeat and arcade-style soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some players find the music to be repetitive or standard, leading them to prefer their own playlists. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, there are calls for more variety and better audio mixing to allow the music to shine through.

    • “The driving, set to some great original music, feels good and definitely leans toward arcade racing.”
    • “This is a brilliant soundtrack that really captures both the arcade racing feel, and it's hard to extrapolate, but I get the feeling sometimes I am watching an old tuner VHS of some kind.”
    • “The graphics are bright and colorful, the music is upbeat, engines sound excellent, the courses are similar enough to real locations but without some of the issues associated with them, and it is clearly a labor of love from the developer.”
    • “One negative point is the bad music, so I turned it off.”
    • “I won't name names, but there is one particular VR clone I was really excited about a couple of years ago, and its soundtrack was just abysmal and didn't fit the tone of the game at all.”
    • “The music itself is okay, sort of standard 2020s indie racing game music (meaning synthwave inspired), but it's not exactly a soundtrack you'd buy.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, which is woven throughout the racing experience, from amusing headlines between races to funny character interactions and animations. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone that allows them to enjoy the game without taking it too seriously, making it a fun escape even on lower-end hardware. Overall, the humor enhances the engaging gameplay and keeps players invested in the game world.

    • “The game doesn't take itself too seriously; you'll see the headlines between a few races here and there, and the content is pretty funny.”
    • “Basically, you can kick back after a long day but still feel like you are actually racing. It has a nice presentation, some pit strategy mixed in, and best of all, it's funny.”
    • “The player is presented with multiple choices constantly from fairly funny characters, which keeps you invested in the game world.”
  • optimization18 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance across platforms, maintaining a steady 60 fps on the Steam Deck and Xbox. While the driving mechanics and progression systems enhance the racing experience, some users noted that certain sponsor perks are underwhelming and that the game can feel clunky at times. However, the forgiving nature of crashes and the impact of fuel weight on performance add depth to the gameplay, encouraging players to strategize for better lap times.

    • “The gameplay and driving mechanics are spot on, and the mods/progression make you want to race 'just one more time' to improve your car's performance.”
    • “The game features a variety of perks that you can equip to enhance your car’s performance, such as better slipstreaming, increased earnings from races, faster pit stops, and improved off-track handling.”
    • “Fuel weight significantly affects the performance of the car, so trying to minimize how much fuel you need can add a lot of lap time.”
    • “Sponsor perks mostly suck, while perks such as the one that lets you have better control when you run off the track allow you to get away with some really drastic cuts on certain tracks, or the perk that gives you extra fuel when you run out once a race, which means you can run with much less fuel for your final stint, and generally gives you a large performance edge.”
    • “This can make early races particularly tough until you can afford to max out your car through strong performances or clever pit strategies.”
    • “Its performance is a bit clunky to the point that it’s noticeable quite often, but that shouldn’t put you off buying yet another new star gem.”
  • story18 mentions

    The game's story mode is praised for its engaging narrative and fun choices that enhance team management, making it more than just a typical arcade racer. Players appreciate the balance of simplicity and depth, with a unique progression system that incorporates upgrades, rivalries, and news articles to create an immersive experience. Overall, the story adds significant value, elevating the game beyond standard racing titles.

    • “Such a fun arcade style racing game with an amazing story mode.”
    • “The story mode has fun choices throughout that allow you to curry the favor of your team, forcing you to manage them in a way where you are keeping them happy.”
    • “This game would just be a decent arcade racer, but the upgrades, the progression, the multiple track variations, and how the game helps create a story through its news articles, failures, and the rivalries system makes this into a unique game that really captures the enjoyment of F1 racing.”
    • “I guess the moral of the story is that something simple, done correctly, is vastly superior to something complex, but done poorly.”
    • “The boost is interesting though it feels a little one-sided when you have it and the computer doesn't. Most races in story mode so far have been blowouts, often beating the computer by 10+ seconds even on the harder difficulty.”
    • “☐ no story”
  • stability15 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on various platforms, including Linux through Proton and the Steam Deck. Players report a bug-free experience, with crisp graphics and a solid framerate, indicating a well-optimized title even in early access. The developers appear to be committed to maintaining this stability as they progress towards a full release.

    • “Game is very fleshed out and bug free for early access, and the developers clearly have a path to full release.”
    • “Runs great, controls great, and it just pops with the OLED.”
    • “Runs great (as far as I can tell), graphics are crisp, and the framerate is smooth.”
    • “I miss when racing games were made to just be fun, not just boring hyper-realistic buggy simulations.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it impossible to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that completely broke my gameplay.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its vibrant, cartoony graphics and an upbeat soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the balance of complexity in gameplay, which adds depth without causing frustration, contributing to a fun and engaging racing environment.

    • “The art style is fun and the game's atmosphere is really upbeat thanks to the soundtrack.”
    • “The complexity is pitched perfectly for the aim of the atmosphere of the game, with enough depth and nuance to the handling and the races without being frustrating or feeling dumbed down.”
    • “I like this game a lot, the cartoony graphics, the atmosphere, the spectacular races and the setup/pitstop stuff.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to "New Star GP," highlighting it as a heartfelt tribute to Formula 1 that evokes strong memories and feelings. However, some users also mention discomfort with certain camera angles, which detracts from their overall experience.

    • “I never realized how expensive and complicated it had been to get it at the time, but I played the game to death and I still remember how it made me feel.”
    • “New Star GP is more than just a racing game, it's a celebration and a heartfelt tribute to the world of Formula 1.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players criticize the grinding aspect of the game as excessively time-consuming and frustrating, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress. Additionally, the grinding is compounded by a poorly designed menu system and seasonal limitations that hinder gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “And don't get me started on the train wreck of a menu system, seasons (welp, it's winter again, guess I'll have to wait till next week to play), broken physics, and awful grinding.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability through its engaging career mode, where players manage their teams and experience dynamic events, as well as a custom championship mode. Additionally, each race weekend features multiple fun events that allow players to familiarize themselves with tracks, enhancing the overall replay value. However, the grand prix event can only be played once, which may limit long-term replayability for some players.

    • “I love when games balance 'sim' aspects with an arcade base. This game brings that together with an entertaining career mode where you manage your team and sometimes watch chaos ensue, as well as a custom championship mode for replay value afterwards.”
    • “Each race weekend has a number of fun and replayable events that allow you to get acquainted with the track before jumping into the grand prix event, which can only be played once.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for resembling the cash-grabbing microtransaction models typical of mobile games, leading to disappointment among users who feel it is not justified for a PC title priced at £4.99.

    • “I know New Star are good for it considering their mobile games are cash-grabbing microtransaction horrible messes (you ruined New Star Soccer, guys :( ) and this honestly feels like it would play fine on a phone rather than being a PC game, at a £4.99 price tag.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

Buy New Star GP

Play time

1hMedian play time
1hAverage play time
1-1hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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