Old School Rally

About

Old School Rally is a single player racing game. It was developed by Frozen Lake Games and was released on December 3, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Old School Rally" is a retro-style racing game with fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay. Race across diverse rally tracks from around the world in a variety of classic-inspired rally cars. Compete against other drivers on the leaderboards and earn achievements, while providing feedback to help the game evolve over time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,184 reviews

graphics112 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

Nostalgic graphics and gameplay reminiscent of classic PS1 rally games.
Fun and accessible driving mechanics that are easy to pick up but challenging to master.
Great variety of cars and tracks, with a charming retro aesthetic.

Co-driver callouts can be late or inaccurate, leading to frustrating moments during races.
Limited number of tracks and repetitive gameplay can lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
Physics can feel inconsistent, with cars sometimes lacking weight and responsiveness.

graphics
264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The graphics of "Old School Rally" are a nostalgic homage to the PS1 era, effectively capturing the charm of late 90s racing games with low-poly models, pixelated textures, and CRT filters that enhance the retro aesthetic. While many players appreciate the authentic visuals and the nostalgic vibe they evoke, some have noted inconsistencies in texture quality and minor graphical glitches. Overall, the game's visuals resonate well with fans of classic arcade racing, providing a delightful throwback experience.
- “The graphics are a wonderful example of how aesthetics can induce nostalgia.”
- “Old school rally absolutely nails the retro PS1 rally aesthetic and delivers satisfying, challenging handling once you get used to it.”
- “The retro visuals in the environments and vehicles look amazing and incredibly accurate to 90s PS1 racers, even down to the textures warping around!”
- “But it feels like choice driven by it is easier to make a low poly game rather than the dev wants to make something in this art style. The textures are inconsistent and have weird stretching, and at the same time, there are pixel gaps in the terrain.”
- “The only thing I do have to complain about is the graphics; they are very simple and lack shadows from where the source of light should be blocked.”
- “I cannot in good faith give this game a positive review when it just co-opts the visuals of those older games and then removes functionality that was expected then and is even more so now.”
music
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its nostalgic appeal, effectively capturing the essence of 90s racing games with a blend of drum and bass, rock, and electro tracks. While the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience and is described as catchy and fitting, some players noted a lack of variety and the potential for repetitiveness after extended play. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's retro aesthetic, although some users expressed a desire for more control over track selection during races.
- “The music is a nice take on the drum and bass and jungle music that began to take hold with the available CD audio from the nineties.”
- “Old school rally's soundtrack does well to encapsulate the aesthetic, being present enough to motivate the player to keep pace, but not so intrusive that it dominates the gameplay experience, often leaving itself in the background to enhance the experience.”
- “The soundtrack is quite fitting most of the time, one or two songs are 'off' for me, but you can skip those pesky tracks with a button press, so I can forgive that.”
- “The physics are definitely not great, but I think the main issue with the game is the lack of music; there is no music other than menu music, and it feels boring and empty.”
- “At present, the only time you hear the soundtrack is outside of the races themselves.”
- “I really hope we get different engine sounds for different cars, and I think that some of the main menu music style should be during the events as well.”
gameplay
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of "Old School Rally" is characterized by its nostalgic homage to classic PS1 racing games, featuring simple yet engaging mechanics that are easy to pick up but challenging to master. While the game offers a fun driving experience with a variety of cars and tracks, some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, particularly due to missing features like car tuning and a more robust progression system. Overall, it provides a charming retro vibe with enjoyable mechanics, though some aspects, such as damage and repair systems, feel underdeveloped.
- “Inspired by rally games from the mid to late nineties, Old School Rally aims to capture and recreate the gameplay and aesthetics of its contemporaries dating back to the fifth generation of console gaming, as well as arcade games that were available at that time.”
- “The gameplay was very enjoyable; it's truly possible to say that everything brilliant about this game is simple.”
- “The smooth gameplay complements the graphics, creating a racing experience that’s both satisfying and engaging.”
- “The gameplay is lacking way too much in my opinion.”
- “I just wish the gameplay was more refined and that there was an actual progression system or career mode instead of just the arcade cups.”
- “The setting is nice, but the physics and collision are a buggy mess; cars don't slide like they should, yet you can't grip the corners either, making the gameplay quirky to say the least.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
61%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while it performs well on platforms like the Steam Deck and Snapdragon 8 Elite, users report frequent bugs, particularly with livery customization, menus, and race results, leading to freezes and infinite loops. Graphical glitches and collision physics issues also detract from the experience, although some players note improvements in driving physics and overall performance. Despite these problems, many find the game enjoyable and visually appealing.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Runs at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED, and runs great when limited to 60fps and a 5-watt TDP to extend battery life.”
- “The game runs great on Steam Deck and plays super smooth.”
- “Am able to start time trial or vs CPU, but when the race finishes, the game freezes.”
- “Menus are buggy, keys won't rebind, and the game gets stuck in infinite loops.”
- “Only thing I don't like so far was when playing versus; if you don't win, the game just suddenly freezes and says 'failed' and only shows the finishing driver's time.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
6%
87%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when trying to unlock all cars and achievements. While some enjoy the nostalgic challenge of perfecting individual tracks, many express frustration over the extensive time required to complete grinding tasks, such as driving long distances or earning in-game currency. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, especially for those aiming for 100% completion.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “All of this means that instead of encouraging general skill in a variety of environments, the rally mode turns into grinding out individual tracks to get a perfect run.”
- “I like this game but it gets pretty boring after a few rallies and to be honest if you are trying to 100% this game like I did, then know that the last two achievements are so tedious... it took me just over 25 hours of non-stop playing to get the last one which is to drive 1000km in game (each track is on average about 3km) so if you do the math you find out that I had to do about 300 individual tracks.”
- “But the next almost 8 hours was pretty much exhausting for the money prize grinding in order to get the overall car's collection.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and retro graphics style, reminiscent of PS1-era racers, which translates well to modern systems and the Steam Deck. While most users report excellent performance with minimal bugs, some experienced minor graphical issues and FPS stuttering, which could be resolved through settings adjustments. Overall, the game maintains a steady performance with low battery usage on portable devices, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Low-poly car models, angular landscapes, and a simplified color palette replicate the charm of PS1-era racers while still benefiting from modern resolution and smooth performance.”
- “Has a retro graphics style with undeniable charm, which also lends perfectly to Steam Deck optimization.”
- “I've been playing on my Steam Deck and it's been great, battery usage is low and performance is steady which is good.”
- “I'm pretty sure vehicle damage doesn't even affect performance.”
- “Vehicles as a whole are really nice to look at, but they all have pretty similar performance that you can’t tell apart until you start comparing them side by side.”
- “Car performance is measured by an arbitrary 1-10 bar for acceleration, top speed, handling, and braking.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
38%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming retro vibe and diverse environments, ranging from snow-covered routes to lush forests, which enhance the overall experience without overwhelming players. The atmospheric menu music complements the gameplay, creating a nostalgic tone that many find appealing. While some aspects, like track width, may sacrifice realism, the overall ambiance and engaging level design contribute to a satisfying and enjoyable experience.
- “Tracks stretch across a variety of countries, each with its own atmosphere—snow-covered routes, dusty gravel stages, and lush forest circuits—delivering just enough visual flavor to keep progression satisfying without overwhelming the art direction.”
- “I absolutely love the vibes this game gives, fantastic atmosphere, perfectly simple controls, and some daring tracks in the level design.”
- “Complementing the in-game action is the atmospheric menu music, which sets the perfect tone for this nostalgic journey.”
- “The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion or excitement.”
- “Despite the varied environments, the overall atmosphere fails to create a compelling experience, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
- “The game’s atmosphere is underwhelming, with repetitive visuals that do little to enhance the gameplay experience.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game offers high replayability through its simple yet engaging gameplay, enhanced by additional modes like time trials and local versus options. With over 30 cars, 20 tracks, and varying weather conditions, players can enjoy a diverse experience that encourages repeated play. Overall, the focus on gameplay and features like track generation contribute to its lasting appeal.
- “Additional modes like time trial with online leaderboards and a versus option for local or CPU competition add replay value and give the game a more complete feel compared to a pure arcade one-off.”
- “Very arcade-like feel to the handling with enough variation between the 30+ cars, 20+ tracks, and different weather/time conditions to make for a ton of replayability.”
- “This game is a good example of when gameplay is prioritized and creates replay value.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with players expressing frustration over poor collision mechanics and unpredictable physics that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic tribute to classic racing games, the grind system and gameplay inconsistencies lead to feelings of annoyance and disappointment, overshadowing the intended enjoyment.
- “Old school rally isn't just a game; it's a heartfelt tribute to a bygone era of racing games.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding enjoyment in the quirky aspects, such as the funky unlockable cars and the absurdity of certain physics, like cars idling at 200rpm. While the split-screen experience can be amusing with friends, frustrations with gameplay mechanics often overshadow the comedic elements. Overall, the humor is present but inconsistent, leading to mixed reactions among players.
- “Good visuals, good gameplay, good music, funny in split screen with a friend.”
- “Third and finally... now this is such a tiny thing but I just wanted to bring it up: cars don't idle at 200rpm, I don't know if it's just the car I was using but... I just found that funny as hell.”
- “The extra cars are quite funky, very funny on what you can unlock.”
- “I personally find it really unfunny when the physics and driving model are actively fighting against you when racing. It's a really cool game, but sadly the handling of the cars and the fact they drift too much over the slightest movements makes it really hard to enjoy.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The main "story/rally" mode is enjoyable, functioning more as a time trial than traditional racing, with no competitive elements against other racers. However, several users noted the absence of a narrative, indicating that the game lacks a substantial story component.
- “Other than that, the main story/rally mode is a blast.”
- “It's not really racing as you aren't up against any competition times...but to its credit, the times you ran against back in the day may as well have been randomly generated or pre-determined, making it more of a time trial setup, and in that way...yes, mission accomplished.”
- “☑ no story”
- “☑ no story”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game is mixed; while some players feel it leans towards a nostalgia-driven cash grab with microtransactions, others appreciate its lack of filler content and absence of microtransactions, emphasizing a focus on genuine racing experience. However, certain gameplay elements, like intrusive advertising, detract from immersion.
- “No microtransactions or filler content.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't disrupt gameplay.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without pressuring players.”
- “This game feels like a nostalgia cash grab for people who didn't actually play old rally games and are just in this for the 'retro' visuals.”
- “Brushing an advertising tarp is like hitting a wall of titanium, which you're forced to do at the end of the 2nd Finland stage - it's like there's no value given to a sense of immersion.”
- “Racing game with soul, not just a cash grab.”