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Orbital Racer

Orbital Racer Game Cover
43%Game Brain Score
graphics, gameplay
story, optimization
41% User Score Based on 74 reviews
Critic Score 55%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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Orbital Racer Game Cover

About

Orbital Racer is a single player and multiplayer racing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Plug In Digital and was released on December 14, 2017. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

Orbital Racer is a single-player space racing simulator offering two game modes: Action, with fast-paced gameplay and power-ups, and Simulation, which emphasizes realism with Newtonian physics. The game features customizable controls, eight locations based on real places in our solar system, and two distinct game modes for varied space racing experiences.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Orbital Racer screenshot
Orbital Racer screenshot
Orbital Racer screenshot
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41%
Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews
graphics5 positive mentions
story2 negative mentions
  • Impressive space flight model that feels great to pilot, providing a unique racing experience.
  • Great visuals and sound effects that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game has potential for fun gameplay, especially for those who enjoy space racing and simulation mechanics.
  • Controls are broken and inconsistent, making it difficult to play, especially with gamepads.
  • The game suffers from poor performance and frame rate issues, even on high-end hardware.
  • Lack of content, variety, and multiplayer options, leading to repetitive gameplay and a feeling of abandonment.
  • graphics
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning visuals and appealing design, particularly in the context of a space-themed kart racing experience. However, several users report significant performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical glitches, which detract from the overall enjoyment. While the aesthetic quality is noted as high, the inconsistent performance hampers the gaming experience for many players.

    • “Very good graphics.”
    • “Very pretty graphics.”
    • “Very fun game with stunning visuals!”
    • “Unplayable for me due to the poor graphical performance.”
    • “Whether on low or max graphics, it has troubles with frame rates, often at 45fps and struggling to (very occasionally) hit 60fps.”
    • “The only downsides that I can see so far is graphics performance could be better (780oc not getting great fps even at low-normal at 1080p) and there are odd bugs in the tutorial (passing through gates at certain speeds) and the options menu.”
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the great mechanics and rewarding flight controls, particularly in simulator mode, while others criticize the lack of variety, a compelling story mode, and buggy controls. Despite its impressive visuals and initial fun, many players feel the gameplay is ultimately disappointing and not worth the investment until significant improvements are made.

    • “The flight mechanics are just insanely rewarding.”
    • “Great mechanics in simulator mode.”
    • “It has all the mechanics I don't get from Elite Dangerous (it flies like ED with flight assist off but with good prograde vector controls); it would be a masterpiece in VR.”
    • “Such a shame that the game is in the state it is now even after 5 years. It looks very good and is a game worth spending your time on, especially if you love racing and space games. It would be an awesome game if it weren't for buggy controls and bad gameplay that looked very cool. My advice is to not waste your money on this game, at least until they fix it, if they will ever fix it, but I really doubt it!”
    • “The gameplay is lame.”
    • “Seriously, this bonus/malus gameplay mechanic will hinder players more often than helping them out.”
  • story
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally considered lacking, with reviewers noting it does not have a strong narrative or depth, leaving many aspects open for players to interpret. While the moral of perseverance is highlighted, the absence of a structured story mode detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the story aspect is seen as a missed opportunity that could elevate the game significantly.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “6/10 buy on sale, great visuals and initially fun gameplay. If this game had a bit more variety and a real story mode, it might be able to climb up to an 8/10.”
    • “As for the story itself, it’s an open book with many blank pages left for players to fill up.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting poor graphical performance and low frame rates that deteriorate over time. Many players noted that the game does not effectively utilize GPU resources, leading to unplayable conditions, especially at higher settings. Additionally, there are bugs affecting gameplay, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Other settings also affect performance, like shielding against damage if you collide with other vehicles, adding weight.”
    • “Horrible performance, doesn't seem to even use the GPU. No button mapping on what does what.”
    • “Unfortunately it is not optimized, so the frame rates are not particularly good and get worse the longer you play.”
    • “The only downsides that I can see so far are that graphics performance could be better (780 OC not getting great FPS even at low-normal at 1080p) and there are odd bugs in the tutorial (passing through gates at certain speeds) and the options menu.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting broken controls, bugs, and a lack of updates despite its five-year existence. While some players experience no technical issues like crashes or frame rate drops, the overall consensus suggests that the game suffers from significant gameplay and tutorial problems, leading many to advise against purchasing it until these issues are addressed.

    • “No glitches, crashes, or frame rate drops while I ran it maxed out on 4K resolution at a constant 60fps.”
    • “Broken controls, buggy and abandoned.”
    • “It's a great game, but man the tutorial is a buggy mess.”
    • “But if it has such a high learning curve, at least make sure your tutorials are not such a buggy mess.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as adequate but unremarkable, providing a relaxing background without standing out significantly. While it serves its purpose, it lacks the emotional depth or standout qualities that might elevate the experience.

    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
    • “The general sound effects and the soundtrack are adequate, but they never stood out.”
    • “General sound effects and the soundtrack are adequate, but they never stood out.”
    • “It's not like I'd ever expect a mind-blowing OST in this genre or emotional development in the characters that partake in racing of any kind.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing details, such as the ship's engine resembling the sound of a muscle car, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the experience.

    • “It's pretty funny that my ship sounded like a muscle car.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the emotional aspect of the game is generally underwhelming, with players not expecting significant character development or a standout original soundtrack, particularly given the racing genre's typical focus on gameplay over narrative depth.

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55%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Orbital Racer is a racing game with science fiction theme.

Orbital Racer is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows and others.

Orbital Racer was released on December 14, 2017.

Orbital Racer was developed by Plug In Digital.

Orbital Racer has received neutral reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

Orbital Racer is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Vector 36, Frontier Pilot Simulator, RaceLeague, Lunar Flight, Habitat and others.