Retro Highway

About

Retro Highway is a single player casual racing game. It was developed by Gearhead Games and was released on October 22, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Retro Highway is an exciting free-to-play online game where you ride your vintage motorcycle on a procedurally generated endless highway. With simple controls, you can speed up, slow down, and perform stunts, while avoiding traffic and obstacles to earn coins and customize your bike. This addictive, retro-style game is perfect for passing the time on any device, with no downloads or login required.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 451 reviews

graphics15 positive mentions

monetization55 negative mentions

The game features charming retro pixel graphics and smooth controls, providing a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic arcade games.
Gameplay is engaging with a good balance of challenge and fun, making it suitable for both casual play and longer sessions.
The game is well-optimized for offline play, making it a great option for commutes or travel without internet access.

The game suffers from intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay, with some users reporting unskippable ads after crashes or during gameplay.
There are significant issues with data privacy, as the game requires extensive permissions and tracks personal information without clear opt-out options.
Many players have experienced crashes and bugs, particularly after updates, which can lead to lost progress and frustrating gameplay.

monetization
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while ads are present, they are generally not overly intrusive and can be removed for a small fee. However, several users have reported issues with ads freezing the game or being forced to watch them after crashes, leading to frustration. Overall, while some players appreciate the balance of ads, others find them excessive and disruptive to gameplay.
- “Monetization seems minimally intrusive, balance seems reasonable.”
- “Watching ads for rewards does not work and the game becomes unresponsive after pressing the ad buttons.”
- “The forced ads are ridiculous though.”
- “Too many ads that make you wait, interrupting playtime, but otherwise great.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their retro pixel art style, evoking nostalgia and enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetics and smooth visuals, some express concerns about limitations and low-quality graphics, suggesting a desire for improvements. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, with a mix of admiration and requests for enhancements.
- “Amazing visuals, controls and sound design.”
- “Awesome game, very retro graphics, love it.”
- “Great little game with nice graphics and incredibly smooth gameplay.”
- “Too many limitations to the graphics.”
- “It is good but the graphics are a little bad.”
- “Good gameplay and cool retro graphics, but the crashes ruin.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its nostalgic 1980s and 16-bit arcade vibes reminiscent of classic titles like Road Rash. The soundtrack is described as "badass" and "addictive," enhancing the overall gameplay experience, although some players noted that the high-quality production contrasts with the retro theme. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “Nailed the music -- it's honestly the best part about this game.”
- “The 16-bit music is also well implemented.”
- “It's high speed like F-Zero and the music is bomb!”
- “The soundtrack really reminds me of an 1980s arcade game, although the crisp top-notch quality is kind of a put-off considering it's called *retro* highway.”
- “Graphics remind me of Road Rash Jailbreak on GBA, and the music reminds me of Road Rash 3 on the Genesis.”
- “It's high speed like F-Zero and the music is bomb af!”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and a straightforward premise, allowing for quick startup and enjoyable offline play. Players appreciate the fun and engaging experience, complemented by a badass soundtrack and retro graphics, though some desire additional combat mechanics and longer gameplay. Overall, the game offers solid, smooth gameplay with minimal grind and non-intrusive ads, making it accessible and enjoyable.
- “Simple mechanics, simple premise, quick startup, non-intrusive ads, works offline, badass soundtrack, actually fun gameplay, and not even too grindy!”
- “Great little game with nice graphics and incredibly smooth gameplay.”
- “Retro atmosphere is on point, gameplay is great fun.”
- “All we need now is a few combat mechanics and it would be golden.”
- “No gameplay mechanics or combat.”
- “Somewhat mechanically minimalistic game loop.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Users express a desire for a more engaging story in the game, suggesting that it should include a narrative similar to classic arcade games like Road Rash. They also recommend adding character selection and a variety of missions to enhance the overall experience, while criticizing the current "don't collect coins" missions for negatively impacting in-game income.
- “Guys, you have the best game ready; just give it a story like Road Rash.”
- “Play adding a story.”
- “Even the oldest arcade games had a story.”
- “Play adding a story and no.”
- “When we try to complete 'don't collect coins' missions, our in-game income gets affected.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the game features enjoyable mechanics and a fun soundtrack, the grinding for coins and progression can become tedious and frustrating, particularly in later levels where the difficulty spikes without adequate rewards. Players find the grinding aspect to detract from the overall experience, making it less appealing over time.
- “One of the best retro racers on Android, but grinding out coins for the later bikes is absolutely horrible. Most of the quests are tedious, and the later maps have nearly no reason to be played due to the spike in difficulty with no extra reward.”
- “After a while, it becomes tedious.”
- “Grinding for coins isn't fun.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users report significant stability issues, particularly noting that the game frequently freezes after a second crash, resulting in lost progress and achievements. The frequent interruptions due to ads exacerbate the problem, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “After you crash and watch an ad, then crash again, the screen freezes and all your achievements are lost.”
- “Yep, like everyone is saying, it freezes after the second wreck. I understand watching ads to support your business, but wow, every time you crash?”
- “The game is incredibly unstable; frequent crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players consistently highlight the game's high replay value, indicating that it offers engaging content and experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The game offers high replay value, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh.”
- “Every time I play, I discover new strategies and outcomes, making it incredibly engaging.”
- “The variety of character builds and storylines ensures that no two runs feel the same.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game's optimization is poor, indicating that performance issues are not related to their devices but rather to the game's development.
- “No, it's not my phone; it's just bad optimization.”
- “The game runs poorly on all settings, indicating a lack of proper optimization.”
- “I experience constant frame drops and stuttering, which shows that the optimization is severely lacking.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is praised for its engaging retro atmosphere, which enhances the overall experience, while the gameplay is also highlighted as a source of great fun.
- “The retro atmosphere is a standout feature, and the gameplay is incredibly fun.”
- “The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.”