Retrowave

About

Retrowave is a single player and multiplayer casual racing game. It was developed by RewindApp and was released on May 6, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Retrowave" is a Simulation game that allows both single-player and multiplayer modes with PvP competition. The game boasts amazing visuals and soundtrack, reminiscent of the '80s but with a futuristic twist. However, it features a boring plot but offers perfect gameplay, hilarious moments, and plenty of grinding. With ten unique cars, various worlds, and a focus on the synthwave aesthetic, Retrowave promises a visually immersive and replayable experience.

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,352 reviews

music901 positive mentions

story27 negative mentions

music
1,752 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its captivating synthwave and retrowave tracks, which perfectly complement the retro aesthetic and enhance the overall immersive experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic vibes and relaxing atmosphere created by the soundtrack, often noting that the music is the standout feature of the game. However, some users express frustration over the inability to select specific tracks or the abrupt stopping of music upon crashing, suggesting that improvements in music control could enhance the experience further.
- “Retrowave blends nostalgic 1980s synth sounds with futuristic style, creating an immersive experience of neon visuals, pulsing music, and retro inspiration that feels both familiar and exciting.”
- “The music defines the pace—slow, dreamy beats encourage relaxed cruising, while faster, more energetic tracks transform the highway into a pulsing dance floor of light and speed.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the game’s highlights, with a selection of synthwave tracks that perfectly complement the neon and retro-futuristic visuals.”
- “The lack of variety in gameplay mechanics means that once you’ve driven through a few tracks and purchased your favorite cars, there’s little new to discover beyond the visuals and soundtrack.”
- “Good game, but who would buy a separate DLC just to listen to custom music when they could simply mute the in-game music and play their own on Spotify?”
- “The music stops when you crash, which kills the vibe and makes it hard to enjoy the experience.”
graphics
874 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
47%
1%
The graphics of "Retrowave" are widely praised for their vibrant neon aesthetics and retro-inspired visuals that effectively capture the essence of the 1980s synthwave culture. While many players appreciate the game's artistic style and immersive atmosphere, some note that the graphics can be overly simplistic or repetitive, with minimal variation across tracks. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, enhancing the game's appeal for fans of retro aesthetics, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay depth and technical issues.
- “The graphics are stunning, the soundtrack is fantastic, and the visuals are just a trip to the 80's, the controls actually respond quite good, and the AI is smart enough to make it a really enjoyable game.”
- “Retrowave perfectly captures the essence of the '80s with its vibrant neon visuals and a mesmerizing synthwave soundtrack.”
- “The visuals, the handling of the vehicles, the music, my oh my, I can't believe this game is priced this low.”
- “It's an asset flip with barely any gameplay, that lives from its aesthetics of music and vibes.”
- “The lack of variety in gameplay mechanics means that once you’ve driven through a few tracks and purchased your favorite cars, there’s little new to discover beyond the visuals and soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are not the best but they are suited for the style that is trying to be portrayed.”
gameplay
447 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The gameplay of "Retrowave" is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, primarily involving driving straight while dodging traffic. While some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and relaxing atmosphere, many criticize the lack of depth and variety in gameplay mechanics, leading to a quickly dull experience. Overall, it serves as a casual, chill game best enjoyed for its visuals and soundtrack rather than for engaging gameplay.
- “The gameplay rides a steady groove — simple enough to pick up but with enough challenge to keep things interesting.”
- “The gameplay is straightforward but satisfying — you speed through glowing, endless roads while dodging obstacles and collecting boosts.”
- “Great music, great atmosphere, fun and engaging gameplay, excellent game to zone out to.”
- “It's an asset flip with barely any gameplay, that lives from its aesthetics of music and vibes.”
- “The lack of variety in gameplay mechanics means that once you’ve driven through a few tracks and purchased your favorite cars, there’s little new to discover beyond the visuals and soundtrack.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and by far the weakest element.”
atmosphere
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The atmosphere of "Retrowave" is a standout feature, immersing players in a nostalgic, neon-lit world reminiscent of the 80s, enhanced by a captivating synthwave soundtrack. The game's visuals and audio work harmoniously to create a relaxing and engaging experience, prioritizing mood and aesthetic over traditional racing mechanics. Players appreciate the chill vibe and the ability to unwind while enjoying the vibrant graphics and retro-inspired environments.
- “Retrowave delivers exactly what the name promises: a hypnotic neon journey filled with smooth driving, atmospheric synthwave, and pure relaxation.”
- “The neon-lit cityscapes and futuristic environments are a true homage to the aesthetics of the retro era, creating a visually appealing and immersive atmosphere.”
- “It's a driving game that's all about soaking in that retro-futuristic atmosphere and just losing yourself in the music and visuals.”
- “It's a mood piece, a playable aesthetic that prioritizes atmosphere over mechanics.”
- “Nothing too fancy, just a simple game that's more about the atmosphere rather than actual gameplay, because the only thing you do really is drive on a straight, vaporwave-themed road and optionally avoid the other cars.”
- “The atmosphere is well realized, but the gamepad controls are horrible.”
story
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
62%
33%
The game lacks a cohesive storyline or narrative, with many players noting that it is primarily a high-score game without missions or challenges. While the retro aesthetic is appreciated, the absence of a story leaves players wanting more context and motivation for their actions. Overall, the game is described as simple and engaging, but it would benefit from the addition of a structured story or goals.
- “But it gets the neo 80s tone absolutely right and makes you wish to have a complete game a la GTA right in front of you: stopping, leaving your car and progressing a cool story.”
- “Bought for the theme, stayed for the first-person driving and storyline.”
- “Sob story: I've played this game twice and it's already made me get close to crying, and made me so relaxed and content.”
- “No story, no missions, no challenges... you better set your own goals, because the game won't do it for you.”
- “The lack of a cohesive storyline or narrative may leave players wanting more context or motivation for their in-game actions.”
- “No story or progression at all.”
grinding
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
24%
72%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to engage in repetitive tasks to unlock achievements and earn in-game currency. Many reviewers noted that while the game can be enjoyable for casual play, the grind for upgrades and achievements can feel monotonous and unfulfilling, leading to a sense of emptiness in the gameplay experience. Overall, players suggest that the grind detracts from the enjoyment, making it a significant drawback for those seeking a more engaging and varied experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “And with no story-line comes the other parts of that: no factions, no challenges, no dailies, and most importantly, no grinding!”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Making money is tedious, consisting of repeated 'runs' on the same arrow-straight tracks that your car refuses to travel down straight.”
- “The only reason to keep the game playing longer would be to get all the achievements... which is extremely tedious, grindy, and boring.”
- “The additional cars and modifications are very costly, and much like a mobile game, require endless grinding to get what you want.”
optimization
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
75%
7%
The optimization of the game is generally praised for its smooth performance on modest systems, with responsive controls and minimal input lag. However, some users note that it suffers from poor optimization in certain areas, such as excessive visual effects that can hinder gameplay and a lack of optimization options. Overall, while the game runs well for many players, there are calls for improvements to enhance the experience further.
- “It runs smoothly even on modest systems, and the controls are tight enough to maintain a sense of flow at high speeds.”
- “You can change your vehicle if you'd like and you can customize the paint job, the wheels, and even the performance of the car, which I really enjoyed.”
- “Game is responsive and runs smoothly; the soundtrack is great and it nails the '80s synthwave feel it is going for.”
- “Great example of how purple & pink flashing with generic synthwave music covers poor optimization and low poly assets.”
- “Very unoptimized game for the kind of graphics it has, also the input lag is very strong.”
- “This game is a decent game all around; if there were more optimization options, it would definitely be better.”
stability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
4%
86%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting various glitches and technical issues, such as frame rate drops, collision problems, and buggy menus, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players encountered few or no bugs, others expressed frustration over the inconsistency in car performance and multiplayer functionality. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement, especially as it is still in early access, but players should be prepared for a somewhat unstable experience.
- “No glitches I encountered.”
- “This game is listed as 'unsupported' on the Steam Deck, yet it runs great for me, by the way.”
- “Runs great, looks pretty good, and the music selection is fantastic.”
- “You have to save up to unlock new cars, and every car is different and buggy in myriad ways, which is not super fun to discover after spending money to unlock something new and expensive that should be better than what one was using before, not worse... sigh.”
- “Glitches or occasional technical issues, such as frame rate drops or collision problems, can disrupt the otherwise enjoyable gaming experience.”
- “However, controller support seems to be buggy and awkward even after the latest update.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its extensive customization options, various game modes, and the ability to play personal music (with DLC). Players appreciate the arcade-style gameplay and the challenge of unlocking achievements, though some note that upgrades can feel repetitive. While the absence of multiplayer options is seen as a missed opportunity, the combination of engaging mechanics and a strong soundtrack contributes to a compelling replay experience.
- “Overall, I'm really happy with the game. The fact it's so arcadey and has so much stuff to unlock makes it practically unlimited in replayability for me. Pair that with the achievements and the different difficulty settings, and it turns a simple arcadey game into a very compelling one.”
- “The enormous amount of customization and gameplay tweaks make this a game with plenty of replay value, if not just to listen to the absolute banging soundtrack that conveniently lets you know exactly what song is playing.”
- “Tons of customizable old-school and futuristic cars provide endless replayability with its very addictive gameplay.”
- “Replay value gets a slight boost with the option to play your own music (if you own the DLC), but I believe this should have been part of the base game.”
- “Upgrades add replay value but are repetitive per car, and this is clearly a one-man show dev team... but for $3 this game is a steal!”
- “There's almost no replay value.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
18%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it funny and relaxing, often highlighting amusing glitches and quirky vehicle interactions. The retro graphics and humorous car customizations, such as the inclusion of a Tesla Cybertruck, add to the lighthearted experience. While some glitches can be annoying, they are often viewed as hilarious, contributing to the game's charm.
- “It's so funny and relaxing, in my opinion.”
- “There's a glitch that happens very rarely where if you rear-end a big truck fast enough (330), you go flying before you die and sometimes even end up surviving. Very funny, please don't patch!”
- “Car customization is very cool and kept simple, with a surprising amount to choose from, including some funny inclusions such as the Tesla Cybertruck and the JDM spooly boi. The NOS noises are great.”
- “It's not funny when they spawn 1 second away from the player.”
- “The jokes feel forced and fall flat, lacking any real wit.”
- “I expected humor, but instead, I got cringeworthy attempts at comedy.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" aimed at retrowave enthusiasts. While some appreciate the fair pricing and lack of intrusive microtransactions, others criticize it for being a repackaged asset with minimal original content. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to the typical monetization practices found in AAA titles, despite its perceived lack of depth.
- “No DLC purchases, no advertising, or other bells and whistles.”
- “All in all, this game would work splendidly as an arcade cabinet game, or as a mobile game (provided there are no microtransactions).”
- “This whole game is a cash grab for enthusiasts of the retrowave genre as I am.”
- “Retrowave game might be cheap, but it is nothing more than a cash grab.”
- “Rewindapp has shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, highlighting its nostalgic 80s aesthetic and engaging visuals, which evoke a sense of creativity and beauty. However, the gameplay is perceived as shallow and lacking depth, leading to feelings of discomfort and frustration, particularly due to the strict collision mechanics. Overall, while the game offers a unique emotional experience through its style, it falls short in delivering a compelling and immersive gameplay narrative.
- “This game made me feel like Ryan Gosling.”
- “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”
- “Retro-emotional cathode ray tube, but this is all of this game.”