Synthwave Dream '85

About

Synthwave Dream '85 is a single player and multiplayer racing game. It was developed by LoneDev and was released on July 8, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

"Synthwave Dream '85" is a retro-style racing game set in a vibrant synthwave world. The game features various cars, tracks, and customization options, allowing players to experience the thrill of high-speed racing while enjoying the ambiance of the '80s. With a smooth soundtrack and intuitive controls, players can compete in various modes, including time trials, single races, and tournaments.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+15

Skip User Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

music19 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features an awesome synthwave soundtrack that perfectly complements the retro aesthetic.
Gameplay is fun and easy to pick up, with a satisfying drifting mechanic that adds depth to the experience.
The visuals are impressive, capturing the essence of 80s retro style with vibrant colors and unique graphics.

Driving mechanics can be frustrating, with issues like unresponsive steering and poorly placed pickups that hinder gameplay.
The game is still in early access and has several bugs, including clipping issues and problems with the tutorial.
Customization options are limited, and some players feel the game lacks content and variety in cars and tracks.

music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
43%
8%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly for its synthwave soundtrack that evokes strong nostalgia for the 80s. Players appreciate the energetic and fitting tunes that enhance the gameplay experience, although some have noted occasional bugs that cause the music to stop unexpectedly. Overall, the combination of retro visuals and an engaging soundtrack makes it a standout feature for fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack is killer if you like synthwave and the visuals are pretty cool.”
- “The landscapes look absolutely cool and in connection with that awesome music, it perfectly brings back the spirit of the 80s.”
- “It's just an incredible soundtrack that hits all the nostalgia points for me.”
- “Could use more music or an option to add your own.”
- “There's a heavy emphasis on going high speed & listening to loud music, which I think misses the point of modern capabilities in its search to be a retroactively retro hit.”
- “I found a bug where the music just shuts off completely after one song finished.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their retro aesthetic, featuring a blend of 80s vector graphics and VHS-style effects that evoke nostalgia for classic arcade games. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals and atmospheric design, which complement the synthwave soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. While some users noted the option to tweak graphics settings, the overall consensus is that the game's visuals are a standout feature, enhancing the enjoyment of gameplay.
- “Excellent retro graphics with an amazing old school screen effect, just like you're standing in front of an old arcade machine, and that absolutely amazing, fantastic music.”
- “Beautiful and perfect, this game has the most amazing driving game graphics I have ever seen.”
- “The visuals are amazing and the music is good as always.”
- “First with the good stuff, there's proper 4K support and even a few graphics tweaking options (first thing anyone will want to do is disable the ugly CRT effect and scanlines).”
- “Everything from the graphics, rendered as a composite of VHS style and Battlezone-like graphics, to the awesome music soundtrack to the gameplay is guaranteed to have you playing for hours on end.”
- “Not sure if I would recommend at full price, but if this is your aesthetic, it's worth taking a look.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it addictive and praising its art direction and soundtrack, while others criticize the driving mechanics as subpar and the tutorial insufficient. Despite these issues, the overall experience can be enjoyable, particularly for fans of the synthwave genre. However, players seeking more depth in tracks and gameplay options may be disappointed.
- “Everything from the graphics, rendered as a composite of VHS style and Battlezone-like graphics, to the awesome music soundtrack to the gameplay is guaranteed to have you playing for hours on end.”
- “The culmination of fantastic art direction, a wicked soundtrack, and solid driving mechanics make this a must-own game for fans of the synthwave genre.”
- “- Really addicting gameplay”
- “I couldn't figure out how to drift, one of the two main mechanics of the game, and the 'tutorial' was barely that.”
- “It has an absolutely awesome soundtrack, but some of the worst driving mechanics of any racing game ever.”
- “One major issue I have with the gameplay is the tunnel.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a worthwhile investment, as it allows for additional hours of fun through earning cash to unlock cars and customization options, especially when purchased at a discounted price.
- “Grinding for cash to unlock the other cars and customization options feels tedious and repetitive.”
- “The grinding aspect of the game quickly becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- “While I enjoyed the game initially, the excessive grinding required to progress made it feel more like a job than a hobby.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the selected tracks perfectly complement the mood, while the graphics enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as immersive and engaging.
- “The tracks are wonderfully selected and fit the game's mood and atmosphere flawlessly.”
- “Really cool game, with nice graphics and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is great.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers infinite replayability thanks to its procedural generation, ensuring that each playthrough presents a unique experience.
- “The game has infinite replayability due to its procedurally generated content.”
- “Every playthrough feels unique, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes available.”
- “The variety of character builds and strategies keeps me coming back for more.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a lighthearted and entertaining way to pass the time, highlighting its humorous elements as a key aspect of the experience.
- “It's a funny time killer!”
- “The humor in this game had me laughing out loud!”
- “I love the witty dialogue and hilarious situations!”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits stability issues, including bugs and glitches in course generation, indicating a need for further polish. Despite these flaws, players still find enjoyment in the overall experience, particularly appreciating the music.
- “There are still some questionable choices, glitches in the course generation, and a general need for polish, but it is a game, and I had fun.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, allowing it to run smoothly at extended 4K resolution on an RTX 2060 graphics card, achieving 60 frames per second.
- “Very well optimized, running at extended 4K on my RTX 2060 PC at 60 FPS.”