The Great Art Race

About

"The Great Art Race" is a game where the player's family art collection has been stolen and they must use profits from their coffee or tobacco plantations to save their ancestral heritage. The player must manage their colonial enterprise wisely and invest profits strategically to have a chance of recovering the stolen art. The game combines elements of business simulation and adventure to create a unique gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Engaging economic management gameplay with a unique art-collecting twist.
Offers hours of replayability with various strategies and outcomes.
Fun to play with friends in hot-seat multiplayer mode.

Lacks a tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand the mechanics.
Graphics and overall presentation feel outdated and primitive by modern standards.
Gameplay can become repetitive and slow, with long waiting times between actions.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The gameplay is a mix of time management and economic mechanics, offering a straightforward yet somewhat repetitive experience that can be enjoyable and rewarding. However, it suffers from unclear mechanics, a high learning curve, and bugs, which detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate its charm and simplicity, others feel that the focus on painting collection overshadows the core gameplay elements.
- “It's fun, proof games don't need shiny graphics, or complex mechanics to be enjoyable or replayable.”
- “The game offers very fun mechanics of economy and management.”
- “Somewhat repetitive gameplay but pretty dang fun and rewarding.”
- “But getting the paintings feels a great deal more like 'Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?' than the 4X mechanics of the rest of the game.”
- “Bad gameplay, bugs, and doesn't support modern hardware well.”
- “However, the result is an awkward exercise in indirect interactivity, unclear mechanics, high learning curve, and confusing objectives delivered through some odd uncle storyline and the random event where you get fleeced at poker.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The graphics of the game are generally considered primitive and underwhelming by modern standards, though they were acceptable at the time of release in 2009. Despite this, many players appreciate the colorful visuals and stylish presentation, noting that engaging gameplay can outweigh the lack of cutting-edge graphics. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they contribute to a pleasant audio-visual experience that complements the game's enjoyable premise.
- “I was pleasantly surprised about this rejuvenated version, its neat graphics, the nicely executed intro, and the stylish background music (one for each city you can travel to).”
- “The music for the cities is catchy, and the colorful graphics and sound effects make it a pleasant audio and visual experience.”
- “It's fun, proof games don't need shiny graphics, or complex mechanics to be enjoyable or replayable.”
- “The graphics are thus quite primitive by today's standards, but were very passable by the standards of yesteryear.”
- “For a game that was released in 2009, the graphics are very underwhelming.”
- “The graphics and presentation are not impressive at all, to say the least.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its numerous variables that create unique experiences with each playthrough. However, some players feel that the lack of variety may lead to a decline in interest over time, suggesting that while it can be enjoyable initially, it may not sustain long-term engagement.
- “There's tons of hours of replayability here, and there are many variables that can happen in the game, making it different every time you play.”
- “It's fun, proof that games don't need shiny graphics or complex mechanics to be enjoyable or replayable.”
- “Lots of replay value too!”
- “It is somewhat replayable, but I can see this one getting old very quickly because of the lack of variety.”
- “It is fun for about two hours or so, keeping in mind there won't be very much of a replay value.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's story is criticized for being awkward and confusing, featuring an unclear narrative that includes an odd uncle character and random events like poker games. While it incorporates elements typical of classic 4x games, the storytelling is overshadowed by a high learning curve and convoluted mechanics, detracting from the overall experience.
- “However, the result is an awkward exercise in indirect interactivity, unclear mechanics, a high learning curve, and confusing objectives delivered through some odd uncle storyline and the random event where you get fleeced at poker.”
- “The story events feel disconnected and lack depth, making it hard to engage with the narrative or care about the characters involved.”
- “The overarching plot is convoluted and fails to provide a satisfying context for the gameplay, leaving players feeling lost and uninvested.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the rejuvenated version is praised for its catchy city-specific tracks, enhancing the overall experience alongside the neat graphics and sound effects. Reviewers appreciate the stylish background music and its contribution to a vibrant audio-visual atmosphere.
- “I was pleasantly surprised by this rejuvenated version, its neat graphics, the nicely executed intro, and the stylish background music (one for each city you can travel to).”
- “The music for the cities is catchy, and the colorful graphics and sound effects make it a pleasant audio and visual experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find that the grinding aspect of the game is best enjoyed in short sessions, as extended play can lead to a repetitive and tedious experience.
- “It's meant to be played in short bursts; otherwise, it easily becomes repetitive and tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and lacks variety, making it a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- “After a while, the grind turns into a monotonous task that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated for being light-hearted and entertaining, making it accessible and enjoyable without being overly complex.
- “Nice little game, probably old but funny and not too complicated.”