Toybox Turbos

Toybox Turbos is one of the finest couch-based multiplayer packages in recent times; a well-realised love letter, both to the game’s Micro Machine-based heritage and the joy of playing games with friends.

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Toybox Turbos is a tabletop racing game with high-speed, multi-player action. Zoom around 18 obstacle-filled circuits, battling opponents with weapon power-ups. Enjoy retro-style graphics and charming toy vehicle designs in this fun and frenetic game.

Genres & Tags

Racing

Play Modes

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 407 reviews

graphics21 positive mentions

music4 negative mentions

Captures the nostalgic feel of classic Micro Machines games with fun gameplay and creative track designs.
Offers enjoyable local multiplayer for up to four players, making it a great party game.
The variety of vehicles and power-ups adds excitement and strategy to the races.

Single-player mode is short and lacks depth, with limited replayability once completed.
Online multiplayer is often empty, and the only mode available is elimination, which can become repetitive.
Technical issues, such as crashes and resolution problems, can hinder the gaming experience.

graphics
46 mentions
46 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute, colorful, and charming aesthetic, reminiscent of classic titles like Micro Machines. While many reviewers appreciate the polished visuals and smooth performance, some note limitations in graphical options and a desire for more advanced effects. Overall, the graphics effectively complement the gameplay, creating a fun and inviting atmosphere.
- “The visuals of this game give it a great feel and everything looks great.”
- “The game is charming you right from the start with its colorful and vivid graphics and the easy listening music.”
- “Graphics are spot on, handling is just right, difficulty has challenge without being too hard.”
- “Track design is as original as something derivative can be, though the camera angles make me want to throw up in my mouth almost as much as the budget PS1-era graphics.”
- “A.) pretty much no graphics options.”
- “The visuals are nice but you'll get tired of seeing the same scenery over and over again, especially when the design of them isn't exciting or challenging.”
gameplay
40 mentions
38 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is fast-paced and chaotic, reminiscent of classic micro machines games, offering a fun and addictive experience with unique race tracks and charming animations. While the mechanics are easy to grasp, some players noted issues with repetitiveness and occasional crashes, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these drawbacks, the game is highly recommended for couch multiplayer sessions and captures the nostalgic essence of its predecessors effectively.
- “A fun and frantic take on the old-school micro machines games; very much surpassing its spiritual inspirations in both gameplay and execution.”
- “The gameplay is simplistic yet fun, addictive, and fast-paced.”
- “Captures the micro machines gameplay better than any game in recent memory and is a blast on local co-op with three other people.”
- “There have been crash reports all over the forums for a long time, and Codemasters have moved on to a new Micro Machines game whose gameplay is much worse than the one in this game.”
- “I'd give a thumbs up for the gameplay if I could play more than 10 minutes in a row without crashing.”
- “Some of the levels are repetitive, and gameplay can be frustrating.”
music
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it catchy yet repetitive, while others describe it as mediocre and annoying. Although the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, many users note the limited variety of tracks, which can lead to a lack of engagement over time. Overall, while the music adds charm and fits the game's vibe, it may not appeal to everyone due to its repetitiveness and volume issues.
- “This is further complimented with the soundtrack of the game which always makes the atmosphere of the game good.”
- “But, this game has a funky soundtrack that will keep you grooving, and with local PC multiplayer, online of course.”
- “The game is charming you right from the start with its colorful and vivid graphics and the easy listening music.”
- “annoying & repetitive music”
- “Music on/off and sound on/off, that's it.”
- “It's nothing too exciting; there's really only about 3-5 music tracks to go around, so get used to that.”
humor
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, featuring funny wordplays, amusing graphics, and hysterical racing themes that enhance the overall experience. Players find it to be a fun and entertaining arcade racer, perfect for parties and casual play, often leading to laughter during gameplay. While some feel it may not be worth the full price, the humor and charm make it a delightful option for a lighthearted gaming session.
- “This is very funny and easy to learn.”
- “We spent a good couple of hours laughing away playing it on a rainy day.”
- “The racing tracks feature some funny themes and once the race starts everything gets instantly hysterical.”
stability
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players appreciate the solid performance in single-player and local multiplayer modes, some report bugs and lag, particularly in online play. The car handling and track design are praised, but users suggest waiting for a sale due to the game's length and occasional technical issues.
- “It's a modern Micro Machines; it runs great and plays very well.”
- “Codemasters know their stuff - car handling is spot on, tracks are varied and interesting, plenty of cars, balanced power-ups, and a nice bug-free release as far as single player and local multiplayer go.”
- “Game is a bit of a buggy mess.”
- “Pretty buggy.”
- “I also found online to be a little bit buggy and laggy, though this could have been my connection rather than a server side issue.”
story
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with some players noting that there is essentially no narrative to engage with. While the gameplay offers enjoyable moments reminiscent of playful scenes from "Toy Story," the overall experience is marred by a short story mode and limited mission variety. Additionally, issues with camera control during boss missions detract from the experience, leaving players wanting more substantial content.
- “I will keep on going on my quest for the true ignition heir!”
- “The best way I can explain it is like living a scene from Andy's bedroom in Toy Story where the toys are having fun while Andy's away.”
- “Story: there is no story, idiot”
- “- story mode short”
- “My only complaint is the game is short, as in not enough missions and such, as well as not enough cars, and we can't choose what game mode we want to do for multiplayer (like classic instead of constant elimination)”
optimization
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is strong in single-player mode, receiving a perfect score for stability, but struggles significantly in online multiplayer, with performance ratings as low as 3/10 due to inconsistent experiences among players. Overall, the game averages a score of 7/10, with potential for an 8/10 if multiplayer issues are resolved. Keyboard and mouse controls are also noted as suboptimal.
- “10/10, very stable single player performance.”
- “All in all: 7/10; 8/10 if you can get the online multiplayer to work and run smoothly.”
- “No stuttering at all.”
- “However, this game isn’t optimized for keyboard and mouse.”
- “3/10, performance varies for different people, but most agree it is not down to your computer or internet, and a patch for this issue is unlikely.”
- “Single player performance:”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability in single-player mode, but the inclusion of online leaderboards enhances the experience by encouraging players to compete for higher scores, particularly in multiplayer. While some players express concerns about potential cheating, the challenge of improving personal scores and competing with friends adds a layer of motivation to replay levels.
- “The presence of online leaderboards gives it some replayability; it's nice to replay a level to try to beat a friend.”
- “The multiplayer is where this excels, adding significant replayability compared to the single-player mode.”
- “The difficulty is challenging enough that I often found myself tantalizingly close to a higher place on the online leaderboards, which added extra life and replayability to the game.”
- “The multiplayer is where this excels; the single player doesn't have too much replayability for me.”
- “Low replayability (at least of the single player mode).”
- “The presence of online leaderboards gives it some replayability, although I suspect some people of cheating (or at least exploiting unintended shortcuts) given the scores that are displayed. It's still nice to replay a level to try to beat a friend.”
monetization
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is well-received, as players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and the need to earn in-game coins to unlock content. However, concerns about the game's visibility and multiplayer functionality suggest that better marketing and features could enhance its appeal.
- “The sense of progression is good; you have to earn in-game coins (fortunately, there aren't microtransactions) to unlock new rides, and for every championship, you have a boss to defeat in a duel.”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model that allows players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend real money.”
- “I appreciate that the game focuses on earning rewards through gameplay rather than relying on microtransactions, making it more enjoyable.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players note that while there is a progression system in the game, it is designed to minimize grinding. Unlocks are easily attainable through in-race coin collection, making the experience feel more fluid and less tedious compared to traditional grinding mechanics found in other games.
- “Yes, my review says 5 hours or something, but that's from farming cards.”
- “There's the usual kind of unlock-driven progression that you expect from modern racing games, but that is very much downplayed: you unlock by driving through coins in-race, so you can't ever run out; unlocks are cheap, so there's no 'grinding'.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a strong emotional response to the game, highlighting feelings of heartbreak and disappointment due to its failure to meet expectations, despite its potential. The comparison to other games suggests a longing for a more fulfilling emotional experience.
- “Definitely not games like Micro Machines World Series, that make me want to cry instead.”
- “I only ended up paying £2.99 for it, but it's heartbreaking to be this close to a great game and then for it to just... not work like this.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users noting that the soundtrack significantly enhances the overall experience, contributing to a captivating and immersive environment.
- “The soundtrack of the game beautifully complements the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
- “The attention to detail in the visuals creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps you enthralled.”