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

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 816 reviews

graphics43 positive mentions

music8 negative mentions

Nostalgic throwback to classic Micro Machines gameplay with fun, colorful graphics.
Great local multiplayer experience, perfect for family and friends.
Creative track designs and a variety of vehicles enhance the racing experience.

Single player mode is short and lacks depth, with limited replayability.
Online multiplayer is often unplayable due to low player count and lag issues.
Camera controls can be frustrating, making it difficult to navigate tracks effectively.

graphics
93 mentions
46 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute, colorful, and cartoonish aesthetic, which enhances the overall charm and feel of the gameplay. While many reviewers appreciate the vibrant visuals and smooth performance, some express a desire for more advanced graphical options and variety in scenery. Overall, the graphics are considered suitable for the game's style, providing a nostalgic yet polished experience reminiscent of classic titles.
- “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: 10/10”
- “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
80 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 a variety of cars. While the mechanics are generally easy to grasp and enjoyable, some players noted issues with repetitiveness and occasional crashes, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game is highly recommended for couch multiplayer sessions and captures the charm of its inspirations effectively.
- “A fun and frantic take on the old-school micro machines games; very much surpassing its spiritual inspirations in both gameplay and execution.”
- “Between the sheer charm of the animations, gameplay, fantastic level design, barring some repetitiveness, Toybox Turbos is a must-have if you have any appreciation for isometric racing.”
- “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
39 mentions
18 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it catchy yet repetitive, often describing it as annoying due to its limited variety of tracks. While some appreciate the upbeat and funky nature of the soundtrack, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, especially when it drowns out other sounds. Overall, the music contributes to the game's atmosphere but may not appeal to everyone, as players have the option to turn it off.
- “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.”
- “The music is mediocre, but can be turned off.”
- “It's nothing too exciting; there's really only about 3-5 music tracks to go around, so get used to that.”
- “Which is a pretty big downside, because I'm the kind that likes to hear my own engine, and I can't hear anything over the loud (albeit kind of catchy) music.”
humor
30 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 create a lighthearted atmosphere. Players find it easy to learn and perfect for social gatherings, often leading to laughter during gameplay. While some feel the price may not reflect its value, the overall comedic experience is a highlight for many.
- “We spent a good couple 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.”
- “For $10, it's a fun little nostalgia trip with a few funny references tossed into the event names, a charming aesthetic and some great miniature cars you can paint up how you like.”
stability
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while single-player and local multiplayer modes are reported to be largely bug-free and well-optimized, online play experiences some lag and bugs. Players appreciate the solid car handling and varied tracks, but some describe the game as a "buggy mess," suggesting that it may not be fully polished. For casual play, it serves as a decent filler game, though some recommend waiting for a sale due to its short length.
- “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.”
- “It's a modern Micro Machines, runs great and plays very well.”
- “Game is a bit of a buggy mess.”
- “If you're looking for a 'filler' game to drop into every now and again which doesn't tax your mind or wind you up with bad controls and buggy gameplay, this is a decent shout - I'd advise getting it in the sale though as the length of the game doesn't really warrant the £12 price tag.”
- “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
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with some users noting that there is essentially "no story" to engage with. While players enjoy the gameplay and the nostalgic feel reminiscent of "Toy Story," they express disappointment over the short length of the story mode and the limited variety of missions and cars available. Overall, the narrative experience is seen as minimal and underdeveloped.
- “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.”
- “I will keep on going on my quest for the true ignition heir!”
- “My only complaint is the game is short, as in not enough missions and not enough cars.”
- “Story: there is no story, idiot”
- “- story mode short”
- “My only complaint is the game is short, as in not enough missions and not enough cars, and we can't choose what game mode we want to do for multiplayer (like classic instead of constant elimination)”
optimization
14 mentions
29 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is strong in single-player mode, receiving a perfect score of 10/10 for stability, while online multiplayer performance is significantly lacking, rated at just 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, though it is noted that the game is not well-optimized for keyboard and mouse controls.
- “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
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Replayability is primarily driven by the multiplayer mode and the presence of online leaderboards, which encourage players to compete for higher scores, although some users express concerns about potential cheating. However, the single-player mode is generally viewed as having low replayability, lacking the depth to keep players engaged over time. Overall, while multiplayer offers more replay value, the single-player experience may not sustain long-term interest.
- “The presence of online leaderboards gives it some replayability; it's nice to replay a level to try to beat a friend.”
- “The difficulty is not overboard like the old ones tended to be but still challenging enough. I often found myself tantalizingly close to a higher place on the online leaderboards, which added some extra life and replayability to the game.”
- “The multiplayer is where this excels, providing a lot of replayability compared to the single-player mode.”
- “Low replayability, at least in the single-player mode.”
- “The multiplayer is where this excels; the single-player doesn't have too much replayability for me.”
- “The presence of online leaderboards gives it some replayability, although I suspect some people are cheating or exploiting unintended shortcuts, given the scores displayed.”
monetization
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
17 % 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, the game's lack of advertising and multiplayer options has led to some frustration among users, impacting its overall visibility and player engagement.
- “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.”
- “First of all, the advertising for this game was nonexistent.”
- “This is my first game I bought on Steam and I loved it at the beginning, but there is no multiplayer. I've only found one game with two people and that was it. To top it off, I was disconnected from the match. Toybox Turbos could have done better if it had some more advertising and a more well-known demo.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players note that the game minimizes traditional grinding by allowing unlocks through in-race coin collection, making progression feel more fluid and accessible. The low cost of unlocks further reduces the need for extensive farming, resulting in a more enjoyable experience without the typical grind associated with modern racing 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
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a strong emotional response to the game, feeling disappointment and heartbreak over its failure to meet expectations despite its potential. The sentiment reflects a longing for a more fulfilling experience, contrasting it with other games that evoke deeper emotional connections.
- “It's heartbreaking to be this close to a great game and then for it to just... not work like this.”
- “Definitely not games like Micro Machines World Series, that make me want to cry instead.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % 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 atmosphere created by the game's design and sound is truly captivating.”
- “The combination of visuals and audio creates a rich atmosphere that draws you into the game world.”