Galactic Racer: A New Spin on Speed in the Star Wars Universe

So, if you’re thinking about Galactic Racer and calling it “Podracer,” you might want to think twice! The game’s developers are keen to clarify that their latest offering isn’t just a sequel to the nostalgic 1999 classic, Episode 1 Racer. Instead, it brings a fresh blend of racing styles within the Star Wars universe, featuring an array of iconic characters and tracks.

What’s really cool about Galactic Racer is that its campaign mode has more in common with Slay the Spire than recent racing titles. Forget card slinging; here, you’ll be strapping into rockets and zooming at speeds of 300 mph! Kieran Crimmins, the creative mind behind Fuse Games, shared at the Summer Game Fest, “We’ve been in the racing game scene for ages, but we wanted to introduce real consequences to our races. Your choices matter, your strategy matters, and even the style you choose can tip the scales!”

The journey starts at the bottom of an underground racing league. Before you get to hop into a podracer, you’ll be racing speeder bikes, landspeeders, and skim speeders. Each vehicle has its quirks, but they all pack a punch when it comes to speed—faster than most cars you’d find in typical racing games.

As you dive into the league, you’ll notice the game uses a structure reminiscent of Slay the Spire, where you choose your racing path through a series of different race types and courses. You might race during the day or night, and sometimes even in reverse! If you wipe out midway through a league, you’ll need to start over, but don’t worry—you’ll still collect rewards to spend on upgrades.

Crimmins added, “It’s kind of a roguelike setup, which adds depth. You need to build and race well to progress, making every decision critical. The environment impacts your vehicle’s performance, pushing you to strategize your race routes.”

I decided to jump into the game on the ace difficulty because I wanted that adrenaline rush of piloting a speedy machine through chaotic terrains. It was intense—I crashed out of my first league but got better with practice. With a landspeeder equipped with a shield, I was able to avoid catastrophic collisions, and by using it wisely, I could upgrade my defenses and even change my racing style for the next run.

However, one downside was the repetition after failing a league; you’ll find yourself going through the same courses multiple times before unlocking new ones. While this can be found in other racing games, it generally offers a bit more freedom to switch it up before hitting that gold medal.

“From a progression perspective, track knowledge is key,” Crimmins pointed out. “If you familiarize yourself with the tracks, you can navigate through without too much trouble, which keeps players motivated to explore new planets and advance the story.”

With a slew of racing titles on the horizon, from Forza Horizon 6 to Hot Wheels, Galactic Racer is the one that has piqued my interest the most. While we still have to see if the vehicle customization will feel impactful or if the narrative will deliver anything more than the usual racing cliches, there’s no denying that this game is mixing a ton of exciting elements. For now, I’m keeping an eye on some classic racing gems like Episode 1 Racer, which is still a blast!