Lanesplit Review – The Motorbike Dodging Game That Tests Your Nerves
Lanesplit is an arcade-style endless runner that puts players behind the handlebars of high-powered motorcycles. Developed and published by SNKRDUNK, the game challenges you to weave through dense traffic across realistic 3D environments to rack up high scores. It focuses on the pure adrenaline of lane-filtering at breakneck speeds while offering a variety of customisable bikes and riders.
Specs & HUD | Gameplay & Mechanics | Performance & Fidelity | Settings & Controls
Lanesplit Steam Review: Specs & HUD
- Download Size: 10.8GB.
- Steam Achievements: Supported.
- HUD Display: Your best score is permanently displayed in the corner alongside your current active score.
- Game Info: The in-game manual acts as the primary source for understanding scoring mechanics.
- Scoring System: Points are awarded based on your current speed and the speed of vehicles you overtake.
- Locations: Three 3D worlds, including Sendai Loop, Grimsel Spiral, and Atlantic City, each featuring unique multiplier bonuses.
- Content: 14 bikes to unlock via score milestones; 1 initial bike provided.
- Customisation: 6 rider avatars and paintable bikes with unique stats for Top Speed, Traction, Handling, and Braking.
Gameplay Review & Mechanics Breakdown
Lanesplit is a casual endless runner that looks the part but currently lacks any real meat on its bones. You pick a bike, pick a lane, and try not to die while the speed ramps up. The scoring loop is simple enough; you get rewarded for being a maniac and overtaking traffic at high velocity. Recovery is tied to how fast you were going when you messed up; if you are under 75mph, it is instant, but anything over that, and you are waiting around while the screen just blacks out because there are no crash animations to speak of. It is a bit of a letdown that the driving is literally all there is to do. Without power-ups or incentives to collect, it gets very plain very quickly.
The variety comes from the three locations and the weather toggles, but even with multiplayer support and online leaderboards, the replayability just isn’t there yet. I managed an hour in one sitting and then struggled to find a reason to boot it back up unless an update dropped. It feels like a foundation for something better, but right now, it is just a basic driving loop. The lack of a playable tutorial means you are diving into the deep end, and the fact that you cannot even pause the game in solo play is a massive oversight that makes no sense for a casual title.
Lanesplit Steam Review: Performance & Fidelity
- Graphics: Features decent 3D visuals with full 3D worlds and multiple lanes per location.
- Loading Times: Absolutely horrendous; initial location loads can take several minutes.
- Weather Effects: Options for both Dry and Wet conditions.
- Traffic Density: Adjustable settings ranging from Zen (no traffic) to Normal, Medium, and Heavy.
- Camera Views: Three selectable perspectives, including first-person and third-person views.
- Transmission: Toggle available for manual or automatic gearboxes.
Settings, Customisation & Control Details
- Controller Support: Functional, though it requires some manual tinkering with the setup first.
- Control Customisation: Full remapping support for both keyboard and controllers.
- Video Options: Includes Window Mode, Resolution, Resolution Scale, Upscaling (Method & Quality), AA (Method & Quality), V-Sync, Frame Rate Limit, Image Sharpness, and Gamma.
- Advanced Graphics: Settings for Global Illumination, Reflections, Shadows, Virtual Shadow Maps, Contact Shadows, View Distance, Textures, Volumetrics, Foliage, and Motion Blur.
- Accessibility: Colourblind support and a camera shake slider.
- Audio Control: Sliders for Effects, Music, UI, Bike Music, Engine Master, and Master Volume.
- Gameplay Toggles: Choice of Game Pad Icons and Speed Units (KPH/MPH).
- Steering Feel: The controls are noticeably loose; the rider sways during steering, which makes precision movement difficult.
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Lanesplit Review
Summary
GOOD STUFF
The game looks decent enough for what it is, and the 10.8GB footprint isn’t too taxing on the storage. You get a fair amount of control over the experience with deep graphics settings like global illumination and upscaling options, plus the ability to remap both your keyboard and controller. There are 14 bikes to work toward, each with different stats and paint jobs, and the three locations provide a nice change of scenery with their own score multipliers. Having the choice between manual and automatic gears and first-person views adds a bit of variety to the endless runner loop, and the developer seems committed to regular updates, which is a good sign for the future.
BAD STUFF
The loading times are a total joke, taking minutes just to get into a location, and once you are in, the loose controls make navigating traffic a chore because the rider sways all over the place. Crashing is a dull affair with the screen just cutting to black instead of showing any action, and the total lack of a pause button or tutorial makes it feel unfinished. There just isn’t enough to keep you coming back; once you’ve seen the three roads and dodged some cars, you’ve seen everything it has to offer. It lacks any real incentives or power-ups to spice up the gameplay, making it feel very plain after the first hour.
FINAL VERDICT
Lanesplit has the looks and the bikes, but the horrendous load times and shallow gameplay mean this runner stalls out way too early.
