Steel Racer Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published June 20, 2023 · Updated June 19, 2023

For our Steel Racer Review, we play a 2D pixelated old-school racing game, inspired by classics from the 80s and 90s era, featuring great chiptune music, arcade gameplay style, and high-speed cars! Are you ready to become the “Steel Racer”!?

Steel Racer Review Pros:

Modern pixel art graphics.
29.44MB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – visual effects, window mode, weather effects, and v – sync.
Racing gameplay.
Three difficulties – Easy, normal, and hard.
Traction assists – full, low, and none.
Supports MPH or KPH metrics.
You can play with a keyboard.
3 save slots.
World map level select.
The game timer shows in the corner.
In between racing, you have a platformer hub where you choose a level to play.
Pick up power-ups in the race from cash to nitrous bottles to instant speed boosts.
Opponents’ position show above their car.
You can replay levels.
Buy new paint schemes and change the color of your car in the hub by jumping up to the can.
Solid driving controls.
Has an OutRun rolling road feel and look.

Steel Racer Review Cons:

A repetitive little bit of song on a loop within the menus and the hub.
Cannot rebind controls for either the controller or the keyboard.
No online leaderboards or multiplayer.
Doesn’t have any tutorial or help.

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Steel Racer:

Official website.

Developer: lightUP

Publisher: lightUP

Store Links –

Steam

7/10
Graphics - 7/10
7/10
Sound - 7/10
7/10
Accessibility - 7/10
7/10
Length - 7/10
7/10
Fun Factor - 7/10

7/10

Summary

Steel Racer is a love letter to racing games of the past. It has the look of OutRun and the control scheme of the old racers. The goal here is to jump into one of the fifty races and win the race, as you drive around you can pick up nitro charges, boosts, and cash to buy new upgrades and paint jobs for your car. Changing your car color is cool as the paint pots are lined up in the garage and you just jump and touch the paint to change the car color. Back to the gameplay and depending on your traction settings depend on how much you Drift and turn the corners but either way, it’s surprisingly satisfying. Hitting opponents slow you down but not as much as other games like to, there are day, night, and other weather effects to race in, and generally, it always plays well. The game is very repetitive but somehow relaxing with its accessible and simple path to progress. I was never wowed but I never stopped playing either so that says a lot. You can replay races and build up cash as the later upgrades do get a bit grundy but honestly, it’s harmless. Overall I found Steel Racers to be a good love letter to older racing games and despite its repetition, it’s a very chilled-out addictive racer.