Star Wars: Galactic Racer Aims to Rev Up the Racing Genre

Ever feel like racing games have been stuck in the same gear for decades? You're not alone. Star Wars: Galactic Racer is here to shift things into hyperspace. This new title from Fuse Games isn't just another podracer—it's a bold attempt to drag the genre out of its comfort zone by mashing up racing with roguelite and even a dash of Burnout.

While it may look like a spiritual successor to the beloved 1999 classic, Star Wars Episode 1: Pod Racer, Galactic Racer packs in a modern twist. According to Fuse Games CEO Matt Webster, the goal was to evolve racing games. "We've made a lot of racing games in the past, and we love racing," he told GameSpot. "This game came together because of a shared love of racing and Star Wars, but we needed to evolve. It's probably the last sort of major genre that hasn't really had a transformative stealing of different types from different genres into racing."

So, what's the secret sauce? It's a run-based structure, similar to roguelites, where every race is a new adventure with story and character at the forefront. "We wanted to make a racing adventure where story and character are very important," Webster explained. "But we've wrapped it up inside a runs-based structure. Runs-based games are designed for infinite replayability, and racing thrives on replayability." The result? A game that's easy to jump into for the arcade thrills but has layers of depth for those who want to dig in.

But what about multiplayer? Racing fans love to compete online, and a roguelite structure might seem tricky to translate. Fuse Games found a clever solution: betting. In Galactic Racer's multiplayer, you dive into the seedy underworld of Star Wars and wager on your performance. "Multiplayer is amazing in this game," Webster said. "We've compressed the run-based chase into about 25 to 30 minutes." There are two tour types: Speeder Tours with 12 players and Pod Racing Tours with 8. Both follow a six-event structure.

The first five events are all about building your ride. Your finishing position determines the rewards and parts you get, but here's the twist—you bet on where you'll finish. Feeling confident? Go all in and say you'll place top three. Nail it, and you get epic loot. Miss the mark, and you still get something, just not as shiny. "Or you might say top nine," Webster added. "If you achieve that, you get a decent part drop. So, every time, there's a decent opportunity for you to progress."

This system levels the playing field. Even if you're not the fastest, you can still claw your way to victory by building the best ship for the final showdown. The last event is where you put it all on the line, betting on who'll take the win. It's a fresh take that gives everyone a shot, not just the top racers.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Will you be picking this up? Let us know in the comments!