Star Wars: Galactic Racer Review: Burnout-Style Space Racing That Keeps You Hooked

Star Wars: Galactic Racer brings high-octane, Burnout-inspired space racing with roguelike runs. Our review breaks down why it's the arcade racer you'll keep coming back to.

Ever dreamed of tearing through space at breakneck speeds, drifting around corners with zero brakes, and taking down an insufferably arrogant champion? Star Wars: Galactic Racer might just be your new obsession.

Developed by Fuse Games—a studio founded by five former Criterion developers behind Burnout and Need for Speed—this racer wears its legacy proudly. You pilot repulsorcraft like all-rounder landspeeders, nippy speeder bikes, and fluid skim speeders, all of which glide and bank with sublime slickness. Once you nail advanced drifting, brakes feel optional. It's more Mario Kart than Gran Turismo, and that's a compliment.

The tactile feel is standout. Before each race, you rapidly input cheat-code-like sequences within five seconds to prime afterburners, activate abilities, and start your engine. One Auto-Pilot input is literally the Konami code. On PS5, the DualSense trigger even resists like turning a car key—a nice touch even if you usually disable adaptive triggers.

At first, the speed is terrifying. You'll have butt-clenching moments narrowly surviving tight corners or going out in a spectacular slow-motion fireball. But as you learn tracks and push limits, you hit a flow state, using every underhanded trick to beat opponents. Success demands full focus, and that's not for everyone—but when you win, it's the most satisfying arcade racing I've played.

What kept me coming back is the roguelike risk-and-reward structure. The three-act campaign uses run-based tours where you pick branching paths every four events, moving to new planets with unique circuits and hazards. You must avoid losing your League Token or getting Wrecked (three crashes) to reach the final race. Lose, and the whole tour restarts. It sounds punishing, but it works brilliantly.

Events are quick and moreish. Eliminator races offer the best rewards—high Credits, two Upgrade points, and a quality Part—but fail to reach the top three and your tour ends instantly. Mystery Encounters ditch racing entirely for paddock drama: shady mechanics, gambling cuts, extortion, and childish rival Biddy Blas offering powerful parts. Each choice carries weight.

The campaign's villain, Kestar Bool, is a whinging, arrogant rich kid champion you'll love to hate. Your faceless protagonist Shade's first meeting with him is all the motivation you need. The road to challenging him is demanding and thrilling—exactly what big-budget racers have been missing.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches October 6, 2026, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. If you crave high-octane action with real stakes, this one delivers in bucketloads. Will you be picking it up?