This is a paid review, and LBR was provided a key by Corrtex Games to review Synthwave Racers.
Synthwave Racers is a cyberpunk and retro arcade-style racing indie from solo developer Corrtex Games. It features a campaign with four different worlds of courses to overcome, as well as online matches.
In Synthwave Racers, players will need to master courses, using a variety of power-ups to dodge obstacles in the campaign or attack opponents in multiplayer. Players can also earn new ways to customize their vehicle, and unlock different avatars.
Synthwave Racers launched last week on August 10th, 2023. It’s available now on PC. You can watch a gameplay trailer on the Corrtex Games YouTube channel:
To begin with, Synthwave Racers has some of the most unexpectedly fluid movement in the genre, let alone in the indie scene. The sensation of turning, drifting, and acceleration are, in my opinion, superior to some larger budget titles like Disney Speedstorm.
Similarly, the controls are both intuitive and responsive. This makes it easier to contend with the physics of challenging, escalating obstacles. Also, you’ll feel more satisfied when you overcome them with such considerable agency.
I’m skilled in the racing genre, and it took me around an hour and a half to complete the full campaign. While the majority is decently balanced, the first world is far too simple, and the final world has a steep difficulty hike.
Still, every single course is consistently inventive, both in the campaign and online. The obstacles are familiar, but they’re tweaked enough to intrigue, especially alongside the power-ups.
I cannot stress enough the creativity of the power-up integration. In addition to managing your speed and leading your turns, you’ll have to master gravity flips, slowing down time, and even flying.
In this way, Synthwave Racers succeeds as both a racing game and a platformer. The music is an instant hit and complements the visuals, which harken back to PlayStation racing classics. Also, the cosmetic customization has a decent selection, offering different vehicles, wheels, trails and more.
Synthwave Racers has plans to implement more features, and local multiplayer will be monumental. Online multiplayer is ambitious, and it’s where the game has hiccups.
It’s easy to get dropped, and there are more than a few bugs, though I got a good chuckle when my screen got stuck at an odd angle. It’d also be nice if there were defined tournaments, if it was clearer when you picked up a new item or not, and other assorted QOL nitpicks.
Final Thoughts
Synthwave Racers delivers on its premise with superb atmosphere, interesting courses, and buttery movement. It comes with many racing essentials, although the online feature isn’t so smooth. Overall, this is a dazzling, hidden gem that was clearly made with racing fans in mind.
Score: 8/10
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