Circuit Superstars

Please make more games, Original Fire. Show the rest of the genre how 'sim-meets-arcade' is done.

A brilliant first effort from Original Fire Games, then, and a racing game rather unlike anything else out there on the virtual shelves. This intoxicating, content-rich, and yet fascinatingly accessible racer is liable to get its hooks into gamers looking for something a little less knockabout. You may struggle to get the hang of things at first but we promise this little journey through racing history gives as good as it gets.

If you do any type of eSports racing or are a long time fan of racing in general, Circuit Superstars is worth a look.

A love letter to fans of old-school arcade racing with a decent amount of variety in handling across loads of vehicles

Leading the pack

Know what you’re getting into before deciding to tackle Circuit Superstars. It’s not a bad game at all, and it’s really fun at times, but it’s neither a retro arcade racer or a simple “pick up and play experience”. It might look like Micro Machines, but it lacks the simplified physics and overall zaniness from that series. As it stands, Circuit Superstars is a game that requires a bit more from your average arcade racing player, but once you get used to its gameplay, you’ll be greeted with a pretty fun and refreshing experience.

Most of all, though, Circuit Superstars feels and plays like a game made with love. Even the occasional one-dev indie title can feel a little lacking in this department, but with every turn you take, and every detail you notice, and every precious win, this here gives you something you can’t help but smile at.

Circuit Superstars is not a masterpiece but it is a game that has a certain charm. The car fleet is really remarkable, the driving system is surprisingly challenging, the graphic style is pleasant, the local multiplayer is hilarious: what is missing? A bit of variety.

Circuit Superstars is one of the best surprises I have played all year. It punches above its weight in almost every category. I simply had a blast every time I jumped in. There is also plenty of depth and content to make the minimal price of entry easy to recommend. If you enjoy racing games, especially competitive ones I cannot recommend this game enough. It is the true definition of an indie darling.

As it stands, Circuit Superstars is a really fun top-down racer that lands in a golden spot, halfway between pure arcade hilarity and a sim-like approach with fuel and tyre management to boot. The incredible amount of different cars and race styles is, however, is hampered by the limited amount of customization and gameplay changes players can introduce into their events, with the multiplayer in particular feeling surprisingly limited in scope.