Rims Racing

While RiMS Racing has an enjoyable core racing mode, the addition of motorcycle maintenance and plenty of technical issues on PS5 prove a dealbreaker. If you’re looking for a realistic racing game that is still enjoyable, look elsewhere.

RiMS Racing is a super complex motorcycle sim that provides players with a ton of depth in terms of tinkering, tuning and customising. However, once on the track, this Switch port is let down badly by performance issues that make it a frustrating, messy experience. There's definitely a market for this type of in-depth motorbike action on Nintendo's console but, in this state, it's very hard to recommend diving into this particular offering.

RiMS Racing is a decent first attempt into the racing simulation genre by Raceward Studios, with good racing, a detailed career mode and attention to detail on the bikes higher than any other game in history. On the track, it's rare to find a game that gives you the feel of a bike as good as this. However, with this attention to detail comes an inherent need to feature accessibility, which the game lacks with a terrible tutorial, and a need to balance and reduce the indulgence. The biggest culprit of indulgence comes with bike customisation, which - while valuable for those who want to know about bike parts - acts as a barrier to fun and the playing of the game. This is one I recommend to fans of bikes and racing sims, just go into it warned that there are things that could get in the way of your fun.

RiMS Racing is the most immersive motorcycle gaming experience to date, with the DualSense pushing this even further.

RiMS Racing is an absolutely unique affair, which will suit especially fans of racing simulators, who are not afraid of new challenges. Realistic physics combining repair and tuning of your machine has succeeded to the first place, and if it weren't for a few unnecessary fouls, I could describe RiMS Racing as a really great game. However, the aforementioned flaws bring the title to its knees, especially the AI and the ever-repetitive circuits. If you happen to be a newcomer to the genre and would like to get RiMS Racing, prepare yourself for long hours of nerves and the fact that the game won't give you anything for free. It makes every success you achieve all the more delicious. For me, seven out of ten.

Oh, the challenges of being a racing fan on the Switch...

MEDIOCRE - While it’s the most ambitious motorcycle racing game that I have played, the limitations of the Switch and its controllers will make this a frustrating experience for many gamers. Unless you have no other choice of console and figure you can put up with the lower framerates, scaled back graphics, and difficult control because you absolutely love the sport then, by all means, give it a try because the craftsmanship of RiMS could be well worth it for you.

The graphical downgrade on the Switch casts a pale shadow on what is otherwise a solid yet difficult game with occasional obtuse vehicle handling. If you are a bike-racing enthusiast and don't mind a challenge in its single race, career or online play modes, this game is for you. Casual bikers (myself included) need not apply.

This isn't just about choosing bikes and winning races, but about managing a plethora of parameters and variables with regards to the mechanical aspects of the motorbike in a way that is certain to catch the hearts of motorcycling fans, while also pushing away those looking for something simpler. The only downside to this Nintendo Switch version is its visibly dated looks, which stand out in a negative way.

Rims Racing is a game intended primarily for motorcycle and mechanical enthusiasts, ready to spend hours on the track or in the workshop. The title stands out from the competition thanks to features that we would like to see more often in other productions of the genre. Unfortunately, light content, a fragile technical part and especially a failed AI tarnish the game experience.