Star Wars: Galactic Racer hands

From the very first Star Wars film in 1977, the franchise has celebrated high‑velocity transport, with spacecraft like the Millennium Falcon famed for its legendary Kessel Run. Yet the series’ terrestrial machines—speeders, speeder bikes, and podracers—often outshine the stars, slicing through forests and canyons at blistering, sometimes lethal, speeds.

Galactic Racer extends that legacy by placing players at the helm of land‑speeding vehicles—landspeeders, speeder bikes, and podracers—offering a visceral rush that mirrors the on‑screen spectacle. After a one‑hour session at Summer Game Fest, I left the demo buzzing with anticipation for a title that deepens the Star Wars lore while delivering pure velocity.

Set in the aftermath of the Empire’s collapse, Galactic Racer transports players to the Outer Rim, a law‑less frontier that has given birth to the clandestine Galactic League racing circuit. Players assume the role of Shade, a helmeted human recruited by league founder Darius Pax to topple the reigning champion. Shade’s past entanglement with the champion, Kestar Bool, fuels a personal vendetta that intertwines with a craving for speed and the promise of credits. The narrative offers a broader view of the galaxy, extending beyond the conventional good‑vs‑evil dichotomy.

The Summer Game Fest demo primarily showcased the campaign, with the sample I experienced concentrating on the more dependable speeders rather than the precarious podracers—though the latter are also present. Speeders are categorized into three distinct classes: the car‑like landspeeders, the nimble yet fragile speeder bikes, and the sleek skim speeders. Each class boasts unique strengths, weaknesses, and specialized abilities that can tip the scales in a race.

Landspeeders stand out with their larger, sturdier frames, allowing them to absorb more punishment when colliding with walls or rival racers. Their design also grants a drift capability that keeps your racing line smooth and efficient.

Speeder bikes, while quicker than landspeeders, are more fragile and prone to crashes. They feature a Kinetic Burst—a brief surge of speed that helps you reorient your bike for sharp corners.

Skim speeders resemble sleek starships and offer the greatest agility among the three classes. Their Knife Edge feature lets you flip onto their sides, enabling tighter turns and a more graceful navigation of the track.

Every speeder comes equipped with an Afterburner, activated by pressing X, to deliver a quick burst that can overtake opponents or extend a lead. The powerful Ramjet, triggered by holding R3, sustains a prolonged speed boost, though it gradually heats up, adding a strategic layer to its use.

If the speeder’s temperature climbs beyond safe limits, it risks a fiery detonation, while firing the Ramjet prematurely forces a complete recharge before it can be used again.

Players can unlock a suite of special abilities—ranging from protective shields to offensive weapons—that are activated with a single L1 press, allowing for dynamic customization on the track.

The races unfold across iconic Star Wars worlds, each infusing its own flavor into the competition. On Jakku, you navigate the wreckage of fallen Imperial vessels, whereas Lantaana’s circuits weave through lush jungles and erupting volcanoes.

The campaign adopts a roguelite framework: you progress through planets in a set sequence, but the events encountered on each world are shuffled each playthrough. At the outset, you choose from three distinct “paths,” each previewing the types of challenges that lie ahead.

The game offers a variety of event formats: conventional races, Field Tests demanding time‑based performance with fresh vehicles, Eliminators that progressively eliminate the lowest‑placing racers until only the leaders remain, and Mystery Encounters that can range from a simple race to a narrative dialogue. This unpredictability keeps players feeling like fledgling racers constantly testing their limits.

To stay competitive, you must continually sharpen your racing prowess and reinforce your speeder with each attempt. The game rewards you with upgrades that enhance your vehicle’s performance, some of which carry over across runs.

The tracks I tested were genuinely challenging, littered with canyon walls and scattered debris that demand split‑second reactions; a single wreck can be catastrophic, and too many crashes will eject you from the circuit, compelling a full restart. Yet, for the crafty player, there’s an opportunity to spectacularly eliminate rivals by luring them into walls or hazards, lending the game a Burnout‑Takedown vibe.

Podracers in the game exude blistering speed, yet they sacrifice stability; even minor collisions can wreck them. Consequently, piloting Sebulba—whose vehicle unleashes fire blasts at opponents with an L1 press—offers a thrilling yet demanding experience. While his racer boasts exceptional velocity and agility, mastering speed control and executing precise turns is essential to dodge the jagged canyon walls of Tatooine.