Critical Reception
Overview
Reviews of Star Wars: Galactic Racer were published on 2 October 2026, four days before the game releases on 6 October. Critics were broadly enthusiastic: 97% of critics recommend it on OpenCritic, and Metacritic counts no negative reviews on any of the three platforms. [1][2]
The figures on this page were recorded on 4 October 2026, two days after the embargo lifted. Aggregate scores move as later reviews are counted. [1][2]
Aggregate Scores
- Metacritic, PlayStation 5: 88, “Generally Favorable”, from 60 reviews
- Metacritic, Xbox Series X: 86, from 12 reviews
- Metacritic, PC: 84, from 16 reviews
- OpenCritic: 87, with 97% of critics recommending it, from 66 reviews
Most critics reviewed the PlayStation 5 version, which carries the headline Metascore. Of its 60 reviews Metacritic counts 56 positive, 2 mixed and none negative; the PC version has one mixed review and the Xbox version none. Player scores had not opened at the time of recording. [1][2]
Review Scores
Scores as Metacritic lists them, converted to a scale of 100:
- 100: VGC [3], Eurogamer [4], Giant Bomb [5], Radio Times [6], GamingTrend [7]
- 93: Vice [8]
- 90: PCGamesN [9], Insider Gaming [10], Press Start Australia [11]
- 85: Destructoid [12], DualShockers [13]
- 80: IGN [14], Screen Rant [15]
- 76: PC Gamer [16]
- 70: Respec [17], IGN Spain [18]
- 68: GameStar [19]
The three reviews Metacritic counts as mixed are Respec, IGN Spain and GameStar. [1]
What Critics Praised
Speed and handling. Destructoid wrote that the game “nails vehicle handling unlike any other game of this kind”, and Press Start Australia credited its “excellent handling” alongside “constant risk-reward choices”. [11][12]
The run-based structure. Fuse Games’ roguelite campaign drew the most comment. IGN described “an interesting roguelite-adjacent structure that injects a considerable degree of risk into the action”, and PC Gamer concluded that “the run-based structure of Galactic Racer is more successful than the open world of Burnout Paradise”. Destructoid suggested the combination of roguelite and racer “has probably created what seems to be the most replayable racing game to date”. [12][14][16]
Track design. Eurogamer singled out tracks that blend “tight underground corridors where cornering is a constant discussion with death” with wide-open outdoor sections. [4]
Overall. VGC’s verdict was that the game “absolutely nails what it is trying to do”, and IGN called it “an otherwise confident debut from developer Fuse Games”. [3][14]
Where Critics Disagreed
How many worlds there are. The most repeated criticism was repetition. IGN found the campaign “can grow unavoidably tedious over long stints because of its heavy reliance on repeatedly revisiting the same slim selection of planets”, and VGC, despite its perfect score, wrote “I’d have loved a few silly classic characters and another planet or two”. IGN Spain’s 70 cited a lack of track variety. Seven worlds are listed on the official site (Crait appeared on launch day, after the reviews were written); see Tracks. [3][14][18]
Frustration in longer runs. The run structure that critics praised also drew the main complaint about difficulty. Destructoid wrote that “the roguelite side can often lead to unnecessary frustration” and noted problems with visibility and balance; Press Start Australia found the story “drab” and “the longer runs can grow frustrating”. [11][12]
Split-screen. IGN called the lack of split-screen multiplayer “disappointing considering its roots run back to consoles regarded as the kings of same-couch chaos”. [14]
What the game leaves out. Respec, at 70, wanted “a few more back to basics game modes and a fully fleshed out Podracing section”. [17]
References
If information is missing, it has not yet been confirmed. Corrections are welcome.