60
A successful attempt to reincarnate arcade races with everything. Perhaps more interesting circuits are missing, but in the whirl of racing, every fan of arcade titles will quickly forget about it. [Issue#309]
75
Racing down memory lane has never felt so good. With that being said, it’s unlikely you’ll stay there for too long as there isn’t too much to see. [Issue #2, p.60]
80
Even with these minor complaints, Hotshot Racing is an excellent example of nailing the 90’s arcade experience. Both in graphics, gameplay, and even sound.
3
Love the style and vibe. Unfortunately, that's it. NO d-pad controls! bad AI rubber banding. and 2 things that make it so I can't play it with my kids: 1) NO option to turn off the CPU racers in multiplayer 2) NO option to turn off checkpoints/countdown timer.
8
Very fun, i like the graphics, the drifting and play style, but the AI is bad, it does not matter if you are fast or slow, AI will ve as fast as you or as slow as you, and atthe finish line you just have to use turbo to be the first, so the AI is very predictable.
8
A very interesting throwback to a generation of games that have practically been forgotten about. There's no groundbreaking ideas or mountains of content here, just a solid arcade racer in a time where games like it are increasingly rare.
Hotshot Racing
Released On:
Sep 10, 2020
Metascore
Mixed or Average
74
User score
Mixed or Average
6.6
My Score
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
74
75% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
25% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sep 21, 2020
85
Hotshot Racing is a rare and precious work that hearkens to the spirit of 90s racing games without being bound by it. A great title for players of all ages and backgrounds, its modern and fresh driving system provides endless joy, challenge and enjoyment. And it has both local and online multiplayer!
Sep 19, 2020
80
Hotshot Racing is a title that fans of racing games will love. Its technical section may not be the most modern, but its good controls, its large number of unlockables and its gameplay make it an accessible proposal that is worth playing if you like the genre.
User score
Mixed or Average
6.6
49% Positive
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
26% Mixed
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
26% Negative
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
Aug 20, 2022
10
I got this game about a year ago, and played it a few times, and then got The Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. I played Need for Speed quite a bit, and didn't play this one for a long time. Recently, I came back to this game, and my review takes into account the NFS game (controls, content, etc) to compare HSR to that. When I first got this game, I definitely undervalued it. I played it a few times, and then forgot about it. It's only after playing NFS quite a bit, and coming back to it, that I've found I'm really appreciating it. Hot Shot Racing on the switch has fantastic controls; you can drift and change your trajectory while drifting. You can smash into objects and other cars, and feel the vibration in the controller (or handheld) when you do. You can race as multiple characters; and even win Grand Prix's when you do. You can earn rewards the better you race, as you get paid, and can use that "money" for suping up cars and characters in the game. Each character has their own back story, and when they win a Grand Prix, it shows how it affected their life (pretty cool concept - makes it much more engaging). Overall, I've actually found myself playing this game MORE than NFS - this actually shocked me, as NFS is definitely a good game as well, and very interesting and challenging. The graphics on Hotshot Racing are not as good as NFS, but that's about the only thing that it's lacking, and in my opinion, it's good enough for the game. I would definitely recommend this game, as it's become one of my favorites to play.
Sep 14, 2020
10
Fantastic arcade racing game. Reminds me of the classic Sega arcade games like Outrun, Daytona and Virtua racing. The action is fast and frantic. One of the best games this generation.
Sep 9, 2020
80
Hotshot Racing is a high-octane racing treat for the Switch. Whilst self-aware of its 90s inspirations, these never get in the way of providing a solid arcade racer – something any current console will benefit from.
Dec 21, 2020
75
Racing down memory lane has never felt so good. With that being said, it’s unlikely you’ll stay there for too long as there isn’t too much to see. [Issue #2, p.60]
Sep 17, 2020
75
If Hotshot Racing were just a little more balanced, it would’ve been something special, but as it stands, it feels more like a missed opportunity.
Sep 16, 2020
70
Hotshot Racing looks like a dream come true to those who lived the golden age of the arcade racing games of early '90, but shallow gameplay and bland track design are keeping it far away from those glorious milestones.
Apr 12, 2021
60
A successful attempt to reincarnate arcade races with everything. Perhaps more interesting circuits are missing, but in the whirl of racing, every fan of arcade titles will quickly forget about it. [Issue#309]
Jun 30, 2021
9
I don't understand the reviews placed here by the users. This is very nice arcade racing game and with some nice mechanics skidding the corners/turns where you'll gain more nitroboost by doing this correctly and gaining extra speed by driving behind (slipstream) the other racers. The steering is good, not perfect but solid. Also the performance on the Switch is very good with quick load times and the overall sound is nice with some icon polygon retro gfx from yesteryear and super cool announcer. You win races in 4 GP (3 difficulty modes) or play single-player/multiplayer with different modes like arcade, cops & robbers, ... and also some classic time trails. With the winnings you can buy cosmetic upgrades for your drivers and cars. For the price you can't go wrong!
Oct 2, 2023
7
Very good racing game gets a little borin when you complete all in extreme but couch-play is awsome for this game. Underrated game in my opinion
Nov 11, 2021
7
Solid fun here, a polygon racer that reminds me of a quick hitch. Good times in short and sweet bursts.
Feb 17, 2022
4
Rubberbanding-AI kills all the fun. The drifting takes some time to get used too and doesn't feel as rewarding as it should. Hard to enjoy. Really sad, because it has the potential to be a great game.
Mar 16, 2026
3
Love the style and vibe. Unfortunately, that's it. NO d-pad controls! bad AI rubber banding. and 2 things that make it so I can't play it with my kids: 1) NO option to turn off the CPU racers in multiplayer 2) NO option to turn off checkpoints/countdown timer.
Summary Hotshot Racing is a blisteringly fast arcade-style racing game fusing drift handling, razor-sharp retro visuals and an incredible sense of speed to create an exhilarating driving experience.
Rated Efor Everyone
Platforms:
- PC
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:Sep 10, 2020
Developer:
Publisher:
