With its cute and colourful visuals, Victory Heat Rally draws you in before surprising you with its somewhat challenging gameplay. This is a game that requires you to drift like a pro to achieve success, and while it's easy to pick up it's hard to master. As long as you're on board with that, you'll have a great time.

Victory Heat Rally transports me back to a time when whimsical games resonated deeply with me, reminding me of the joy and excitement that racing games can bring. It is a straightforward arcade racer that embraces its eccentricity and enjoyment, making it accessible to a wide range of players. Many developers strive to capture this genre, yet few truly comprehend what makes it enjoyable. It does not need to be laden with content or challenges; at times, I simply wish to disengage and accelerate, enjoying the thrill of the race without the pressure of complex mechanics. Victory Heat Rally accomplishes this on multiple levels, and for those who appreciate arcade racing games, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try. It stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of racing games that prioritize fun and creativity over excessive complexity.

The result is fun enough while it lasts, but is never wildly exciting enough to ensure you'll come back to it time and time again after the Championship mode is completed. Given the age of the Switch, there are now many racing games, including several with some sort of retro-inspired art style, all fighting for players' attention, and while Victory Heat Rally does a good job of positioning itself in the front half of the pack, it lacks that extra boost to push it into contention for a podium place.