Star Wars: Galactic Racer, the arcade racer from Fuse Games and publisher Secret Mode, launches on Tuesday, October 6, on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It arrives on the back of some of the strongest reviews any racing game has received this year, with an 87 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic and 97% of critics recommending it.

That matters beyond the score. Galactic Racer is the first dedicated Star Wars racing game in more than two decades, and it is the debut project of a studio founded in 2023 by former Criterion Games developers, the team best known for Burnout and several Need for Speed entries.

Speeder racing at high speed in Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Image: Secret Mode / Lucasfilm Games

Star Wars: Galactic Racer release date, platforms and price

According to the official Star Wars: Galactic Racer website, the game releases on October 6, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, where it is sold through both Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Advertisement View official GAMIVO offer

On Steam, the Standard Edition is listed at $59.99 and the Deluxe Edition at $79.99. The official site also lists Standard and Deluxe editions on physical media, plus a Collector's Edition that is only available physically. Console prices may vary by region and storefront.

How Star Wars: Galactic Racer plays

Instead of a traditional ladder of cups and championships, Fuse Games built Galactic Racer around runs. Each attempt is a high-stakes push through the Outer Rim racing scene, and the progress you earn carries into the next attempt. Reviewers have compared the structure to a roguelike, and it is the element most of them single out.

There are four classes of repulsorcraft: podracers, landspeeders, speeder bikes and the new skimspeeder. Each class has its own physics and handling, and vehicles can be customized. Races take place across several planets, including Tatooine, Jakku and Ando Prime, and the tracks are designed without a single ideal racing line, so routes and shortcuts matter.

A race on an alien planet in Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Podracers, landspeeders, speeder bikes and skimspeeders each handle differently. Image: Secret Mode / Lucasfilm Games

Campaign, arcade and online multiplayer

The story campaign follows Shade, a racer chasing revenge and glory while alliances shift around them. Alongside it, an arcade mode offers standalone events such as races and time trials for quick sessions.

Online, the game supports PvP races for up to 12 players. Fuse Games frames these as grudge matches: your reputation follows you from one race to the next, so rivalries build over a session. A ranking system for multiplayer has also been planned.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer reviews: what critics say

Review embargo lifted last week, and the reception has been excellent. At the time of writing, OpenCritic lists an 87 Top Critic Average from 66 critics, a Mighty rating and a 97% recommendation rate. On Metacritic, early reviews put the game at an 88.

Among major outlets, GameSpot and Push Square gave it 9/10, Game Informer 8.5/10 and IGN 8/10, while VGC and Eurogamer both awarded 5/5 and GamesRadar+ 4/5. Several reviews call it one of the best arcade racers in years.

The praise centers on three things: handling that rewards mastering each track, a progression loop that keeps pulling you into one more run, and how well the game captures the feel of Star Wars racing. The most common criticism is repetition, since the campaign revisits the same planets often. Even so, most critics consider the run-based structure a better fit than an open world would have been.

Vehicles competing on a track in Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Critics praise the handling and the run-based campaign. Image: Secret Mode / Lucasfilm Games

Is Star Wars: Galactic Racer worth it?

If you grew up with Episode I Racer, or you miss the speed and aggression of Burnout-style arcade racing, the early verdict is a clear yes. The combination of a licensed setting, a team with deep racing experience and near-universal praise is rare for the genre.

If you prefer realistic simulation or a large open world to explore, the run-based design may feel more restrictive, and the repeated locations are worth keeping in mind. In that case, waiting for player impressions after launch week is a reasonable plan.

Racer customization and speeders in Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Vehicles can be customized, and each class has its own physics. Image: Secret Mode / Lucasfilm Games

A crowded launch week

Galactic Racer shares its release date with Gears of War: E-Day, which has also reviewed well, in one of October's busiest weeks. If you are planning your month, our rundown of Xbox Game Pass games for October 2026 covers the other big arrivals. We will update this article if Fuse Games or Secret Mode share launch-week patches or new details on the multiplayer roadmap.