Rainy Day Racer

Rainy Day Racer is clearly putting forth its best-try homage to Ridge Racer Type 4 and, to a lesser extent, Rage Racer. While it's certainly not on the same level as those classics, it shockingly manages to look good while standing beside them. I struggle to think of stronger praise to heap upon any racing game, let alone a small solo-developed title like this.

Nails the ambience and vibe; it really speaks to me. Driving physics are fun and 30m has flown by as I try to beat my record. Recommended even at full price but I think I got this for under a pound.

"Job done..." Ridge racer made by a indie dev, though i wish there was AI to race against cause its only time attack..

Fun, minimal racer with atmospheric vibes in spades. Minimal in that this simply consists of doing solo time trials around 6 tracks (3 unique tracks plus a reversed version of each) in one of 3 vehicles. Minimal also in that there's no other cars or players (unless you count ghosts), and no signs of life in the deserted Scottish location this is set in. The misanthropist within me quietly appreciates this as it creates a wonderfully calm but eerie vibe that proves quite hypnotic as you tear around each track in appropriately rainy weather as the daylight shifts between night and day cycles. The road is entirely yours and it's simply up to you to zip though it as fast as you can to beat either the par times, your current best or any of those on the leaderboard of players if you feel like a challenge. Despite having only 6 tracks, there's a certain purity in the minimality (is that a word?) of it all. It's clean and straightforward and I really enjoy that. More tracks would be very welcome of course, but there's a distinct lack of distractions, quests, events etc - just you driving by yourself and that can be pleasantly absorbing in and of itself without any other stuff clamoring for your attention. The tracks are nicely realised and have a grounded sense of place, especially if you're used to driving around the UK - there's a familiar feeling to them. There's the sense that they could be real places and I was getting vibes reminiscent of both Metropolis Street Racer and Vanishing Point on the Dreamcast, with a healthy dose of Ridge Racer thrown in, thanks to the drifting. It uses a somewhat unique drifting model which kind of makes the cars feel like slot racers if you nail it. It works well most of the time, but can lead to some pinball-esque bumpering at other times and I'm still not sure the most reliable way to engage it. It's probably not going to vastly occupy your time like other massive racers but for the money, it's nice to have something so minimal, focused, atmospheric and uncluttered to dip into. In a world of games that like to yell at you all the time these days, it's welcome to just have an unimpressed Scot calmly tell me I'm being sloppy.

Loved this. As a longtime fan of the OG Ridge Racer I was able to step straight in and enjoy it immediately. Really fun and satisfying on rail old school drift mechanics married to an ultra cool minimalist aesthetic and nice atmospheric vibes.

cute little game, would rainy day race again