When it comes to Star Wars video games, 2025 was a bit of a let-down. Aside from the PC launch of Star Wars Hunters (a competitive 4v4 battle arena game which has since shut down) and the re-release of Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, there was a noticeable lack of new titles that whisked players to a galaxy far, far away.
Thankfully, that’s changing this year. Alongside the highly anticipated, tactics-focused Star Wars Zero Company, developer Fuse Games is taking on the task of reviving the franchise’s unique take on high-speed thrills with Star Wars Galactic Racer. I had the chance to go hands-on with an early build at Summer Game Fest a few weeks back, and after a couple of races, I was hooked.
I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t kept up to date with the franchise since being completely turned off of it with Episode IX, but Galactic Racer’s story is easy enough to follow along. Taking place long after the events of Return of the Jedi, you play as a mysterious racer named Shade, who teams up with Galactic League owner Darius Pax, in an effort to keep the racing league from falling under the control of rival racer Kester Bool. Admittedly, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the overarching story; Pax, of course, wants to keep control of the league that he created, but Shade also has his own grudge against Bool that has yet to be fully revealed.
Still, even with parts of the story under wraps for the time being, it was easy enough to slip into the pilot’s seat. There are a handful of vehicle types to pick from, with each having its own mix of strengths and weaknesses. Landspeeders are the most straightforward, offering up a balance between speed and control, while speeder bikes trade tight handling for excellent acceleration. New to the universe are skim speeders, which bank wide and can rotate on their side when drifting; a move referred to as ‘Knife Edge.’ And, of course, podracers are still present and accounted for, though these insanely fast vehicles are in a class all of their own, and cannot be raced alongside other repulsorcraft.
I spent the majority of my hands-on time with the game’s single-player campaign, where I grinded out my attempts to successfully win a league, which functions similarly to a sports season. Leagues comprise a series of different events; some might be straightforward races, or you might find yourself in an Eliminator Race, where the last placed player is regularly cut, and you need to stay ahead of the pack and place amongst the top 3. Sprinkled throughout are Field Tests, where you pilot a borrowed vehicle (usually outfitted with experimental parts) and try and meet a specific goal to secure rewards.
For instance, during my playthrough, I came across one Field Test that tasked me with using my Ramjet (a risky, but powerful boost) for a set amount of distance within one lap of a racetrack. Finishing these events nets you credits and other upgrades, which you can use to bolster your vehicle and give you a better chance at making it through an entire league. Of course, things aren’t always so straightforward; most league events require you to spend a League Entry Token, and if you’re eliminated, you’ll lose that token forever. If you find yourself without any League Entry Tokens, your run is over, and you’ll need to start all over again.
That might sound stressful, and to be fair, it can be, but the moment-to-moment racing is so much fun that you probably won’t care in the long run. It’s a genuine joy to handle vehicles, regardless of which vehicle class you choose, and balancing your vehicle’s health, Ramjet and Afterburner boosts, and learning the ins and outs of each track make for a thrilling time. It’s also nice to see that Fuse Games has packed Galactic Racer with so many tiny details that feel true to the franchise. For instance, as you start up each race, there’s a small minigame where you need to press a few buttons in the right order to enable your vehicle’s shield and abilities. Throughout the game’s campaign, you’ll race on plenty of familiar planets, including Lantaana and Jakku. And of course, you’ll run into a few familiar faces as well, including Sebulba and Ben Quadinaros.
We’ve only scratched the surface of what Star Wars Galactic Racer has to offer, but we’re chomping at the bit to dig into the full game when it releases later this year on October 6, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PCs.
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