Review
Neon Circuit Rush
A colorful arcade racer with blistering speed, creative tracks and a fun split-screen mode for friends and family.
8.2/10
Overall
- Gameplay 8.8
- Story 6.2
- Visuals 9.0
- Sound 8.6
The good
- Thrilling sense of speed
- Creative, colorful tracks
- Excellent split-screen multiplayer
The bad
- Thin career mode
Verdict
Neon Circuit Rush is pure, joyful speed. It lacks the depth of a simulation, but for couch multiplayer and quick thrills, it is a blast.
Remember when racing games were simply about going impossibly fast and laughing with friends on the couch? Neon Circuit Rush remembers. The new arcade racer from Seattle developer Velocity Forge strips away tuning menus and realistic physics in favor of drifting through glowing cities at speeds that make your palms sweat.
There are 36 tracks spread across six themed worlds, from a rain-slicked futuristic Tokyo-inspired metropolis to a desert canyon lined with giant holograms. Every track includes shortcuts, ramps and boost lanes that reward exploration and repeated runs.
Speed That Feels Incredible
The sense of speed is outstanding. At full boost, the screen blurs, the music swells and the road seems to bend around you. Drifting builds a boost meter, so skilled players learn to string together long, stylish slides through every corner. The controls are easy to learn but leave room for mastery.
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“We designed every track to make you yell out loud at least once,” says game director Jasmine Torres. “Whether that is from a huge jump or a last-second overtake, we wanted racing to feel emotional again.”
Best With Friends
Split-screen multiplayer for up to four players runs smoothly and is easily the highlight. Family game nights quickly turned competitive in our testing, with assist options helping younger players keep up. Online races support up to 12 players and include weekly challenges with cosmetic rewards.
The single-player career mode is the weak spot. It offers a loose story about an underground racing league, but the characters are thin and the progression becomes repetitive after a few hours. Unlocking new cars can feel slow without the multiplayer rewards.
Customization adds personality without complexity. Players can unlock dozens of vehicles, paint them in neon color schemes and add decals, underglow lights and custom horns. Upgrades mostly affect looks rather than performance, keeping races balanced and fair. A photo mode lets you freeze dramatic moments mid-jump, and many of our testers spent nearly as much time capturing screenshots as racing.
The visuals are bright and bold, with dazzling lighting effects, while the synthwave soundtrack perfectly fits the mood. Neon Circuit Rush is available for $39.99 on PC and consoles. If you are looking for a deep simulation, it is not for you. If you want pure, joyful speed, buckle up.
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