Game: Old School Rally
Genre: Sports
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows) and PlayStation)
Developer|Publisher: Frozen Lake Games | Astrolabe Games
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: US $19.99 | UK 19.99 | EU € 19,99
Release Date: December 4th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to Astrolabe Games.
Old School Rally – A Return to Retro Roads
Old School Rally really is exactly what it says on the box. This is a throwback to the PlayStation 1 era of rally games, the kind I grew up on. I still remember playing V – Rally and loving it, even though I’ve never been particularly into real-life motorsport. Games back then had a certain bite to them, and this one captures that feeling surprisingly well.
What makes it even more impressive is that it’s made by a solo developer. That’s a huge achievement considering how polished, responsive, and lovingly assembled this game is. In a racing genre that has drifted toward hyper-realistic simulators or glossy open-world giants, Old School Rally feels refreshingly grounded, a simple idea, executed well, without all the fiddly tuning menus and overcomplicated systems.
But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. If you’ve never been into rally games, this won’t magically convert you. It’s old-school by design, and it fully leans into that identity.
Modes and Structure
The game keeps things straightforward. You’ve got a handful of modes that should feel instantly familiar:
- Time Trials – Race solo, set your best time, try to beat it again. Old-fashioned and addictive.
- Versus – Split-screen local multiplayer or race against a single AI opponent. A small nitpick: the AI doesn’t have difficulty settings, which feels like a missed opportunity.
- Rally Tour – The main mode, and where most players will spend their time.
Rally Tour is a series of several cups, each containing four races. You must hit a qualifying time in each stage to progress to the next. Complete a cup, and you unlock a new car plus some money. The money lets you purchase additional vehicles, including some cool retro surprises.
Not Mario Kart, Not Even Close
If you go into this expecting Mario Kart handling, you’re going to fly straight off the track and into a tree before the first corner. This is rally driving, not realistic-sim-level, but definitely leaning toward the more technical side. Braking matters. Positioning matters. Listening to your co-driver matters. That little voice that shouts things like “easy right,” “hard left,” and the dreaded “hairpin” becomes essential to staying on the road.
If you’re new to this style of game, you’ll probably spin out a lot at first. But honestly, that’s part of the fun. There’s a real sense of learning the tracks, mastering the handling, and getting a feel for each car.
The cars aren’t based on real ones, but you can definitely tell what inspired them. They each have unique stats for acceleration, braking, and handling. Nothing complicated, just enough to make them feel distinct.
One thing I do wish the game had is a small tutorial or at least a quick “how rally works” lesson. As much as I enjoy the retro approach, modern players may find the complete lack of guidance a bit rough. It’s very much trial and error, just like the old days.
The Retro Mood
The environments are varied and fun to race through: snowy landscapes, dusty gravel roads, tarmac stages, and lots of little touches that echo classic rally games from the late ’90s. The low-poly aesthetic is spot-on, as if someone preserved that whole era inside a time capsule and cracked it open for the Switch.
Cars get visibly dirty and slightly dented as you race, which is such a satisfying touch. There’s even a music player in the menu where you can listen to the soundtrack whenever you like; tiny features like that always win me over.
Performance on Switch is excellent, and the game really does feel at home on the handheld. It loads quickly and looks awesome, down to the static people behind the barriers cheering you on.
Conclusion: Easy Recommendation
Old School Rally is a brilliant throwback made with genuine affection for the classics. It doesn’t modernise the formula much, and that’s both its biggest strength and its biggest limitation. If you want a simple, skill-first rally racer straight out of the PS1 era, this absolutely delivers. If you were never into these sorts of games, this won’t be the one to change your mind.
But for me? It’s a nostalgic blast that drives well, looks great in its retro way, and reminds me why I enjoyed these games in the first place. There’s even a free demo, so if you’re unsure, definitely strap in and give it a try.
Final verdict: I Like it a Lot.
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