OpenSWE1R

OpenSWE1R is an open source port of Star Wars Episode 1: Racer. This will make it possible to run the game on modern systems and will most likely also support new resolutions and such that the original game didn't. You will still need the original game files though. I have fond memories of playing this on my Dreamcast, so I believe it could be worth a try again.

Pixel Wheels

Another surprise discovery: Pixel Wheels. I really like top-down racers, and this one has a very sleek and polished presentation, several tracks and cars, bonuses to pick up, great handling and even a split-screen multiplayer mode. Highly recommended and more finished that the version number entails.

Yorg 0.10

The nice and very polished top-down racer Yorg just received a huge update. There is another finely crafted track bringing the totalt to 7, also bringing another song with it. The game has received a new rear-camera and a refined driving model. Further there are big improvements to network play and the GUI has been improved. If you haven't played this fun game yet you ought to give it a try!

YORG's new moon track, filled with alternative paths and many twists and turns.

Yorg - 0.7

A few posts ago I mentioned the excellent racing game Yorg. I also mentioned it would get many new features soon, and soon is now! The latest release, 0.7, brings with it the promised weapons and power-ups along with a new track, a new car and other smaller improvements. The game is really well done and is shaping up to be even better. Personally I can't wait for multiplayer, but even now the game is well worth trying.

A screenshot showing the new track in Yorg.

Yorg

A while ago I discovered a very interesting and rather unique FOSS game: a classic colorful arcade racer! Sure, SuperTuxKart is there and is great, and it's not alone. But Yorg, a reversive acronym for "Yorg’s an Open Racing Game", feels more like Micro Machines with it's top-down perspective, giving it a completely different gameplay style. The game currently has six cars and three tracks with AI players to race against. In the future power-ups, weapons and multiplayer will be added along with more cars and tracks. It all looks very well made; anyone looking for some arcady action racing should give this a try!

Starting a race in Yorg. Note the wonderfully twisted course on the mini-map in the corner. :)

Trigger Rally - 0.6.5

Fast-paced rally racer Trigger Rally has added two new events, 13 new single races and a road sign option for map creators in its 0.6.5 release. There are also a bunch of bugfixes and code improvements. This game is fun, fast and steadily getting better. Well worth a try!

Co-driver signs shows you which way to go in Trigger Rally.

Stunt Rally 2.6

Stunt Rally 2.6 was actually released almost a year ago, but I missed it for this blog. This excellent and impressive rally racer got a lot of new stuff in this release: five new tracks, two new cars, pacenotes (signs showing which way to turn), some improved sound and graphic details and a whole lot of more subtle gameplay improvements. It's fun and polished, and if your computer can handle it this game looks amazing with all settings on max - the twisting tracks are very impressive to behold. There is also an editor for those who want to try crafting their own tracks. Well worth a try!

Landscapes in Stunt Rally are sometimes breathtaking.

Extreme Tux Racer 0.7.3

High speed arctic racing game Extreme Tux Racer keeps improving. Version 0.7.3 is a bug-fix release, containing a fix for the "Wild West Chute Out" track, som corrections to in-game text and a few other things. This is an incredibly fun and highly polished game, well worth a try!

Sliding towards the finish in Extreme Tux Racer. These courses are often trickier than it seems.

Need for Speed 2 SE 1.1

Need for Speed 2 SE is a way to play the classic Need for Speed 2 on modern computers, with network multiplayer and 3D acceleration. It was recently updated to version 1.1. I can't seem to find a changelog, but it's dubbed the "second stable" release, so it should be fully playable. You'll need the original CD or data files, but simple instructions for how to install it all can be found here.

I never played NFS2 much, but the first one ran warm on my Sega Saturn. :)

SuperTuxKart 0.9.2

SuperTuxKart is another of my all-time favorite FOSS titles. This iconic kart-racer has now reached 0.9.2, and is more feature-filled and polished than ever! Lot's of tracks has been added or improved, race-recording and ghost-races have been added, a new font-systems makes it work well with more languages and AI has been greatly improved in battle mode. You can even play in teams together with AI in soccer-mode. LAN-play will take another release, but it is good to know the team wants it to work perfectly before releasing it. Either way, for single-player or local multiplayer gaming this release is a must-try and it can be found on the newly redesigned homepage here!

Some of these tracks has some amazing designs and very nice visuals.

Need For Speed II SE

Need For Speed II SE has apparantly got an open source release! Or rather a remake/rewrite. Either way, it is now playable on modern systems if you have the original data files. Complete with gamepad support, force feedback, 3D acceleration and networked play!

Graphics might be old by todays standard, but this is still fine arcade racing.

Rotorcross

Rotorcross represents a type of game I didn't even know existed: multirotor racing. It seems to have an impressive physics simulation, running at 285 frames per second! The multirotor can be customized in ways I have no idea how they work, but is probably very cool for enthusiasts. There are four levels and 6 timed courses to play and graphics look rather good.

This game moves fast, and you can really feel that looking at this screen. :)

Swervin' Mervin

More awesome discoveries! I love the game Outrun. And 16-bit pseudo 3D arcade racers in general. It's just something about that rush of speed. Someone else apparently felt the same, because Swervin' Mervin is such a game! It's as arcade-ish as it can get, which is further emphasized by the fact that the author runs it in an arcade cabinet. (See the image below.)

So cool! Seems you can get one of these if you contact the author.

Q3Rally 0.0.0.4

Q3Rally got a reboot recently, and now the first release since then is out! 0.0.0.4 may sound like a small version number, but then you'll have to remember that the game already had come a long way in it's earlier form. I can't seem to find a list of what's new, but one thing I know is that this new Camaro-model, seen below, is included. Appearantly it has 10 times the amount of verts the old models had, so if this is a sign of things to come, Q3Rally should have lots of nice, highly detailed cars in the near future. Enjoy!

The new Camaro-model, complete with street-lights shining. Notice the rear-view mirror at the top. Cool detail.

Trigger Rally 0.6.4

Trigger Rally, the fast-paced 3D rally simulation, reached 0.6.4 and added recording of best times, unlocking of tracks and cars, time penalty for off-road driving and a bunch of usability improvements and optimizations. I especially like the idea of unlocking - I have always enjoyed having to work to unlock new content in games. It keeps me motivated and rewards completing things. :)

Clear signs and codriver voice helps you navigate the twisting tracks.

Q3Rally

Most open source racing games seem to be realistic simulators. Or atleast on that side of the field. Q3Rally, on the other hand, is as arcade as it can get. It's described as both a driving game and a car combat game, and there appears to be a lot of cars and tracks to choose from - with more available on the project page. Q3Rally has been quiet for quite a long time, but seems to be getting a revival currently. Bookmark if you want to keep track of it - I did!

I found no full screen, so this cropped image will have to do. The car and shadows sure look nice though.

Speed Dreams 2.2.1

Great motorsport simulation Speed Dreams just added a 1 to the end of the recent 2.2.0 release. I can't seem to find any information on what is new, but the small increase in number suggests mainly fixes and smaller improvements. Either way, the game is really good so those interested can give it a try and perhaps find some surprise additions. :)

You can almost hear the sound of engines roaring.

Trigger Rally 0.6.3

Trigger Rally is a 3D rally racer with a nice physics engine foused on drifting. There are various type of surfaces to race on and several weather types to tackle. It all looks rather good and feels surprisingly complete; there is even spoken co-driver notes on most of the maps. Overall a well made game, and with over 100 courses it should last for a while. Well worth a try!

This screenshot is from an older version, but it gives you an idea of how it looks.

Speed Dreams 2.2.0

This is a release I have been waiting for: Speed Dreams 2.2.0! The release is so fresh the official page hasn't been updated yet, but release notes can be found here. Speed Dreams is an open motorsport sim, with very advanced physics, AI and high-quality assets. It's quite user-friendly and has lots of settings so even more arcade-oriented players like me can enjoy it. :)
This release improves physics and AI even more, adds and polishes lots of content and fixes several other things. And for me, there is even a dedicated Arcade mode! For the future, support for force feedback and Oculus Rift seems to be on the way.

This screen is from an old version. I found none from the new, and the game is still downloading. But you can image it looks like this but improved. :)

Extreme Tux Racer 0.7

Extreme Tux Racer reached version 0.7 a week ago! Among other things this release has a nicer GUI, high-resolution textures for the skybox, extra courses and performance improvements. Read about what's new here and get the game here!