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When you hear the name iRacing, you think hardcore simulation, force feedback wheels, and people who take their motorsport very seriously. So iRacing Arcade is a genuine surprise.
It is bright, cartoonish, and built for fun rather than lap time obsession, made by Original Fire Games, the studio behind Circuit Superstars, now part of the iRacing family.
I have been racing around in it, and it turned out to be exactly the kind of low stress game I did not know I wanted.
| The short version: iRacing Arcade is a fun, all ages arcade racer that is a good way to unwind. The racing is addictive, the cars have real weight, and there is zero pressure to grind. It just starts slow and can feel a touch sluggish, and part of me wishes it had gone full kart racer. A relaxed 3.5 out of 5. |
iRacing Arcade is the sim company's swing at something everyone can get into. Instead of tenths of a second and gas/air mix ratios, you get colorful cartoon cars, clean handling, and a career that carries you from the lower rungs of road racing up toward the serious machinery like GTP prototypes and Porsche Cup cars.
The key word here is arcade. This is racing with the stress sanded off, clearly built with a younger, pick up and play crowd in mind, and it wears that identity proudly.
There is a career mode in here too, and that's the part I appreciated most: it never pressures you. It does not nag you to finish a series or chase a career arc on its schedule.
You can dip in, run a few races, climb a little, and leave, all at your own pace. For a certain kind of evening, that is exactly right.
The racing is genuinely good. Once you are up to speed, the cars corner cleanly and there is a real sense of weight and balance to them, more than the cheerful art style leads you to expect. This is not a floaty toy. It is a proper racing game wearing a friendly coat.
Aesthetically, it wont compete with Forza or F1m but it is gorgeous in its own lane. The cartoon visuals are bright and charming, obviously aimed at a younger arcade audience, and they run beautifully.
iRacing Arcade it is not trying to look photorealistic, it is trying to look fun, and it nails that. It also runs pretty well on Steam Deck, which is where I did a lot of my racing, and that portability suits it perfectly.
Mostly, though, I liked how it made me feel. This is a wonderful game to race around in after a long day. No pressure, no punishing difficulty, just clean laps, leaderboards to chase if you feel competitive, and the simple pleasure of driving. Not every game needs to be a second job, and iRacing Arcade understands that.
The start is slow. The opening stretch leans on a handful of repetitive tracks and a pace that borders on sluggish, and I can see people bouncing off before it gets good.
I think it is intentional, an on ramp to teach you the controls gently, but it asks for patience it has not earned yet. Push through, because the track variety and the fun both open up noticeably the more you play.
The cars can feel slow, too. Even with that satisfying weight, they often feel more sluggish than an arcade racer probably should, especially early on. The faster classes are where the game finally sings, and I wish it got you there sooner.
Two smaller notes. It is third person only, so if you like racing from the cockpit or the hood, that option is not here. And this is more of a wish than a complaint: the whole tone, the cartoon look, the all ages energy, the low stress design, had me feeling the entire time that this wanted to be a full kart racer.
Lean into power slides and items and it could have been something special in that lane. As a straight arcade racer it is good. As a kart racer it might have been great.
| iRacing Arcade is a genuinely pleasant surprise from a studio you would expect to make the least arcadey game on earth. It looks great, the racing has real substance under the cartoon paint, and the no pressure design makes it a perfect after work wind down. It is held back by a slow, repetitive opening and cars that can feel sluggish before the fast classes wake it up, and I will always quietly wish it had committed to being a kart racer. But for a cheap, cheerful, Steam Deck friendly racer to relax with, it earns its place. A likeable 3.5 out of 5. |
| Score: | 3.5 out of 5 |
Pros
Cons
Is iRacing Arcade a simulation like iRacing?
No, and that is the point. It is a casual, cartoon styled arcade racer built for fun and accessibility, not the hardcore simulation iRacing is known for. Think friendly pick up and play, not gear ratio and wheel setups.
How much does iRacing Arcade cost?
$24.99 on Steam. It is positioned as an inexpensive, all ages entry point into racing games.
Does iRacing Arcade work on Steam Deck?
Yes, it runs well on Steam Deck, and its relaxed, pick up and play nature suits handheld play nicely.
Is there a career mode?
Yes, a career that climbs from lower classes up to premier machinery like GTP and Porsche Cup cars. But it is low pressure and lets you progress at your own pace rather than forcing you through a set path.
Can you play in cockpit or first person view?
No. iRacing Arcade is third person only, so there is no in car cockpit or hood camera.
Is iRacing Arcade good for kids?
Yes. The bright cartoon style, gentle difficulty, and stress free design make it a strong pick for younger players or anyone easing into racing games.
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