Arcade racers are having a bit of a moment

It's important, I think, to be grateful for what you've got, and as a fan of racing games I can say with some conviction it's rarely been any better than it has right now. The current crisis that saw garages shuttered at racing tracks across the world put the spotlight on sims as drivers looked to get their kicks in the virtual space, and showed us what a fine crop there currently is: there's iRacing, looking as strong as it ever has in its 12 year history, with rFactor 2 finally taking shape as a proper contender too, while console players recently got a chance to sample the delights of Kunos Simulazioni's Assetto Corsa Competizione - and looking beyond that, on console you're spoilt for choice, with F1 going from strength to strength while off-roaders get not just Dirt Rally but also Kylotonn's equally excellent WRC series. What a time to be alive, frankly.

"But!" I hear you ask, "what about the arcade racers?" Well, my friend, have patience and perhaps put a few pennies aside, because they're coming. And they're coming very, very soon.

Next week is set to be one of the most remarkable for the genre since Blur and Split/Second famously clashed at release (and infamously crashed and burned soon after, but I'm hopeful that won't be the case here), with two of the very best arcade racers I've played in the last decade going head-to-head. Hotshot Racing is first up, the hotly-awaited spin on early 90s arcade classics from Lucky Mountain Games releasing on September 10th. A day later and the lesser-known but no less fantastic Inertial Drift from Level 91 and PQube comes out, the game drawing inspiration from late 90s racers and with more than a few twists of its own.

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