PAX West - Tokyo Xtreme Racer comes in fast

There are times when a game releases and goes unnoticed, but then there are times when a game releases and stands the test of time. In 1999, Tokyo Extreme Racer was released onto the Sega Dreamcast, and this little racing game from Genki became a title that has lasted for 25 years. 

Genki has returned with Tokyo Xtreme Racer for a new generation. I had a chance to try the game out for myself at PAX West, and I came away with the feeling of buying a new car. 

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a simple racing game with a contagious premise: get on the road and race rivals. Players take to the streets in one of several licensed vehicles and take to the roads of the Tokyo Expressway to race other rivals. While it sounds simple, there is a twist to the game. 

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is part racing game and part fighting game. There are no finish lines in the game. To race, players flash their high beams at a challenger on the expressway. From there, they race and race hard, dodging traffic and handling curves. Whoever pulls away the most wins; it's a contagious gameplay loop that has stood the test of time for 20 years. 

Tokyo Drift

My demo at PAX West was amazing. It featured a Toyota Supra from the 1980s running across the highway. Driving felt great and smooth, though I wish the sound were a little better.  The Supra looked photorealistic, like a car I would have driven right out of the garage. 

It was thrilling racing past all the different racers. Who you face is up to you and random. Some racers can be beaten easily, while others may leave you in the dust. One racer I faced lit nitro on me and almost outran me, while another didn't even hold a candle to my Supra. 

Power Steering

Controls felt tight, and the sense of speed felt tremendous. The constant gameplay loop of finding various racers felt infectious and while the demo was 10 minutes, I simply couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep playing to try and find more racers to conquer.

The demo only gave me a glimpse of what to come to expect from Tokyo Xtreme Racer, but what I got was thrilling and unlike any other racing game I've played before. It was tight and engaging, yet surprisingly simple.

Tune Up

Tokyo Xtreme Racer has more to offer than just the racing. Players can fine-tune their car to be just right. The entire game focuses on racing to the very top, seeking answers to yourself that only the road has. 

Tokyo Xtreme Racer has been on Steam Early Access since January 2025. The result has been an absolutely resounding success, as the team has been working hard and directly with player feedback. Many of the features now incorporated into the game are directly because of player feedback. But there is a bright future ahead. 

Tokyo Xtreme Racer arrives

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is set to have over 100 real licensed vehicles in the game, and add tweaks and features. The team is very excited to have brought back the classic and see the resonance that it currently has. When asked why to bring back such a retro game, the developer resoundingly said, "It was the right time!"

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is available in Steam Early Access and is set to launch its 1.0 update on September 25th.