Image credit: Original Fire Games
Ever since its 2021 release, Circuit Superstars has looked like the perfect pick-up-and-play racer with a healthy pinch of sim racing elements added. Most players agreed: The game would be a great fit for the Nintendo Switch - two years later, Circuit Superstars races onto the TV/handheld hybrid console alongside an update and brand-new Top Gear DLC.
The charming graphics and top-down gameplay might make Circuit Superstars look like a rather casual game - and it can be that, but also much more engaging depending on the settings. Tire wear, damage, fuel consumption and different characteristics for each vehicle add considerable depth to the experience. And to be fast, nailing each corner's apex is absolutely crucial, so there is more sim in the game than first meets the eye.
With the update to v1.5 released alongside the Switch version, the car count has increased to 17, including anything from a retro muscle car, prototypes, vintage and modern F1-type vehicles to even racing trucks and dirt sprint cars. The same number of locations are available, including various different layouts for many tracks, meaning players should not get bored anytime soon - especially since developer Original Fire Games is working on future DLC packs.
Full throttle, no compromise: Circuit Superstars has arrived on Nintendo Switch.
However, if you already know the game, you probably know all of this already. How does Circuit Superstars master the transition to the Switch, then? Simply put: it pulls this feat off remarkably well. There may be some visual limitations due to the capabilities of the Switch hardware, but those are only noticeable if you are actively looking for them - you can then spot some pixelated shadows and the lack of anti-aliasing, but those do not detract from the gameplay.
The game runs smoothly both in handheld mode and when using the dock to play on a TV, which was not an easy feat to achieve, as developer Alberto Mastretta stated on Twitter, calling the process "very educational." He also went into more detail on the making of Circuit Superstars in general in the first episode of the "The Heart of Game Dev" podcast.
One of the things the Switch version could have been caught on the back foot with is the application of throttle and brakes. Since it is important to modulate both instead of applying them fully all the time, these are mapped to the analog triggers of Xbox and PlayStation controllers by default. The Switch controller does not have these triggers, though - but they still work relatively well for this purpose. Even better: Players can also use the right analog stick to accelerate and brake, which makes for much better car control after a short adjustment period, especially for rear-wheel drive vehicles.
In short: The Switch version of Circuit Superstars is everything the PC, Xbox and PlayStation versions are - namely incredibly good fun. Online play works flawlessly and supports crossplay as well, meaning the Switch version is just as capable as the others. As a big plus, you can take it anywhere you want. The author of this article certainly has a new favorite racing game on the Switch.
Interestingly, OFG has already announced the contents of the upcoming update to v1.6.0 as well. While not yet clear when this update is going to drop, players can look forward to new DLC cars, a free roaming replay camera to allow for better screenshots, a custom AI feature, and more that you can find in the list below.
Ever since its 2021 release, Circuit Superstars has looked like the perfect pick-up-and-play racer with a healthy pinch of sim racing elements added. Most players agreed: The game would be a great fit for the Nintendo Switch - two years later, Circuit Superstars races onto the TV/handheld hybrid console alongside an update and brand-new Top Gear DLC.
The charming graphics and top-down gameplay might make Circuit Superstars look like a rather casual game - and it can be that, but also much more engaging depending on the settings. Tire wear, damage, fuel consumption and different characteristics for each vehicle add considerable depth to the experience. And to be fast, nailing each corner's apex is absolutely crucial, so there is more sim in the game than first meets the eye.
With the update to v1.5 released alongside the Switch version, the car count has increased to 17, including anything from a retro muscle car, prototypes, vintage and modern F1-type vehicles to even racing trucks and dirt sprint cars. The same number of locations are available, including various different layouts for many tracks, meaning players should not get bored anytime soon - especially since developer Original Fire Games is working on future DLC packs.
Full throttle, no compromise: Circuit Superstars has arrived on Nintendo Switch.
However, if you already know the game, you probably know all of this already. How does Circuit Superstars master the transition to the Switch, then? Simply put: it pulls this feat off remarkably well. There may be some visual limitations due to the capabilities of the Switch hardware, but those are only noticeable if you are actively looking for them - you can then spot some pixelated shadows and the lack of anti-aliasing, but those do not detract from the gameplay.
The game runs smoothly both in handheld mode and when using the dock to play on a TV, which was not an easy feat to achieve, as developer Alberto Mastretta stated on Twitter, calling the process "very educational." He also went into more detail on the making of Circuit Superstars in general in the first episode of the "The Heart of Game Dev" podcast.
One of the things the Switch version could have been caught on the back foot with is the application of throttle and brakes. Since it is important to modulate both instead of applying them fully all the time, these are mapped to the analog triggers of Xbox and PlayStation controllers by default. The Switch controller does not have these triggers, though - but they still work relatively well for this purpose. Even better: Players can also use the right analog stick to accelerate and brake, which makes for much better car control after a short adjustment period, especially for rear-wheel drive vehicles.
In short: The Switch version of Circuit Superstars is everything the PC, Xbox and PlayStation versions are - namely incredibly good fun. Online play works flawlessly and supports crossplay as well, meaning the Switch version is just as capable as the others. As a big plus, you can take it anywhere you want. The author of this article certainly has a new favorite racing game on the Switch.
v1.5 and Beyond
With v1.5, Original Fire Games has brought in new content, specifically the Top Gear Stig Challenge DLC with various wacky challenges at the Top Gear Test Track, and several fixes and adjustments to Circuit Superstars. You can find the full list below.Interestingly, OFG has already announced the contents of the upcoming update to v1.6.0 as well. While not yet clear when this update is going to drop, players can look forward to new DLC cars, a free roaming replay camera to allow for better screenshots, a custom AI feature, and more that you can find in the list below.
