27 Years Ago, This Underrated Game Inspired 2026’s New Star Wars Release

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One of the most anticipated Star Wars games coming out this year is Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a racing game that puts you in the fast-paced, futuristic vehicles seen throughout the Star Wars films. While many Star Wars games let you fly starfighters, it’s less common to find one that lets you heavily customize and race your own land vehicle on huge, planet-spanning tracks. This new approach for the 2026 game is successful because it draws inspiration from other popular Star Wars games released before the year 2000.

Around the late 1990s and early 2000s, as the new Star Wars movies were coming out, a lot of different Star Wars games were released for home consoles. While not all were well-received, this period of renewed interest in Star Wars encouraged developers to try new things. A great example is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a popular role-playing game that’s inspiring a new game today. One game even focused entirely on the exciting podracing scene from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, letting players experience that unique part of the movie on their own.

Star Wars Episode 1: Racer Features Many Of The Same Mechanics Seen In 2026’s Galactic Racer

Among Star Wars games from before the recent films, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer consistently receives high praise. Originally released in 1999, it’s been updated and re-released on current consoles and Steam since 2020. Many elements of the newer Star Wars: Galactic Racer – including the fast-paced racing and the designs of the podracers themselves – come directly from this earlier game and its connection to The Phantom Menace. While often overlooked, Star Wars Racer laid the foundation for many of the features found in its modern counterpart.

The original Star Wars Racer let players improve and customize their podracers, giving them special advantages during races. Players could boost speed, handling, and other features, tailoring the experience as they competed on around 25 tracks across eight different planets. While not offering extensive customization options, Galactic Racer appears to be building on this idea of creating a podracer suited to your individual playstyle for its new release.

Similar to the original Star Wars Racer, the upcoming Star Wars: Galactic Racer will likely include many of the podracers seen in The Phantom Menace, both within the game’s story and as characters you can unlock. The original game featured six core racers from the prequel film, voiced by the actors from the movie, and even more – at least nineteen – were unlockable through gameplay. Galactic Racer appears to be continuing this tradition, including lesser-known characters like Dug Sebulba.

High-Speed Podracing Action Was Unique Compared To Other Available Star Wars Games

The reason the new Star Wars: Galactic Racer includes so many familiar elements is because the original Star Wars Episode 1: Racer stood out from other Star Wars games. While titles like Star Wars: Jedi Knight and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron were popular for their action and flight combat, they moved away from the simple, arcade-style gameplay that defined early Star Wars games. The series was beginning to evolve beyond that classic feel as home consoles became more advanced.

Later Star Wars games would draw inspiration from popular RPGs and action titles, but Episode 1: Racer stood out as something unique. It was a fast-paced racing game, much like F-Zero, where players could heavily customize their vehicles. In many ways, it was a precursor to games like Mario Kart, taking the incredibly popular Star Wars universe and building a thrilling racing experience where skillful control was crucial for winning.

Star Wars Episode 1: Racer struck a great balance between the quick action of arcade games and the more in-depth experiences offered by home consoles. The game also featured impressive graphics for its time, and unlocked tracks and characters as you progressed, making the game naturally expand. Importantly, it introduced many features now common in racing games, proving how innovative it was for its time.

Considering the consistently positive reviews on Steam, it’s clear why Star Wars Episode 1: Racer remains so memorable. Its diverse tracks, wide selection of characters, and customization options make it a standout title in the Star Wars gaming universe, and it’s easy to see how it influenced Star Wars: Galactic Racer.

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2026-05-21 18:11