I’m all for a good racing game; having played a good mix of arcade racers and realistic racers, I was ready to scratch that itch. When a classic racing name returns after decades of silence, it begs the question of whether it will be able to take hold in this era of gaming and thrive or whether it will be lost. The original Screamer games from the 1990s helped define the earlier PC arcade racing, so when you bring a modern reboot, there are probably two choices on the path it should take.
Should it recreate the past like-for-like or find a way to reinvent it? Thankfully, this 2026 reboot was developed by Milestone S.r.l. chooses the latter. With its pending release on 26 March 2026, Screamer will not just be a simple nostalgic throwback. Instead, it will be a bold reimagining of what an arcade racer can be in the modern era.
Blending stunning stylised visuals, a character-driven story, and an aggressive vehicular combat that’s mixed with traditional racing mechanics, the game feels like a high-speed collision between what you would expect from a classic arcade racer with anime-inspired street racing drama sprinkled on top. This, in turn, results in a game that goes for a fresh, energetic, and occasionally chaotic modern arcade racer.
Game Modes and Content
What is Screamer? It is a High-octane action and anime aesthetics arcade racing game, featuring fighting mechanics and a storyline that hits hard. In this world, some race for glory while others seek power or revenge. Every race is a fight, and every battle is personal. One thing I noticed was that Screamer has a lot of content for an arcade racer. There is a good amount of unlockable content and numerous modes to sink your teeth into. These modes are:
Story Mode
The centrepiece of the game. This is where we get to compete in tournaments against rival teams while watching the story unfold. While it did enjoy playing Screamers’ story, I wouldn’t say I was blown away by it. It was nice to see all the different drivers’ personalities and motives being played out throughout, but I didn’t really get invested. I found myself having more fun trying to figure out what ascent each of the characters had. Most of the game’s unlockable content can be earned through playing the story mode, so I’d advise using this as your starting point before venturing into the other modes.
Arcade Challenges
This mode was where I spent most of my time when playing, it offers shorter race events and score-based challenges designed for those quick in-and-out sessions. It was also where I went to try and perfect the mechanics that Screamer has on offer. It did take me some time to get a hold of the boost, shield and attack mechanics due to feeling a bit overwhelmed with the fast nature of the races and the additional inputs needed to perform all the different manoeuvres.
Multiplayer
This mode has both local and online multiplayer, with the online races supporting larger player counts, which makes every race more chaotic. The multiplayer component is fun, but a huge challenge. You straight away notice that human opponents tend to embrace the combat mechanics more aggressively than AI racers.
So be prepared for this when venturing online. I like that we get local multiplayer as it allows you to play with your friends and family, but do expect intense races filled with dramatic last-second attacks and unexpected turnarounds. You thought that Mario Kart was unexpected, wait till you dive into Screamer for the first time.
Is this a Bold New Direction for the Franchise?
Rather than trying to compete with ultra-realistic racing simulators, Screamer embraces the arcade philosophy wholeheartedly. You notice this from the get-go with the game’s vibrant world, exaggerated and stylish vibe with neon-lit urban environments and futuristic racing arenas that are filled with personality.
Every race takes place in an atmosphere that feels closer to an underground street tournament than your normal motorsport event. Rival teams clash not only for victory but also for pride, reputation, and dominance of the racing scene. This narrative gives the game a sense of identity. Each racer on the track has their story, life challenges and purpose for taking part in the Screamer Tournament rather than faceless AI drivers.
It’s a nice approach that helps races feel like chapters in a larger story rather than isolated events. Personally, I like the fact that all the characters had their own arc and story, and you got to learner more about each one though I didn’t really get hugely invested into it and the game became more enjoyable for me when just racing around in the different modes rather than the story being engaging.
Not having played the original back in the 1990s I wouldn’t be able to compare fully but it is nice to see a franchise return with a breath of fresh air that can capture the thrill of a classic arcade racer but with new mechanics to make it feel new and fresh to old and new players.
Gameplay: Racing Meets Combat
Screamer blends two key ideas these are high-speed arcade racing and vehicular combat mechanics. You may be wondering how the hell does this work and on paper, this might sound like other combat racers, but its does it with its own unique twist. While racing, player can attack rivals, defend themselves with shields and strategically use boost to get the upper hand over the other drivers.
These mechanics create a constant tension between maintaining racing lines and managing combat opportunities. It felt hard at first for me to get used to the driving let alone the combat mechanics, luckily in the earlier hours of the campaign and arcade mode you can get enough practise in to master the driver mechanics before then adding the combat mechanics. At times, the chaos can be intense.
One moment you’re perfectly lining up a drift through a corner, and the next you’re dodging an attack from a rival attempting to knock you off course. It’s high intensity which does make every race feel different even if you have raced the same track several times. This constant push and pull keeps races exciting and unpredictable. Some of the best moments occur when racing skill and combat strategy align, letting you outmanoeuvre opponents while simultaneously disrupting their momentum which I’m not going to lie takes some getting used to, but when you do manage to pull it off, it is highly stratifying.
Controls and Driving Feel
One of the most interesting aspects of Screamer is its control system. Unlike other racers where drifting is simply triggered by braking or handbrake inputs, Screamer separates steering, drifting, and combat actions in a more deliberate way, which is why it’s such a learning curve to master. At first, it was unusual and I would constantly be getting it wrong as I expected traditional arcade controls but got this more complex system instead.
Personally, I don’t find it comfortable, even now where I have somewhat of a handle on it, I find myself tripping over the mechanics rather than using them to my advantage, so I tend to just stick with drifting and boost and the odd attack here and there. Mastering the mechanics does feel rewarding, and if you are able to pull it off then skilled players will be able to perform impressive sequences of drifts and attacks that almost look like something straight out of an anime. It is something you must stick with if you want the pay off.
Visual Style and Presentation
Visually, the game stands out, Screamer has adopted a stylized aesthetic influenced by anime and cyberpunk street racing culture. With its Bright neon lighting, bold colour palettes, and exaggerated motion effects it gives every race a sense of speed and spectacle. The developers have clearly gone down the route of not chasing realism and have instead focuses their energy and personality on a style that fits the arcade gameplay perfectly.
It wouldn’t be an arcade racer without the soundtrack that complements the action with electronic and high-energy music that keeps adrenaline levels high throughout races. This combination of audio and visuals nails the racing atmosphere that feels cinematic and intense. I love the character designs and love that every character is voice acted and throughout the story you can get on board with their story even if I didn’t get grabbed into the story, I still enjoyed the characters as a whole and the racing side of the game.
Final Verdict
For lovers of the original Screamer franchise or people who like arcade racers will find comfort and love in this confident and stylish reboot that refuses to rely on nostalgia alone. Instead of simply reviving the past, it tries to reinvent the franchise with new ideas, vibrant presentation, and fast-paced racing action. While the combat mechanics and control system could do with some adjustment to make them feel a bit more comfortable and easier to master the game has its unique identify to land on.
However, I do believe that the asking price of £49.99 upwards is a huge ask, even if other titles nowadays offering this price tag, I would be sceptical at buying a new game that I have no background knowledge of for that asking price. Fans of the series might take the gamble, but for me, if I saw this on the shelf next to other arcade racers like wipeout and Sonic & Sefa All-Stars Racing, I would probably lean towards this first.
If you are racing experience that has classic arcade racing with combat mechanics thrown in then Screamer will have you covered but for me this game was fun but wasn’t as much of an exhilarating ride which is what I was expecting and for those reasons I’m giving it a 7 out of 10.
Screamer Trailer
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The game was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
