A retro gravity racing game with a modern physics engine

UnderGrav is a racing game that is released under a name-your-own-price model, meaning it is essentially free with the option to contribute to the developer. The vehicles being raced are futuristic hover race cars, and the game’s aesthetic is retro, reminiscent of early 3D games.

The game sports many of the features one would expect from a racing game, though unlike modern racing gamers like Need for Speed, UnderGrav is rooted in the classic, almost arcade style of the games from the era it is inspired by.

Futuristic retro racing

The first impression UnderGrav gives off is one that should be familiar to players who enjoyed the Wipeout franchise in the late 1990s. Like those games, Undergrad puts the player in control of a futuristic race vehicle that hovers a short distance above the race track, making for different racing mechanics to a standard wheeled vehicle.

Retro graphics with modern physics

While the game is very much inspired by retro games when it comes to looks, it is a little more modern under the hood. UnderGrav uses a modern physics engine to control the race vehicles, making for a more detailed simulation of what this kind of racing would be like than the more simplistic methods used in those earlier Wipeout games.

Fun but short

UnderGrav is a well-crafted game that looks professionally made and features smooth controls. Unfortunately, it is quite limited in terms of content, with only three designed races to compete in. The game’s city is open-world, though there is not much to do other than chase checkpoints. That being said, fans of racing games may want to give UnderGrav a try.