Trackmania

Trackmania features deep mechanics that put accessibility first in addition to a nice variety of online and solo modes that compliment the title to better enhance both the gameplay and community. There’s plenty of free content that will entertain casual fans for months and paid options tailored to the more devoted veterans. All in all, for being part of such a niche franchise, this is a great entry that has a lot to offer.

And ultimately, that’s what TrackMania is all about. Taking the editor to insane limits, finding new quirks to gain a tenth or two on a coveted track, discovering astonishing creations by the community and seeing the hours fly as we slowly put together what we want to achieve. It’s a pure arcade racer but with an insane skill ceiling, and the game offers tons of ways to put these skills to the test. For old-time fans, it may be a bummer that we’re playing on Stadium again, and the official campaigns usually don’t touch the high levels found in TrackMania Turbo. But aside from a handful of tech...

In fact, the problem is that TrackMania exposes the simple fact that modern racing games are often pretentious, overblown affairs, and they simply can't match this for sheer fun. It almost feels awkward to play something this understated, but once you get over that you realise that all you need to have fun is a few squares of track snapped together creatively - and that you don't need in-game radio stations, real-time reflections or modern cityscapes to make your case. Nadeo just lets the gameplay do the talking, and it certainly talks to me. In the end, it's a package worth buying on its own ...

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of pulling off a perfect run on a good track. One where there’s no margin for error. Where every corner needs to be taken at the exact right angle at the correct speed. One where the slightest mistake on the wrong terrain can send you spinning out of control. It won’t be on the first try for the majority of the tracks in Trackmania, but practice makes perfect is the name of the game here. While I’m unsure how long the novelty will last, while it ...

Trackmania is a nice entry into the racing genre that provides a free version, along with paid versions that offer more content. The simple, fast-paced gameplay and official tracks are good, but it's best in short bursts. Official content doesn't take long to complete, so player creations are going to be important in keeping this game alive.

Trackmania’s mechanically nuanced time trials are as tense and addictive in 2020 as they were in 2006. The initial content selection of this latest entry is robust and a wealth of entertaining custom tracks are potentially just a click away… as long as both you and the community of talented track creators are willing to pay for its yearly subscription, that is. The idea that you’ll have to rebuy this version of Trackmania annually raises very real concerns about its longevity, but right now at least, it offers a well-modernized (if not revolutionary) take on a uniquely entertaining racing expe...