Rally fans are busy playing EA Sports WRC, but if you’re looking for a more casual alternative, there's a new indie rally racer coming around the corner. Announced by Polish indie developer Pixel Perfect Dude, #DRIVE Rally is the sequel to the popular endless driving mobile game #DRIVE, offering a less serious take on rallying.
Rallying in the 90’s
While the original #DRIVE was inspired by road and action movies from the 70’s and 80’s, the sequel aims for a ‘90s vibe, with a low-poly art style and a retro rally car roster.
While there are no licensed cars like in EA Sports WRC, they are inspired by real cars such as the Audi Sport quattro S1, shown hurtling through a forest track in the trailer. Each car can be customised with paint jobs, liveries, and body modifications.
Unlike the original top-down game, #DRIVE Rally is played from a third-person perspective judging from the screenshots. Behind the wheel, the car handling is “simple enough for beginners yet addictively challenging and demanding in its depth." Pixel Perfect Dude promises a diverse range of locations, from sunny landscapes to woodlands and snow.
We particularly like the bad-tempered co-driver, who sounds like an angry Arnold Schwarzenegger. EA Sports WRC’s co-drivers don’t have a lot of personality and don’t react if you veer off course and slam into a tree, but #DRIVE Rally’s co-driver isn’t afraid to criticise your driving if you fall behind.
The outspoken co-driver even caught the attention of EA Sports WRC, which left a comment on the trailer: "That co-driver voice is awesome."
“While creating #DRIVE Rally, we had our fans in mind – those who have spent countless hours competing in #DRIVE. We hope that with this new game, they'll discover even more joy and, thanks to the sentimental journey back to the '90s, experience a delightful wave of nostalgia,” said Dariusz Pietrala, Game Director at Pixel Perfect Dude.
“Get ready for an adventure that's loaded with legendary machines, references to rally history, and a bunch of nostalgic details from the past. We would love to see players enjoying our game as much as we did while designing the turns, jumps, and challenges.”
Release date
There’s no release date yet, but #DRIVE Rally is set for a 2024 release on Steam, GOG and the Epic Games Store. Console versions will follow later on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Notably, this will be the first time the #DRIVE series has launched on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. With no sign of a SEGA Rally sequel (at least not an official one), #DRIVE Rally could be a fun arcade alternative to EA Sports WRC.