In a market filled with big-budget flashy racing simulators and hyper-realistic car detailing, Tokyo Xtreme Racer (2025) has brought back the soul of an old classic. The reboot of the beloved franchise, originally known for its Dreamcast, PS2, and Xbox entries, has not only lived up to the expectations of fans but exceeded them in nearly every metric.
Released in Early Access on January 23, 2025, the game has already achieved “Overwhelmingly Positive” status on Steam, with 97.5% positive feedback from over 4,500 reviews. Its reception, both critically and commercially, paints a picture of a franchise that understands what made it special in the first place.
A Critical and Commercial Triumph
From the moment it hit Early Access, Tokyo Xtreme Racer has stood out as a hit in the crowded racing genre. It has outsold and outscored its closest competitor, Assetto Corsa EVO, which has struggled to maintain a positive reception with just 70% positive reviews on Steam. The numbers speak for themselves: TXR is currently only outsold in the genre by Grand Theft Auto V—a game that, while including racing, exists in an entirely different, really.
On Reddit, the TXR community has been buzzing. It seems the a large enough subset of the racing community has been hoping for. Apart from countless of car designs, some very interesting assesments are posted. The following Reddit by Redditor u/MarczXD320 points it out very well:
Tokyo Xtreme Racer 2025 feels old school, this is why it is successfull.
byu/MarczXD320 intokyoxtremeracer
Respect for the source material
The attraction of Tokyo Xtreme Racer (2025) lies in its ability to modernize the franchise without abandoning what made it unique. The game’s signature SP Battle system—where drivers lose “Spirit Points” for mistakes and falling behind—is back in all its glory, adding an edge of strategy to every race. Instead of trying to mimic the big-budget simulators in this the market, TXR focuses on what it has always done best: recreating the thrill of street racing on Tokyo’s expressways.
The environment itself is unique. Over 180 kilometers of authentic Shuta highway have been recreated, giving players with a sprawling map, that opens up the better you get. The rival system, featuring over 200 unique characters, brings depth and personality to the single-player experience. Some AI-rivals which randomly encounter once your car reaches a high enough status, are making a name for themselves on social media, like Melancholy Angel and Midnight Cinderella, which both have been proven to be extremely hard to beat.
Setsuko’s real dialogue
byu/Yariyas intokyoxtremeracer
Early Access and the Road Ahead
As the game is still in Early Access, the developers at Genki have taken a collaborative approach with the community to its development. Regular updates are planned, with promises of new vehicles, rival storylines, and additional quality-of-life features based on player feedback. The community is already a core part of the game’s trajectory as it seems Genki is taking notes. But as with all good intentions, you can set the bar high, follow up on it is easier when the game is a banging success of course.
Players have also applauded the game’s commitment to being a reboot rather without aiming to completely overhaul the concept. As one user on Steam put it: “Unlike other reboots, TXR feels like it was made by people who actually played the originals.” This philosophy has resonated deeply, helping TXR carve out a niche even in a competitive market.
The launch itself proved that delivering a game, in Early Access without any game breaking bugs is a feat on itself, als Steam User Noob2 points out:
A Promising Future for a Legendary Franchise
Tokyo Xtreme Racer (2025) has proven that nostalgia doesn’t have to mean stagnation. Its combination of classic gameplay, modern refinements, and community involvement has created a winning formula. For a game still in Early Access, the level of polish and depth on display is impressive—and there’s still more to come.
As TXR continues to dominate both reviews and sales charts, it sets an example of how to reboot a beloved franchise the right way. For fans of the original series, newcomers looking for a unique racing experience, or anyone who’s ever dreamed of challenging a midnight highway racer under neon-lit skies, this is the game to beat.
.. And the memes are coming in in boatloads as well too!
Guys I think the AI in this game is getting too smart…
byu/GoldenEye1108 intokyoxtremeracer
Youtuber HokiHoshi, pins down the details on why this is such a celebrated return:
