Modern racing games often feel obsessed with authenticity. They chase photorealistic graphics, intricate vehicle-tuning systems and endless career modes packed with sponsorship deals and social media followers. While there’s certainly a place for those experiences, 4PGP arrives with a very different mission. It aims to remind players of a simpler time when racing games were built around one thing above all else: speed.
Developed by Vision Reelle and 3goo, 4PGP wears its inspirations proudly. The moment you pull onto the grid, its love for the golden era of arcade racing becomes impossible to miss. From the low-poly visual style to the fictional Formula One-inspired teams and circuits, everything feels like a heartfelt tribute to the racing classics that once dominated arcades and living rooms in the early 1990s.
What makes 4PGP stand out is not simply nostalgia. Many games borrow visual styles from the past. What matters here is that the gameplay understands exactly why those older racers were so beloved. This is a game built around momentum, split-second reactions and the thrill of threading a formula car through corners at impossible speeds.
Simplicity Done Right
One of the most refreshing aspects of 4PGP is how quickly it gets out of its own way. There are no lengthy tutorials to interrupt your first race. No dramatic storylines about becoming a racing superstar. No sprawling progression systems designed to keep you grinding for dozens of hours. Instead, you choose a mode, select a car and hit the track.
That simplicity creates an immediate connection between player and machine. Within seconds, you’re hurtling down straights, hunting slipstreams and searching for the perfect racing line. The controls are wonderfully responsive, particularly on PlayStation 5, where the newly added analogue trigger support makes acceleration feel far more precise than in earlier versions.
Every race captures the addictive “one more go” quality that defined arcade gaming. Fail to win? Restart. Miss a corner? Try again. Shave a tenth of a second off your lap time? Suddenly you’re chasing another tenth. The loop is straightforward, yet it remains remarkably difficult to put down.
Built for Pure Speed
The racing itself is where 4PGP truly shines. Unlike simulation-focused racers, this game encourages aggression. Cars feel planted enough to inspire confidence while still demanding concentration at higher speeds. Slipstreaming becomes a vital part of overtaking, often creating dramatic last-second position changes on long straights. The sensation of being pulled forward by a rival’s wake before diving past them just before the braking zone never loses its appeal.
The track design deserves particular praise. While inspired by legendary real-world circuits, these fictional layouts develop their own identities. Sweeping corners, rapid chicanes and long straights combine to create tracks that reward commitment and confidence rather than cautious driving.
The reverse layouts significantly increase the package’s value. Familiar corners suddenly require entirely different approaches, helping the relatively modest track count feel much larger than it initially appears. By the time you’ve mastered both directions of every circuit, you’ll have spent far more time with the game than the numbers alone might suggest.
The Joy of Local Multiplayer
Perhaps the most surprising feature of 2026 is that 4PGP fully embraces local multiplayer. In an era when many developers focus almost exclusively on online competition, there’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about gathering friends around a television for split-screen racing. The fact that 4PGP supports up to four players locally feels increasingly rare and genuinely welcome.
Even more impressive is how smoothly the game performs. The visual presentation remains clean and responsive, maintaining its slick sense of speed without noticeable performance drops. Whether you’re battling AI opponents or trading paint with friends on the sofa, the experience remains consistently enjoyable.
This local focus fits perfectly with the game’s overall philosophy. 4PGP isn’t trying to become a live-service racing platform. It simply wants players to have fun, and sometimes that means sharing the same room with friends while arguing over who cut the final corner.
Retro Looks, Modern Polish
Visually, 4PGP strikes an excellent balance between old and new. The low-poly aesthetic immediately evokes memories of early polygonal racers, but modern lighting, sharp resolutions and smooth framerates prevent the presentation from feeling dated. Instead, it resembles an idealised memory of those games rather than a direct recreation.
The cars are colourful, distinctive and easy to identify in chaotic races. Trackside details add personality without cluttering the racing line. Everything remains clear, readable and focused on gameplay.
The soundtrack also deserves recognition. Rather than overwhelming races with constant noise, the music knows when to build tension and when to step back. Combined with the high-pitched scream of open-wheel engines, it creates an atmosphere that feels unmistakably arcade-inspired.
There is genuine affection behind every aspect of the presentation. Nothing feels cynical or calculated. It feels like a game created by people who genuinely love racing games.
Not Without Limitations
For all its strengths, 4PGP is not a flawless package. The biggest issue is its relatively limited scope. While the racing itself is excellent, players seeking a deep career mode may find the offering somewhat thin. Championships are enjoyable, but races often end almost as quickly as they begin. Veteran players may eventually wish for custom championships, longer race distances or more advanced event-creation tools.
The lack of online multiplayer will also disappoint some players. Local split-screen is fantastic, but modern racing communities increasingly thrive online. Leaderboards and time-attack modes provide some longevity, yet the absence of live competitive racing feels like a missed opportunity.
Progression can occasionally feel restrictive as well. Unlocking stronger vehicles requires working through the championship structure, which may frustrate players who simply want immediate access to everything. The approach reflects classic arcade design, though some modern players may view it as unnecessary gatekeeping.
Fortunately, none of these shortcomings undermine the quality of the racing itself. They simply limit how long the experience can maintain its momentum for certain audiences.
Final Verdict
4PGP succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be. Rather than chasing modern trends, it focuses entirely on delivering fast, exciting arcade racing with as little friction as possible. Every race captures the thrill of classic motorsport games, blending speed, accessibility and challenge into a package that remains entertaining from the opening lap to the chequered flag.
The addition of analogue controls on PS5 and PC strengthens an already excellent driving model, while the local multiplayer options offer some of the most enjoyable couch competition available. Although the game could benefit from additional modes and online functionality, its strengths far outweigh its limitations.
In a genre increasingly divided between hardcore simulations and oversized open-world experiences, 4PGP occupies a refreshing middle ground. It is compact, confident and endlessly fun. Most importantly, it remembers that racing games should make you smile.
