Screamer

A solid story mode combined with tight racing mechanics make Screamer the potential racing game of the year.

Well worth a look if you fancy trying a different looking and feeling race game.

Milestone has done it. The Milan-based team decided to take a risk, stepping out of their comfort zone of motorcycle simulations to return to their roots with a *Screamer* reboot—a title that establishes itself as one of the most distinctive, entertaining, and engaging racing games on the market. The driving system—though occasionally a tad clunky—is a sheer delight of speed, technique, and drifting; the narrative compels you to tackle every race at full throttle; and the characters form a cast it is impossible not to grow fond of. It lacks only that extra aesthetic flair to truly stand out amidst the endless array of cyberpunk worlds released in recent years; yet, the technical solidity—combined with the meticulous aesthetic polish applied to the UI, the cars (some of which are truly stunning), and the characters—still manages to make Milestone’s work shine, even in this regard. *Screamer* is the racing game that both the market and the players have been waiting for.

Screamer is an extremely pleasant surprise in a genre that currently receives few releases. The gameplay is complex, but the game is entirely dedicated to gradually introducing the player to its mechanics and its world. Fans of arcade-style racing should give the title a chance, not only because of the few releases in the genre, but because it's a great game.

Screamer is a one-of-a-kind game, I thought they don’t make racing games like this anymore. And here we are.

Streamer ventures into a territory many games haven't explored in a while—the realm of arcade racing—through an experience that uses its solid storyline as a Trojan horse to deliver an engaging and surprisingly deep driving system, accompanied by attack and defense mechanics that may not be immediately intuitive but are a lot of fun.

Among the many great arcade racers out there, Screamer sets itself apart with its TV-worthy campaign, The Tournament, which highlights its roster of compelling characters across a tour of a futuristic urban setting. For those who just want the racing, its Arcade modes offer more than enough challenge with unique driving controls that really make you feel like you’re behind the wheel.

A game with a clear personality that can feel a little too hostile on the first races, but that manages to submerge you in spectacular and engaging races. Just give it some time.

Screamer delivers a fresh and frantic arcade experience that stands out through its bold anime aesthetic and unique dual-stick drifting mechanics. While the visual novel storytelling approach in the campaign might feel sluggish for speed purists, the deep gameplay systems and energetic soundtrack provide a highly rewarding sense of speed.

Without much fanfare, Screamer is a classic arcade racing game. Authentic and with a vibrant 1980s anime aesthetic, the reboot didn't need to adapt to genre trends to deliver a fun, drift-focused experience. Essentially, the game draws inspiration from its own past to show that arcade-style races are still going strong in 2026.

Screamer is a bold and exciting arcade racer that stands out among the many similar titles in the video game landscape. Milestone has made bold choices, and most of them work well, with the exception of a story with slightly overly wordy dialogue. The races are original and challenging, and once you understand all its mechanics, mastering them is very satisfying. Completing the experience is a clean and realistic visual style, combined with anime-style characters.

Screamer stands out as a fun and refreshing arcade racer, focusing on fast-paced gameplay and creative mechanics like its unique drift system and ability-based racing. The moment-to-moment action is engaging, rewarding skill and timing in a way that keeps races dynamic and exciting. However, the game stumbles with an unnecessary and poorly executed narrative that disrupts the pacing. Despite these issues, its strong gameplay foundation makes it a solid and enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.

Screamer is an amazing game for those yearning for a classic arcade racer with an anime-inspired coat of paint that includes high production values and very deep mechanics that will be hard, yet satisfying to master. A puzzling lack of a proper tutorial, a lackluster narrative despite strong character designs, and uneven track selection bog down the experience a smidge.

Screamer is a bold reinvention that successfully merges high-stakes arcade racing with the emotional depth of a visual novel. Its standout feature is a cast of flawed, morally grey characters that drive a compelling narrative, supported by a stunning anime aesthetic. While the track design feels a bit too safe for its innovative twin-stick drift system and the pacing can falter during long dialogue sequences, the game’s sheer personality and technical polish make it a unique and memorable experience in the racing genre.

Let’s be real: Screamer 2026 is a great surprise. This isn’t some lazy nostalgia reboot, Milestone actually took risks, and that’s something you have to respect.In a genre where Gran Turismo and Forza Horizon dominate the sim side, and arcade racers like Burnout or Need for Speed have kind of faded away, Screamer brings something fresh. The Echo System, inspired by fighting games, turns races into real mind games, managing meters, timing your moves, anticipating your opponent. And honestly, it works. The dual-stick drifting takes some getting used to, but once it clicks, it feels great, really precise, really satisfying. Visually, the game stands out too, with strong Akira vibes and a cool 2D/3D style. It’s not perfect though: the story drags a bit, and the first hours can feel repetitive. It’s not a “pick up and play” racer, it asks for patience. But if you stick with it, you’ll find a game that actually tries to do something different.

A fast, complex futuristic arcade racer that doesn't shy away from doing things differently. This one is not for everyone, but those that can master the controls and keep their cool will have a blast.

Screamer is a colorful, chaotic, fast, and fun arcade racer that manages to pair high-octane gameplay with a surprisingly robust narrative. It’s not perfect—progression is limited, and certain campaign restrictions can be frustrating—but the unique mechanics, engaging characters, and fast-paced races make it a standout in its genre. For fans of classic arcade racing, it’s a title that hits almost all the right notes.

Unorthodox controls, surprising mechanical depth, and on-track carnage underscore this narrative-heavy racer out of Milestone’s leftfield.

Coming in fast and furious, Milestone

The Tournament Mode is overly long with cutscenes that drag, and you may not find it to be as pleasingly accessible as the games it cribs inspiration from, but Screamer does its darnedest to impress, and it does so given the myriad of modes and how on point the presentation is. You'll certainly be screaming with approval when you get your hand on Screamer, just don't wake the neighbours.

Screamer is a refreshing racing game from an incredibly reliable studio. Milestone has taken a chance to do something different, and it has paid off as the anime-influenced story mode is a blast and the game looks fantastic. Playing just as impressively as its visuals, racing fans looking for something new will want to check this out.

Screamer isn't a perfect game, but it is one of the most interesting titles to emerge from the arcade scene in recent years. Its greatest strength is its willingness to try something different. The gameplay is deep, demanding, and tremendously satisfying once mastered. The visuals have personality, and the whole experience exudes a very unique energy. The story might bore or frustrate you, but when you focus on the driving, Screamer proves to be a worthwhile experience.

Screamer delivers a healthy dose of arcade-style driving packed with acceleration, drifting, and explosions. It offers plenty of arcade racing action, complemented by an unusually deep and engaging story mode.

Screamer is the electric jolt that the pure arcade genre desperately needed: a racing game like this (and potentially of this quality) hasn’t been seen for a very, very long time, far too long. The only doubt concerns its long-term staying power: it will be the strength of the community and the variety of post-launch content that determine whether this title can stand strong beyond the excitement of its first week.

Screamer is a 90s anime-inspired arcade racer with a strong narrative focus. Its stylized futuristic visuals and engaging story, though initially slow, pick up pace, revealing interesting lore and character motivations. The gameplay, while accessible, offers surprising depth, rewarding precise driving and turbo management. Destructible cars and an Overdrive mode add to the excitement. While the game excels in its core mechanics and visual presentation, its biggest flaw lies in unbalanced difficulty spikes, particularly in the story mode, where some challenges feel unfair due to an overly aggressive AI.

A racing reboot dripping in anime style, with unrelenting (but adjustable) speed and an exhilarating system between speed and combat on the race track. Even with an unevenly paced campaign, Screamer nonetheless succeeds in reigniting action-packed racers I thought had burnt out decades ago.

An anime-infused arcade racer with a full-blown story, cracking multiplayer, and an OTT driving model that gamifies every part of its tricky, knife edge races.

Screamer is a bold and exciting arcade racing game that stands out from the pack. It takes some big swings, and most of them have worked out, save for a story that maybe outstays its welcome. The racing itself is unique and challenging, and once you have a handle on all its systems, it's very rewarding to master. With its stylish presentation on top, this is one racer very much in its own lane.

Screamer makes the most of its arcade roots, delivering gameplay that feels both solid and challenging. While its career mode falls into some of the familiar pitfalls often seen in anime-inspired storytelling, the variety of modes offers different ways to approach each race. The controls and high-speed intensity may take some getting used to, but once it clicks, the experience proves highly rewarding and packed with fun.

Screamer doesn’t fully become the narrative spectacle it sometimes seems to want to be, but when rubber meets the road, it fully delivers. The racing is slick, stylish, and deeply satisfying, backed by impressive visuals and smart progression. If you’re into arcade racers, Screamer might just be your next obsession.

The rebirth of *Screamer*—in the form of a futuristic, cyberpunk-themed arcade racer set in the distant future—has truly won us over, delivering some of the most carefree hours we’ve spent with racing games in recent years. Its enjoyable handling model, lengthy Story mode populated by memorable characters (though, admittedly, this mode suffers from a few structural and pacing issues), and inspired art direction make it a highly recommendable title for any fan of the genre, regardless of their prior experience. It is a game born of an old-school development philosophy—one that has been modernized and made appealing once again to an incredibly diverse audience. While a few issues persist regarding track design and certain mechanics that feel less polished than others, by and large, this marks another bullseye for the Milan-based studio.

Screamer offers good, lightning-fast arcade racing that, despite all the speed and (potential) chaos, also possesses tactical depth. However, the sometimes severe balance issues in story mode result in significant deductions in the overall score. Narratively, the game is only okay, but anime fans will definitely get much more out of the presentation and the deliberately exaggerated characters than everyone else.

Screamer is a great game and while not without flaws, has several engaging elements that make it stand out from other racing games of this era.

Milestone has revived its most iconic franchise, and the immense care and attention put into the project is evident, but the feeling is that it doesn’t quite measure up to the genre’s true classics. Screamer demands far more in terms of gameplay mechanics than it initially appears, so you’ll need to invest some time to fully appreciate everything it has to offer in its races.

Screamer is a unique racing game that makes bold promises about its gameplay and storyline. The twin-stick approach to drifting and driving makes the cars feel like no other, and you can sometimes feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins during races. However, the story has a slow build-up, and while it is unique to have every character speak in their native language, it can also be tiring. A smaller selection of languages would have been a better choice. It’s also strange to include offensive driving and leave it out of most of the story mode. This wouldn’t matter much if it weren’t for the difficulty spikes in the opponent AI, which made me want to see them crash and burn in a fiery explosion. But when it’s just me and my car on the asphalt, the high-octane action even manages to bring a smile to my sometimes frustrated face.

Screamer is a solid racing game packed with unconventional mechanics and a more story-driven approach. If you can master the mechanics and adapt to its steep learning curve, you might still enjoy it despite the inconsistent AI of the opponents.

Screamer won’t be for everyone. It’s challenging. It’s unique. It’s different. But it deserves your time and attention, even if you aren’t a huge fan of anime.

Screamer is a return to one of the legendary arcade racing franchises that stands out for its focus on story, art style, and high-octane gameplay. While it offers innovative controls using both sticks, the lengthy cutscenes break the pacing even between Tournament Mode races. Furthermore, although it features several interesting game modes, they are quite sparse and offer few customization options. Even so, it is a game that arcade racing fans might enjoy thanks to its great controls.

Tight controls, excellent fighting-game-inspired mechanics and an anime aesthetic that can't be overlooked are all reasons to start the engine, so it's a shame Screamer's story mode is so stuck in first gear.

Screamer is a truly unique racer, standing out thanks to its charming anime aesthetic, both on the track and in its well-crafted cutscenes. The characters are well written, even if the story is somewhat predictable. Thankfully, the driving model is up to par, offering a variety of nuanced mechanics within its arcade feel that keep the challenge high but fair. Unfortunately, it’s dragged down by a limited selection of courses and vehicles.

I love that Milestone is experimenting with new ideas within the arcade racing formula, and while the story didn’t land for me, I applaud the effort at narrative in a genre that frequently doesn’t even try to add meaningful context to its races. Even so, difficulty spikes and arbitrary objectives combine with overly convoluted mechanics to rob Screamer of some of its fun. It’s worth experiencing to see a developer try something new, but this race track might just have too many turns to be a winner.

Screamer is one of the most visually striking and nostalgically satisfying arcade games to hit the market since the PS3/Xbox 360 era — the golden age of racing. Unfortunately, the game is undermined by frustrating AI and level design that prevents you from fully enjoying the experience it otherwise deserves, given what it has to offer.

Screamer is a hero racer with combat elements and a strong focus on storytelling that overturns the arcade approach of the 1995 original, in an attempt to build something new and different. Does it succeed? In some respects yes, in others less so: the gameplay makes bold choices that can sometimes feel puzzling, giving the impression of overcomplicating what is ultimately a fairly traditional structure, where drifting and boosting alternate to win races. Meanwhile, the lengthy campaign unfolds as a four-act narrative that works well (also thanks to some impressive animated sequences) until a certain sense of fatigue starts to set in. There’s a noticeable lack of a more substantial surrounding framework, one that would better capitalize on the compelling characters crafted by Milestone and their vehicles. Perhaps something that will be expanded upon in the future?

It's a slightly odd mix of fast-paced arcade racing, an unbalanced game, a story that takes up too much space, almost too many systems, and controls that demand a lot from the player. Screamer isn't a bad game, but it tries to do almost too much. I would have liked it to be more straightforward. More like Ridge Racer could have been in 2026.

For all its quirks, I do hope that Screamer finds a regular and loyal fanbase. The story may be naff, and some tracks are better than others, but there remains an enjoyable core at the centre of it all. The potential for online play, particularly in all-out team races, is highly promising, but it’s a promise that can only be fulfilled if Screamer can entice enough an audience to purchase and persevere. It’s an excellent, flawed, unique, undercooked racer that just may yet manage to become a simply great one.

The team at Milestone have been crafting racing games for more than three decades now, Screamer proving that they aren't afraid of taking risks and trying something new. From its surprisingly fleshed out storylines to its advanced racing gameplay concepts, there are plenty of intriguing ideas at works here though not all them are executed well.

Screamer is a stylish, content-rich, and ambitious racing game that slightly stumbles over its own grandiosity. Narrative shortcomings, combined with a hint of excessive multitasking lower its overall score just enough that it doesn’t quite reach the very top tier in my eyes. Despite these nitpicks, it’s still an enjoyable high-speed racer that manages to carve out something unique in its own market.

Screamer tries to do a lot and packs in tons of content, but unfortunately, it drops the ball when it comes to the basics of the genre. No matter what else an arcade racer does, if the controls and the driving itself aren't spot on, the battle is mostly already lost.

Screamer looks great and has some neat ideas. But this anime-inspired arcade racer is let down by inconsistent and unbalanced competitor AI and controls that can often feel overcomplicated for the sake of it.

Screamer is a game of half measures. It’s got an anime style that doesn’t extend beyond the menus and cutscenes, a cool drift mechanic that isn’t put to good use by the dull track designs, and a long story campaign that just doesn’t hang together in an interesting way...It feels like a game where the final product perhaps isn’t what the developers set out to make, or where restrictions have prevented it from realising its potential. It’s a shame – a story-focused, anime-style racing game with cool drifts and deep interpersonal conflicts between a diverse cast could have really been cool.As it stands, Screamer is screaming for some significant tweaks under the hood before it’s totally roadworthy.