Backseat Drivers Review Summary

Great co-op and a unique concept for short sessions, but frequent bugs, motion sickness, and quickly waning interest hold it back.

Great co-op mode: The cooperative gameplay is highlighted as a standout feature, with many reviewers noting the entertainment and fun derived from playing with others. The co-op mode is considered excellent and worth buying the game for.

Nice short sessions: Many find the game fun for short periods of time, like a few hours or for the first hour. The brevity is seen as a positive for quick, casual gaming.

Unique and cool concept: The game's creative concept is frequently praised, with players appreciating its originality and solid realization. The idea is considered fun and unique, contributing to the game's appeal.

Great humor: The game's humor is a strong point, making players laugh hard and even causing physical reactions. The fun and chaotic nature enhances the comedic experience.

Fun in short bursts: Players enjoy the game as a quick and fun session during free time, but not for long durations. The initial good content keeps them coming back.

Technical and design flaws: Players cite various technical flaws, including clunkiness, jank, misstep in design, and overall poor execution, leading to dissatisfaction.

Game becomes boring quickly: Multiple reviewers found the game boring and repetitive after a short time, with several mentioning it losing appeal after about 30 minutes. This indicates a significant issue with long-term engagement.

Causes severe motion sickness: A large group of players report experiencing motion sickness and nausea, sometimes severe enough to cause vomiting or migraines. This occurs even in players who usually do not suffer from such symptoms.

Steering controls difficult: Players struggle with the steering mechanics, especially when using the mouse, which feels imprecise and cumbersome. This often becomes the primary source of challenge and frustration.

Progress-blocking bugs: Certain levels contain bugs that prevent player progress, such as a glitch after level 6 and specific issues in level 8, stopping the player from moving onward.

Co-op multiplayer with friends: The game is primarily a cooperative multiplayer experience, supporting two to four players. Players work together to navigate driving challenges, often with one directing another.

Driving-focused gameplay: Core gameplay revolves around driving vehicles, with car handling, steering, and crashes. Players control a car through various environments, including city, mountains, and space, facing traffic interactions.

Passenger roles and modes: The game supports up to four passengers in the same car, with specific roles like middle seat passenger. Passenger modes require interaction with unique mechanics, emphasizing group play.

Story mode included: The game includes a story mode with coordinated navigation. Additional game modes beyond the story are available, offering a structured progression through levels.

Meaningful when with friends: The game is more enjoyable and meaningful when played with friends or family, emphasizing social interaction and party contexts. It is quick but entertaining in a group setting.

Frequent game crashes: Reports indicate the game crashes frequently, often with Unreal Engine errors (including UE-BDS), sometimes opening crash tabs and affecting non-host players mid-game or when changing maps. This affects both high-end and mid-range systems.

Severe lag and slowdown: Players encounter heavy lag, FPS drops to 2-3, and random sluggishness in controls outside of slideshow moments. Lag worsens when picking up items or when objects move off-screen.

Well optimized on high-end systems: One player highlights that the game runs well on ultra modern and mid-range PCs, indicating good optimization on some Unreal Engine 5 setups. This contrasts with other users' performance issues, suggesting varying experience across hardware.

Weird bugs reported: Some players mention encountering strange and unexpected bugs in the game, potentially impacting playability and overall enjoyment. The exact nature of these bugs remains unspecified but they are noteworthy.

Price and value concerns: Some reviewers feel the game is not worth its current price, especially for the amount of fun or playtime it offers. Suggestions include buying on discount, waiting for a sale, or using a friend pass for free co-op.

Requires willing partner: The ideal is to have a friend who will commit to playing and guide you through the game. Without a willing partner, the experience may not be as enjoyable.

Bugs hinder experience: Several players mention game-breaking bugs blocking progress, crashes, and joining issues. Many withhold a purchase recommendation until these bugs are fixed, though they admit the game is fun otherwise.

Not recommended overall: Some reviewers advise against buying the game, calling it a waste of time or money, and suggest saving money for other titles. These negative views often stem from bugs or limited enjoyment.

Avoid with anger issues: The game can be frustrating, and players with anger management tendencies may find it stressful. However, some recommend it for those who enjoy challenging or rage-inducing experiences.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $8.00.

Story completion: 3.5h.

Session length: 0.3h.

Backseat Drivers delivers immediate chaotic fun with friends, but the novelty fades within 10-30 minutes, leading to boredom and frustration due to repetitiveness and bugs.

Co-op Chaos Enthusiast: Plays with a friend or in a group, embracing imperfect communication and absurdity. Motivation: Genuine co-op laughter and social bonding through chaotic driving. Stance: buy.

Frustrated Bug-Aware Player: Cautious, may try but quickly become frustrated and stop playing. Motivation: Wanting a polished, complete game experience without game-breaking bugs. Stance: sale.

Relationship Stress Tester: Plays with one specific friend, often taking roles of driver and navigator, and embraces both frustration and laughter. Motivation: Experiencing emotional highs and lows with a close friend, strengthening bonds through challenge. Stance: buy.

Friend Pass praised for co-op: A prominent feature across many reviews is the Friend Pass, which allows free co-op play with one purchase. It is considered a consumer-friendly approach that enables friends to experience the game together without everyone buying a copy.

Game length considered short: Multiple reviews indicate the game is short, with completion times ranging from about an hour to six hours. While some appreciate the shorter experience, many wish for additional content or levels.

Bugs exist and developer responds: The game has bugs despite being a full release, but the developer is responsive in fixing them and listening to feedback. Some bugs, like the ski lift issue, have persisted, but patches are released.

Limited length and content: Reviews note the game is short, often playable in a couple of evenings or a few hours, with limited levels and no connecting storyline, but the content quality is appreciated.

Single purchase for up to four players: A single purchase includes up to four player slots, but for more than one player multiple copies are needed, indicating the friend pass is limited to one guest.