Redout: Enhanced Edition Review Summary

An exhilarating arcade racer with a great soundtrack, though its dead online multiplayer, broken VR support, and buggy, unbalanced AI hold it back.

Exhilarating speed experience: Players consistently praise the game's exceptional sense of speed, describing it as blisteringly fast and adrenaline-filled. Many highlight the thrill of racing at high speeds through complex tracks.

Fun arcade racing: The game is appreciated as a pure arcade racer that delivers a fun and smooth experience. It is often described as a polished and psychedelic racer.

Excellent soundtrack: The soundtrack is frequently praised as top-notch, dynamic, and mood-setting. Many reviewers consider it a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.

Great track design: Tracks are described as varied, beautiful, and uniquely designed. Players enjoy the dynamic and creative layouts that add to the excitement.

Anti-gravity racing genre: The game is recognized as a solid anti-gravity racing game that recaptures the magic of classic titles. It is considered unique and high-quality within the genre.

Online multiplayer is dead: Players consistently state that online multiplayer is empty, with few active players and matchmaking failures. This makes the game feel like a single-player experience.

VR support removed or broken: Multiple players report that VR no longer works, with support removed despite store page claims. This is a significant regression for a feature previously advertised.

AI bugs and imbalance: AI can bug out, becoming unreachable or too easy, and is poorly tuned with inconsistent difficulty. This affects race quality.

Steep learning curve: The game has a steep learning curve that can frustrate casual players and presents a high barrier to entry. Some find it difficult to master.

Forced Epic Games account linking: Steam users must link an Epic Games account to play with Epic users, with no opt-out option. This mandatory requirement frustrates some players.

Anti-gravity futuristic racing core: The game is consistently described as an anti-gravity racing game set in a futuristic style, similar to Wipeout or F-Zero. It emphasizes high-speed hovercraft-like ships and magnetic tracks.

Fast-paced arcade racing: The game is described as a fast-paced arcade racer focused on speed and fun, with motion blur effects. It avoids complex tuning or setup mechanics.

Career mode progression: A career mode is frequently highlighted, featuring unlocks, medals, and AI difficulty. Progression often requires finishing in top positions to unlock tracks and ships.

Varied game modes: The game offers around ten different modes, including time trials, tournaments, elimination, survival, and arena races. These provide diverse gameplay experiences beyond standard races.

Online multiplayer availability: Many reviews mention online multiplayer, including matchmaking and support for up to 12 players. However, some note that the online community is inactive.

Smooth performance on capable hardware: The game runs very well without stutters, butter smooth, with high frame rates on dedicated gaming laptops and mid-tier graphics cards.

Steam Deck compatibility issues: The game does not work properly on Steam Deck, with reports of stretched resolution, lower frame rate, and launch failures; some users need Proton Experimental or missing VC redist installers.

Playable on low-end systems: The game runs on low-end systems like a 2012 PC with onboard graphics, a 2020 laptop without a GPU, and an i3 Gen11 laptop after tweaking settings.

Update causes crashes and performance issues: The 1.7.0 update, which moved to a newer UE4 version and DX12, introduced visual problems, hiccups, and crashes for various users.

HDR missing or faulty: HDR is missing despite being advertised, and when it works it causes color burnout or other incorrect display issues.

Worth full price: Many reviewers consider the game worth every penny at full price, while others suggest waiting for a sale.

Highly recommended overall: Multiple reviewers strongly recommend the game without reservations, using phrases like 'absolutely recommended' and 'cannot recommend enough'.

Great for F-Zero fans: Fans of F-Zero, Wipeout, and similar futuristic racing games will likely enjoy this title, as it captures the high-speed arcade racing spirit.

Get it on sale: Several reviewers suggest buying the game on sale rather than at full price, although some find it worth the full price.

Ideal for speed enthusiasts: High-speed enthusiasts and adrenaline seekers will find this game ideal, offering extreme speed and arcade challenges.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00.

Game completion: 33.0h.

Endgame: 200.0h.

Redout is reported to become fun after players push through a steep dual-stick and track-learning curve, though weak tutorial guidance and demanding tracks delay the payoff. Repeated practice and ship tuning are the main paths to enjoyment.

Friction: Steep dual-stick steering and ship-piloting learning curve; In-game tutorial does not explain key mechanics such as strafing; Technical tracks and blind corners make clean racing difficult at first; Some races feel overwhelming before the movement system is understood; Early technical sections can exceed the available ship class.

Unlock drivers: Practice with the dual-stick controls until the basics become comfortable; Racing tracks repeatedly to learn their layouts and blind corners; Tuning the ship setup; Reading an external guide to cover mechanics the tutorial lacks; Player improvement and unlocking events.

Anti-Grav Skill Master: Memorizes turns, manages boost and vehicle health, chases medals and records, and uses precise controller input to sustain speed. Motivation: Mastering high-speed anti-gravity racing through practice, track memorization, and competitive challenge. Stance: buy.

Casual Arcade Racer: Plays occasionally for quick enjoyment and is less willing to memorize tracks, fight punishing AI, or practice demanding drift timing. Motivation: Wants accessible, low-pressure arcade racing fun without a steep learning curve. Stance: no buy.

Old-School Speed Seeker: Prefers fast, colorful arcade circuits, controller play, and technical tracks while avoiding realistic racing sims and open-world distractions. Motivation: Chasing pure arcade speed, nostalgic anti-grav racing, and technical track thrills without realistic simulation. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: Steam Deck feedback is mixed. Some users report that the racing game is enjoyable and well suited to portable play, but others hit launch friction: one user must force Proton Experimental, another notes a missing VC redist installer, and one says the game does not work properly on Steam Deck or streamed to Deck. There is also a reported visual and frame-rate regression compared with earlier Steam Deck performance. The evidence fits a playable-but-tinkering experience rather than a totally broken one.

Linux and Proton: Linux/Steam Deck feedback is mixed and limited. One user reports the game will not load under default Steam Deck settings and requires Proton Experimental, with washed-out visuals and lower frame rate; another notes a missing VC redist dependency for the Steam Deck Linux version. A separate review recalls that it used to run beautifully on Deck, supporting a regression rather than a total failure. Evidence indicates the game is playable with Proton tinkering, not stable out of the box.

Monetization: The reviews focus on paid DLC track packs, map access behind a DLC paywall, and bundle or Ultimate Edition value. Some users are annoyed that many maps are DLC-locked, but others praise the DLC as content-rich and reasonably priced. There is no direct evidence of in-game microtransactions, real-money gacha, loot boxes, paid power, convenience monetization, or aggressive currency practices. Under the audit rules, traditional DLC and bundle complaints alone cannot push the score above 20.

Frequent F-Zero and Wipeout comparisons: The game is repeatedly described as a spiritual successor to F-Zero and Wipeout, with many reviewers drawing direct parallels to these classic anti-gravity racers. These comparisons highlight the game's style, design choices, and sense of speed.

DLC adds tracks and factions: The game offers DLC that adds new tracks, environments, and a new faction. Reviewers note that the base game has 25 tracks, with additional tracks available through DLC.

Developed by 34BigThings: The game is developed by Italian indie studio 34BigThings and was released in 2016. It is built on Unreal Engine 4.

VR support available: VR support is available for the game, including for Oculus Rift, though some reviewers have not tested it. This feature is noted as a positive for VR enthusiasts.

Mandatory Epic Games account linking: Online play requires linking an Epic Games Store account, which was added after release and is mandatory even for Steam users. Reviewers express frustration over this forced requirement.