Jetpack Joyride Racing Review: Sucks the joy out of racing at Jetpack speed

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The popular game Jetpack Joyride is back, but with a new twist – racing instead of endless running. When Jetpack Joyride Racing was announced, many fans, including myself, were thrilled about the idea of a racing version of this decade-old favorite, and we were eager to play it.

The game officially released this April, and the concept itself is appealing. Combining a popular world with multiplayer racing, drifting, and fast-paced action seems like a winning formula. Given that it’s developed by Halfbrick Studios – a team with a strong track record – expectations were high. But is it actually good? That’s a more complicated question.

I’ve spent the last four hours really diving into Jetpack Joyride Racing on my Xiaomi 15 Ultra – getting the hang of the racing, learning how everything works, and trying to see what this game is all about. Here’s my full review, covering what I loved, what didn’t quite work, and why I feel like something’s still missing from the experience.

Simple racing mechanics that work, but only to a point

As a fan, I can tell you the gameplay is really easy to pick up. You’re racing against up to six other players in fast-paced matches. The controls are pretty simple – it’s mostly about drifting around corners, staying on the best path, and knowing when to use your boost, kind of like I explained in my Beginners Guide.

The racing itself is enjoyable when it clicks. I appreciated the challenge of learning the ropes – you don’t just jump in and win. It takes time to master things like taking corners, drifting effectively, and using the boost pads to your advantage.

Successfully navigating the Charge Zones and linking boosts is really satisfying, but it takes practice. The tracks also feature different zones – like Slow Zones and Cutout Zones – that can either give you an advantage or completely derail your race if you’re not paying attention.

The game includes little details, like being able to knock opponents off balance, which prevent races from feeling too simple. However, once you learn these mechanics, you’ve experienced pretty much everything the game has to offer – and that’s surprisingly limited.

Still searching for the game modes, find them for me please

I didn’t have high hopes for this game, and was hoping for some variety beyond the standard 6-on-6 matches – things like 2v2 modes or a ranked system where race choice felt meaningful, not just for unlocking cosmetic items. Unfortunately, none of that was included.

The game lacks variety in its modes. You simply race, and then repeat that same race. It feels limited – there could have been many more engaging options to keep the gameplay fresh, like time trials, individual challenges, or even more inventive racing styles. Imagine adding things like the ability to explode an opponent’s vehicle or a risky fuel system that encourages daring plays!

The game lets you play with friends either by adding them and joining online matches, or in a private mode where you can compete against each other. However, the private mode requires a Halfbrick+ subscription, which is a downside. Ultimately, the lack of variety in game modes makes the experience feel a bit repetitive and disappointing.

Despite any improvements, the core gameplay remains the same, leading to a quickly repetitive experience. While the races themselves are brief, constantly repeating this single activity soon becomes monotonous and unengaging.

Progression is a major disconnect

The way you improve things in the game is a bit unusual. Instead of upgrading directly within the game itself, it’s all connected to the Halfbrick+ system. You earn cards and unlock rewards through a Season Pass, but you have to use a separate app to manage and upgrade those cards.

As I’ve been playing, I’ve noticed the game really wants you to check out stuff outside of just the main gameplay. Like, whenever you unlock something cool, it encourages you to either make new skins for your characters or level up your cards. It’s the first Halfbrick game to use a card system, so it’s taking me a little while to fully understand how it all works, but it seems pretty interesting so far!

The game doesn’t make you feel like you’re truly improving your racer. Most upgrades are just visual changes, so even as you play, it doesn’t affect how the game actually works. It’s good that you can’t buy your way to victory, but it makes you wonder what the point of leveling up even is.

Visuals and presentation are fine, but nothing eye-catchy

The game has a clean and appealing look, retaining the style of Jetpack Joyride. You’ll recognize all the characters – Barry, the Professor, Dan, and the rest – though you’ll need to unlock them as you play. There are lots of cosmetic items available, and even the few I’ve unlocked have made the game more visually exciting.

The tracks are all visually appealing, but you’ll start to notice they become quite similar after a while. I don’t see this as a bad thing, though – knowing what’s around the next corner, like turns and speed boosts, actually helps you plan the fastest route.

The sound design and user interface are both decent, but nothing special – they’re just average. Gameplay is extremely simple: you tap the left and right sides of the screen and tap a boost button when it’s charged. There isn’t much more to say about the controls.

Monetization without pay-to-win, but still questionable

It’s great that the game is free to play and doesn’t force you to spend money to win. You can’t directly buy advantages in races, which is a positive. However, putting fun features like Party Mode behind a subscription feels a bit limiting, even though the base game is free. Offering cosmetic items for purchase would be a better approach.

Final Verdict

Jetpack Joyride Racing has a good base to build from. The racing itself is straightforward, controls well, and can be fun once you learn how to play. However, the game doesn’t offer much beyond that basic experience to keep players interested for long.

This game has a lot of potential, especially since it’s a racing game! Let’s add upgrades to test how durable the jetpacks are, and increase the risk to make racing more thrilling. I want features and modes that really make players think before pushing the limits and potentially crashing off the track – I’m looking for that real adrenaline rush!

Did I come across as too critical in my review? Perhaps. You can decide for yourself. It’s not that I’m making excuses for the delay of the Dan the Man sequel – I admit I wasn’t entirely truthful about that. But this release feels incomplete, like it was rushed, or still in testing.

For nearly 15 years, Halfbrick has been known for making incredibly enjoyable games, so expectations were high for this new release. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to those standards, and feels unfinished. While it’s not a terrible game, that feeling of incompleteness is what’s most frustrating. We know Halfbrick is capable of much more.

Jetpack Joyride Racing Review by GamingonPhone

Gameplay Mechanics – 7
Gamemodes and Progression – 1
Graphics and Music – 6.5
Controls and UI – 6
Free-to-play Elements – 7

5.5

Average

Jetpack Joyride Racing starts with a great concept and is immediately fun and easy to pick up. However, once the initial thrill wears off, the game feels shallow due to its limited modes and progression. Important features are also locked behind a subscription, which ultimately doesn’t give players enough reason to keep playing.

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2026-04-25 14:13