Rise: Race the Future is a fantastic racing game at its core that is held back only by the limits of its own ambition. While it would benefit greatly from a further exploration of its own mechanics and multiplayer functionality, it remains a very fun and technically-solid racer that can more than hold its own against the system’s best.

Rise: Race The Future could definitely be improved, but there’s a good enough base here that if you’re looking for a fun futuristic racing game, this one (mostly) delivers.

As the checkered flag comes down on RISE: Race the Future, it has finished strong. The graphics, the driving mechanics, the tracks, the vehicles, and the play-time are all very good. The game is fun to play and challenging enough to keep you coming back for more. Even if you normally don’t get into racing games, RISE is definitely worth having in your Switch collection. Unfortunately, the lack of multiplayer is a significant omission that we can’t ignore.

As long as you’re playing it docked and willing to put the time in to master its helium-light handling, Rise eventually reveals itself to be a rewarding and visually fantastic arcade style racer with an interesting Challenges mode. Its slightly blurry handheld visuals and the complete lack of multiplayer are disappointing, but persevere with its slippery steering and the payoff is a fun – if unforgiving – solo racing game.

Rise: Race the Future is a racing game that reverses the trend towards complexity and realism and exchanges it for simplicity in a work that is mostly centered on driving skills for rather short but demanding challenges. Thanks to its remarkable art style and good selling price, Rise: Race the Future is a good choice for fans of racing games but the lack of a multiplayer experience is its biggest shortcoming.

Even if you were to look at this title without comparing it to other arcade racers, Rise: Race the Future would simply be fine. The track designs are good, and the Challenge mode offers up something in lieu of multiplayer. However, with a limited selection of tracks and cars when compared to other games, Rise feels rather limited in terms of what the player can do before boredom sets in. Ultimately, the game does well as a quick snack, but it's doesn't need to be a permanent part of one's racing library.

I found the game rather enjoyable as I could freely pick it up to play a few levels or challenges. It was nice to be able to play a quick race between cooking dinner or that small time between I need to go to bed and well going to bed. Would I recommend this game to others, yes but let’s be honest this is not for everyone? If you are simulation racer type you may find this game a bit too loose and wild.