What do I do when I’m not filming, photographing, working on or writing about cars? I’m playing racing games, obviously. And while I was able to fully surf the Need for Speed and Gran Turismo waves growing up, I missed on a PS2 game that was a hit back in its heyday – Tokyo Xtreme Racer. So now, out of nowhere, Genki have released a reboot of the series, and I quickly jumped at it while it is still in Early Access – meaning it’s not the full game yet.
If you’ve ever dreamed of battling neon-drenched legends under the glow of Tokyo’s expressways with a car that might look like your own daily driver, then Tokyo Xtreme Racer in Early Access might just be your new late-night jam.
As with most racing games, you have to start with something cheap and cheerful. This time, you are given the choices of an AE86, a Swift and a Roadster. So yes, of course, it took me less than a second to pick a white ND Roadster, exactly the same spec of the one in my garage. How could I not? It’s practically a rite of passage for anyone who loves lightweight tail-happy fun and refuses to admit they have a horsepower problem.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a AAA racing sim trying to drown you in telemetry, and it’s not even trying to be. This is a vibes first, precision later racing game. It’s a spiritual revival of the PS2 era Tokyo Xtreme Racer (notice the missing “e”. Back then, edgy spelling was as important as horsepower), with everything that brings. From the moment you roll out onto Tokyo’s iconic Shuto Expressway, everything feels like a nostalgic love letter to that era: the streetlights blur, the skyline looms, and every rival car feels like it has something to prove.
Every car, literally. The streets are filled with everyday JDM goodness, including older Axelas and even Toyota tipper trucks, and yeah, you can challenge even the latter to a midnight blast by flashing your lights.
Since the early hours of gameplay, you’re introduced to a surprisingly deep, RPG-like perk and ability system. Winning battles earns you points, which you can sink into skills like better grip, more XP from bosses, or even beefed-up drafting benefits. It’s like Need for Speed Underground had a baby with Persona, and they raised it on midnight tofu deliveries and VHS copies of Initial D.
Boss battles are a highlight, and yes, they’re glorious. I’ve already taken down a few early game bosses: the first driving a souped up AE86, the second with a Charlie Brown looking Toyota bB and the third in the Levorg with the loudest turbo flutter I’ve seen so far. These aren’t just generic races either: each rival has a funny name, a backstory, and a driving style, which adds some welcome personality to your nightly escapades.
And oh, the cars. While the garage starts humble, the future lineup teases everything from classic 90s JDM royalty and even some delightfully obscure kei car rockets. There’s talk in the community forums of being able to grab a Midnight Purple GT-R and a rotary that revs to the moon. Fingers crossed. My bank account is already sweating.
Visually, the devs have nailed Tokyo’s underworld aesthetic. It’s moody without being miserable, flashy without being obnoxious. The signage, the road textures, even the weirdly specific vending machines on off-ramps—it feels like Tokyo, not just in setting but in spirit. And the game isn’t afraid to slow down and let you cruise, too. Sometimes, you just want to vibe at 80 km/h with lo-fi Eurobeats and watch the city blur by like a dream half-remembered. I spent three weeks in Japan last year and this was a great way to transport myself back there for the price of a bowl of ramen.
It’s still early access, so yeah, a few things are rough around the edges. AI rubberbanding is a bit wild, and I raced a Toyota Crown taxi cab that was packing at least some 1000kW. But the bones are good. Real good. This is shaping up to be something special for fans of the old-school racers who’ve been waiting for a modern game that actually gets what made those PS2 nights so magical.
So far? I’m hooked. If you show up with no knowledge from the previous games and high expectations, this might (will?) disappoint you. But, if you want an addictive, good vibes, low stakes racing game, you’ll love it. My little MX-5 is climbing the ranks, the rivals are getting bolder, and Tokyo’s midnight streets are calling louder every night. I’ll be back with more impressions soon, but for now: if you know, you know. And if you don’t? It’s time to find out.
