Re-Volt

Re-Volt is the cult-favorite 1999 remote-control car racer from Acclaim, built around an unusual scale conceit: the cars are the size of real R/C vehicles, which means everything in the environment is bigger than life. Curbs become huge walls. Discarded toys become impassable obstacles. Furniture, supermarket aisles and household objects all serve as both racetrack components and tactical considerations as you weave between them.

The story framing is the toy company Toy-Volt's products gaining minds of their own. Escaping the shelves that held them prisoner, the R/C cars enter the real world and create chaos as they enjoy their newfound freedom. The 28 playable cars race through 13 different tracks spread across four Cups, with environments including museums, supermarkets, and settings that may look uncomfortably like your own neighborhood. Each track holds its own scale-driven hazards specific to the location.

The game's reputation has held up remarkably well over the decades — Re-Volt features great gameplay, realistic physics that still hold up today, and bright colorful visuals that fit the toy-car premise without dating poorly. Pitched at people who want a funky arcade racing game and players who seek more competitive challenge in equal measure, the game scales from casual play to genuine R/C racing competition. Local play with friends and online multiplayer both remain part of the package.