videogamescritic
← all games
Old School Rally

Old School Rally

Frozen Lake Games · released Dec 3, 2025

IndieRacingSimulation

A nostalgic racing game that combines the charm of classic retro style visuals with the thrill of international rally competitions.

82
VGC Score
Declininghigh confidence

anchored at patch: “v 1.0.985 - Patch#5 - Model Re-Work” (1y ago)

82%
At launch
89%
Steam all-time
n/a
Press
87%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)0
All-time Steam reviews89%831000
Metacritic user ratings0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)87%81957
Calibration prior (typical game)7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 30, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 957 total reviews in window · weighted 157.2 up / 21.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (7)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 80
    trust 78Jan 2, 2026

    “Old-school rally racing straight out of the ’90s.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 69Dec 3, 2025

    That's pretty much it; a simple, arcadey rally racer with fun stages, recognisable cars, and a great aesthetic. Hopefully the iffy default handling doesn't deter people, because there's plenty of fun to be had once you find the right balance.

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    trust 69Dec 17, 2025

    Old School Rally proves there’s still room for retro racers, offering great variety, nostalgic charm, and strong content, even if its career mode feels somewhat lacking.

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    trust 68Dec 26, 2025

    The Old School Rally is exactly what it says it is, and what it does, it does well.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 64Dec 7, 2025

    Old School Rally is a brilliant throwback made with genuine affection for the classics. It doesn’t modernise the formula much, and that’s both its biggest strength and its biggest limitation. If you want a simple, skill-first rally racer straight out of the PS1 era, this absolutely delivers. If you were never into these sorts of games, this won’t be the one to change your mind. But for me? It’s a nostalgic blast that drives well, looks great in its retro way, and reminds me why I enjoyed these games in the first place. There’s even a free demo, so if you’re unsure, definitely strap in and give it a try.

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    trust 61Dec 3, 2025

    Old School Rally is a great arcade-style racing game that has a pleasing PlayStation 1-era aesthetic and fun, addicting gameplay that's easy to pick up and play. The game pays homage to the sport of rally with several unlicensed cars that closely resemble their real-life counterparts, ensuring players aren't missing out on car variety. Although it's not innovative, Old School Rally is a joy to play for racing game fans.

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    trust 56Dec 3, 2025

    Old School Rally may not have as much meat on the bones as modern rally games, and on a technical level it's not going to wow you at all. Having said that, Old School Rally pays gracious homage to the past and is definitely a rally-racing game for those who love late 90s and early 00s titles such as Colin McRae Rally and the early WRC titles.

    read full review ↗

Patch history

  1. v 1.0.985 - Patch#5 - Model Re-Work
    Jul 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  2. v 1.0.985 - Patch#4 - Model Re-Work and Bug Fixes
    Jul 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  3. Model Rework v 1.0.985 - Patch#3
    Jul 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  4. v 1.0.985 - Patch#2
    Jul 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  5. Patch notes - v1.0.985
    Jun 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  6. Patch notes - v1.0.984
    Apr 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  7. Four New Cars, Two New Stages and All-New "Daily Challenge" Mode!
    Jan 26, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  8. Vs CPU Mode is Finally Here with an All-New Rally Car!
    Dec 19, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  9. A Sneak Peek at the Massive Fall Update
    Nov 5, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  10. The 1st Major Update Goes Live & Guide
    Sep 24, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  11. RACE REPLAY IS FINALLY HERE (and a lot more)!!!
    Aug 24, 2024significant · resets scoring window