A Bright, Colorful Idea That Still Doesn’t Quite Hold Up as a Lasting Racer

Runbow is a racing game built around color. Players drive through levels painted in bright, shifting hues, each stage changing its palette as the race unfolds. The idea sounds simple. In practice, it asks players to learn a new set of rules on top of the usual ones.

Trailer, via 13AMgames.

The Core Idea

The central gimmick is that cars change direction depending on which color they hit. Drive over blue ground and your car moves left. Hit red and it turns right. That single mechanic carries most of the game’s identity, and it takes a while to get used to.

It also creates a kind of visual puzzle. Players have to predict which color a path will turn into before they commit to it, which adds a layer of planning that most racers don’t bother with.

Modes and Variations

Runbow offers a few different ways to play, though the core loop stays consistent across all of them. There’s a standard mode where players race against each other, a mode focused on time trials, and a mode that puts players together in a shared arena. Each one uses the same color-shifting logic underneath, but they change how the challenge is framed.

The time trial mode is particularly demanding. It strips away the chaos of multiplayer and forces players to master the color shifts on their own, which can be frustrating for anyone who hasn’t learned the system yet.

Color-Based Levels

The stages themselves are the game’s main draw. Each level is painted in a distinct palette, and the colors shift mid-race, altering the course as players drive through it. This is where the concept feels most original.

Some levels use the color changes to create branching paths, forcing players to make quick decisions about which route to take. Others use them purely for spectacle, changing hue dramatically as players pass through.

Controls and Feel

The controls are smooth enough for the genre, but they don’t push past what other racers offer. Cars feel responsive, and the color-based turning system is executed well enough that it rarely feels like it’s working against the player.

Where Runbow struggles is in giving players much to do beyond driving. The core loop is solid, but there isn’t much else to hold onto once the novelty of the color scheme wears off.

Multiplayer and Online

The online multiplayer is a mixed bag. Matches are fast, which suits the game’s pace, but the matchmaking can be unreliable, making it harder to find opponents at off-peak hours.

There’s also a local split-screen mode for up to four players, which works well for gatherings but doesn’t add much new content beyond what the single-player modes offer.

Presentation and Sound

The presentation leans heavily on bright colors and simple shapes, which fits the game’s theme. The soundtrack matches the cheerful tone of the visuals, though it doesn’t distinguish itself from other racing games.

None of this is bad, but none of it pushes Runbow toward greatness either. It’s competent, polished, and easy to overlook.

What Works

1. The color-based turning system is genuinely inventive and gives the game a unique identity.
2. The level design uses the color shifts creatively, creating paths that shift mid-race.
3. The core loop is simple to grasp but difficult to master.
4. The time trial mode rewards patience and precision.

What Falls Short

1. There isn’t much depth beyond the core mechanics.
2. The multiplayer matchmaking can be unreliable.
3. The presentation is pleasant but forgettable.
4. Some players may find the color system too abstract to enjoy.

Final Word

Runbow is a clever idea dressed in bright clothes. The color-based turning system is genuinely inventive, and the level design shows real creativity in using it. But the game never quite builds out into something more substantial than its premise.

It’s a solid, polished racer with a great gimmick, but the gimmick is the whole package. Players looking for depth beyond the initial hook may find themselves running out of reasons to return. For those who want a bright, cheerful diversion, Runbow delivers. For anyone chasing a lasting racing experience, it falls short.

game review · Indie Games · multiplayer · racing · time trials