Star Wars Episode I Racer

1999 LucasArts Action, Racing

Windows 11With a fix

MacNot sold

LinuxGold

Steam DeckPlayable

Gamicality score

Metacritic Not rated

OpenCritic Not rated

Steam players 831

How it’s combined

Playability today

3.5

Runs today3.5/5

Design today3.5/5

Steam user reviews

Very Positive

87%

2,137 reviews1

Get it on Steam Watch the trailer

Facts checked November 1, 2026

Does Star Wars Episode I Racer run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11With a fix

Runs with a fix. See the steps below.1

Mac (Apple Silicon)Not sold

No Mac version is sold.

LinuxGold

Through Proton. ProtonDB: Gold, runs perfectly after tweaks.3

Steam DeckPlayable

Playable, as rated by Valve. May need some setup.1

Played Star Wars Episode I Racer lately?

One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs

How to get Star Wars Episode I Racer running today

If the game crashes on startup or shows graphical errors, install dgVoodoo 2 as described on PCGamingWiki.
If it freezes while loading, disconnect extra monitors and unneeded USB input devices; PCGamingWiki and Steam players link the hang to some HID drivers (PCGamingWiki, Steam Community).
For widescreen, sharper text and easier controller setup, use MrGameFixer's launcher (Steam Community).

Synopsis

Star Wars Episode I Racer is a high-speed podracing game based on the Phantom Menace race on Tatooine. You pick a pilot, race through tournament circuits on several planets, and spend prize money on parts and pit droids to keep your pod fast.

Developer: LucasArts
Released: 1999
Genre: Action, Racing
Where to get it: Steam

Reception

At release in 1999 the game was praised for its speed and looks, and N64 Magazine gave the console version 88 percent. A review of the 2020 console remaster calls it immense fun with smooth, precise steering, but finds the parts system half-finished, since only four pit droids can maintain upgrades. Steam players today are split: many enjoy it once it runs, while several busy threads report startup crashes, missing sound and controllers that are not detected on the Steam version.

Trailer from Steam

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

3.5/5

Sold or given away today by an official source
Needs fan patches to run well on Windows 11
?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connection
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
All of its content still works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
All tracks, pilots and modes are present; LAN play works and online play needs workarounds (PCGamingWiki).
No proper support for modern resolutions and widescreen
The game is stretched from 4:3 unless a patched executable is used (PCGamingWiki).
Full controller support or remappable controls
Controls are remappable and the Steam version supports menu navigation with a controller, though XInput pads need a patch for triggers (PCGamingWiki).
Steam Deck Verified or Playable
No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
Known game-breaking bugs in the current version
Many Steam players report the game closing during loading, black screens or no sound on current Windows, and the suggested fixes work for some and not others (Steam Community).

Design today

3.5/5

Controls feel awkward on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
Modern XInput controllers need a patch for working triggers, D-pad and deadzones, and Steam players often report that their controller is not detected at all. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, steamcommunity.com, djcube.co.uk.
Menus, text or interface are hard to read on today's screens
The image is stretched from 4:3 on widescreen monitors and the fonts are low resolution unless a patched executable or launcher is used. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, steamcommunity.com.
Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progress
Progress is written to a player save file (PCGamingWiki lists the .sav location), and races last a few minutes and can be entered one at a time instead of finishing a whole tournament in one sitting. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, djcube.co.uk.
It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progress
Accelerate, steer and a boost charged by holding forward are the whole control set, so the game is easy to pick up without a guide. Source: djcube.co.uk.
Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtracking
Short races across new planets keep the pace high, and winnings plus pit droid repairs cover upgrades without grinding. Source: djcube.co.uk.
Camera and movement never fight the player
Steering is smooth and precise, with every slight stick tilt registering, so movement does not fight the player. Source: djcube.co.uk.