Review by Jon Donnis
The famous mobile racing simulator finally arrives on Nintendo Switch, bringing with it over nine years of development, more than 35 million downloads, a huge selection of licensed cars and the ability to continue your progress across platforms. Assoluto Racing has built a strong reputation on mobile as a more serious driving experience compared to many arcade-style racers, and the Switch release gives players a new way to experience the game with proper physical controls.
The biggest improvement is immediately obvious. Playing Assoluto Racing with a controller feels significantly better than using the touchscreen controls on mobile. Racing games rely heavily on precision, and having analogue sticks and physical buttons makes controlling cars much more natural. Steering feels more responsive, braking is easier to manage and the overall experience feels closer to what players expect from a console racing game.
The Switch version also benefits from being portable. On the standard Nintendo Switch it provides a more traditional console experience, while the game also works well on the Switch Lite. Being able to take a racing simulator like this on the go is a major advantage, especially for players who enjoy shorter races without needing to sit at a television.
Performance is generally stable during races, with the game handling the action well. Online multiplayer also works effectively, allowing players to compete against others across platforms. The inclusion of cross-play and cross-save is one of the strongest features of the release. Being able to connect your mobile account and continue your garage progression on Switch is a welcome addition, especially for long-term players who have already invested time into building up their collection.
The Switch version also attempts to justify its price with additional value. While the original mobile version is free, the Nintendo Switch release includes extra cars and in-game currency. When comparing the included resources to what the same amount would cost through mobile purchases, the Switch version actually provides a sizeable starter package. A reasonable estimate is that buying roughly equivalent resources on mobile could cost somewhere around £30 to £50, potentially more depending on how lucky you are with certain car draws. This means the Switch version is not simply charging players for a basic port, it does provide a substantial amount of content from the start.
However, this is where some of the biggest problems with Assoluto Racing appear. Despite being released as a paid Nintendo Switch game, it still feels very much like a mobile title that has been moved onto another platform rather than a game specifically designed for Switch.
The user interface is the clearest example. The menus are obviously built around touchscreen controls, yet the Switch version does not support touchscreen input. Instead, players have to navigate with a cursor, which feels slow and awkward. There is an option to quickly move the cursor to the next selectable area, but it is not always accurate, meaning players will often find themselves manually moving around menus in a much slower way than should be necessary.
The presentation also feels behind the times. For a Nintendo Switch release arriving in 2026, the graphics are underwhelming. The cars themselves are recognisable and the tracks are functional, but the overall visual quality does not feel like a modern console racing game. The engine sounds are another weak point, with many vehicles producing fairly generic audio that lacks the character and realism expected from a serious racing simulator.
Another issue is that outside of the additional cars and currency, there is very little that separates the Switch release from the mobile version. There are no major upgrades or features that make it feel like a completely new experience. This is still the same Assoluto Racing players have known for years, simply adapted for a new platform.
The biggest concern for some console players will be the monetisation. Assoluto Racing uses gacha mechanics, where certain rewards and vehicles can be obtained through random paid draws. This system is common in mobile games, but it feels less comfortable in a paid console release. Players have already paid £16.99 for the game, so being faced with heavy monetisation systems afterwards may leave some feeling that the experience is still designed around mobile spending habits.
Ultimately, Assoluto Racing on Nintendo Switch is a difficult game to judge. As a racing game, it is genuinely enjoyable. The driving feels good, the car selection is impressive, the online features work well and the ability to carry progress between mobile and Switch is excellent.
However, the question is whether it offers enough to justify buying it if you already own the mobile version. For existing players who have spent years building their garage, there is little reason to purchase the Switch version unless they specifically want a bigger screen and controller support. Even then, the older visuals may make the upgrade feel less impressive than expected.
For newcomers, however, Assoluto Racing is one of the better driving games available on Nintendo Switch. It offers a more serious racing experience than many arcade racers and provides plenty of content straight away. The gacha mechanics and mobile-style monetisation may put some console players off, especially after paying an upfront price, but if you can accept those systems, there is a lot to enjoy.
Assoluto Racing is a great racing game that has finally found its way onto Nintendo Switch. It is not a perfect port, and it sometimes feels like a mobile game wearing a console jacket, but the strong driving model, large car collection and excellent cross-platform features make it a worthwhile addition for the right audience.
Looking at Assoluto Racing purely as a standalone Nintendo Switch game, it earns a fair score of 8 out of 10
Available at https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Assoluto-Racing-3131589.html
Currently on offer, £13.99(-17%) until 13/08/2026
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