4PGP Nintendo Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
There’s no school like the old school, and the Switch has been blessed with some gloriously old-school racers in recent times. 4PGP is one such game, delivering a fast-paced arcade racing experience that feels like a throwback to a different era. While it was originally released earlier this year in February, 4PGP has recently received a major update alongside its PlayStation 5 release, bringing new features and improvements to Nintendo Switch players. Since we were stuck in the pits and couldn’t review it during its first lap, I thought this would be the perfect time to jump into the driver’s seat and see what all the fuss is about. What’s it Like? Zip up your race suit, strap on your helmet, and warm up those tyres as we review 4PGP for Nintendo Switch 2.
4PGP takes us back to the days of arcade-style 3D racers like Daytona USA. There’s no lengthy introduction here. Simply pick a game mode, which includes four Grand Prix events, Time Attack, or Quick Race, and get straight onto the track. Each Grand Prix consists of three courses, with three laps per race. Every circuit is inspired by real-world locations from around the globe, giving each championship its own identity while keeping the focus firmly on fast, accessible arcade racing. Better still, every mode except Time Attack supports up to four players simultaneously, making it a great choice for local multiplayer.
Winning Grand Prix events unlocks new Formula One-inspired cars based on the difficulty you choose, giving you an incentive to tackle the tougher settings. It all comes together in a low-fuss racing package that respects your time and wastes very little getting you into the action. Gameplay is incredibly slick, with an easy-to-pick-up but difficult-to-master approach to racing. There’s something immensely satisfying about shaving seconds off your lap times, and much of that comes down to the boost system. I found myself avoiding the brakes wherever possible, instead lifting off the accelerator before turning into a corner, before getting back on the throttle and using the boost on a corner exit to pull away from the pack. Managing your boost adds another layer of strategy, as driving through the pit lane gives you the chance to refill your boost gauge by pressing the left shoulder button with the correct timing. Get it right, and you’ll refill the gauge completely. Miss the timing, and you’ll only recover a small amount, forcing you to decide whether the time lost in the pits is worth the reward. In a close race, that split-second decision can make all the difference. It’s a fast-paced arcade racer that delivers an excellent sense of speed from lights out to the chequered flag. My only concern is the amount of content available for solo players. You can comfortably complete all four Grand Prix events in under an hour, so the game’s longevity will largely depend on whether you’re chasing faster lap times, higher difficulties, or gathering a few mates for split-screen races.
If you happened to play 4PGP when it first launched, there’s plenty of good news. Rather than simply releasing on another platform, the developers have taken the opportunity to give the game a welcome tune-up, with every improvement also arriving as a free update for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players. The biggest gameplay addition is analogue acceleration and braking through a new control profile that uses the right stick. While the original digital controls remain available, the new option gives you much finer control over your speed, making it easier to carry momentum through corners and apply the throttle more precisely when exiting them. Players can also now race using the Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe and Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Mini. The aggressive AI has also been fine-tuned, resulting in a more balanced race, with far less frustration.
4PGP proudly wears its old-school arcade roots on its sleeve with simple visuals that take you back to the golden era of racing your mates on Daytona USA. While the presentation is fairly straightforward, it does a great job of capturing the feel of each location, with every circuit representing its real-world inspiration well. The Formula One-inspired cars are simple in their design but still look the part, while small touches like tyre smoke under heavy braking and boost effects help sell the sensation of speed without overcomplicating the visuals.
Performance is where 4PGP really shines on Nintendo Switch 2. During my testing, the game delivered an exceptionally smooth experience, running at up to 120Hz while docked and remaining equally slick in handheld mode. I didn’t encounter any noticeable frame drops, even when races became hectic at the starting grid or during close battles with the AI. The handling always felt responsive, making it easy to place the car exactly where I wanted. Split-screen multiplayer is equally impressive. Whether racing with two, three, or four players, performance remained remarkably consistent, allowing everyone to enjoy the same fast-paced action without obvious slowdowns. It’s an impressive technical achievement and means the multiplayer feels every bit as enjoyable as racing solo.
For my Formula One drivers looking into accessibility, there are a few options here to make racing more comfortable. The game supports gyro steering, the new right stick analogue acceleration and braking controls, along with an assist mode that helps make driving a little easier. As always, I recommend doing further research to find out whether 4PGP suits your accessibility needs.
At $30 AUD, there’s a great racer here that’s just received a well-deserved tune-up, adding new control options while refining the AI to create an even smoother experience. Its longevity will still come down to whether you have a group of mates to race against or a passion for Formula One-inspired arcade racers, but what’s here is polished, approachable, and a lot of fun. For me, 4PGP is an exciting, albeit brief, racing game that will most likely find its way onto the screen whenever friends come over for a games night.
So, What’s it Like? 4PGP is like an old-school arcade racer that you can enjoy split-screen at home.
In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.
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