Formula Legends | Switch 2 Review

I love racing. All forms of racing. NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA, Saturday Night Dirt Racing, you name it. I’ve watched Formula 1 since the 80s. While the races themselves can turn into what I call “expensive parades” void of actual passing, the technology is second to none. The battles within the grid are full of suspense: will the bottom feeder team actually earn points? Who is rising to the top of the midpack?

Bringing it back to video games, Formula 1 can often translate better to a digital atmosphere. It’s just more exciting to do it yourself. So, when Formula Legends became available for review, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only was it a racing game, but it had an arcade feel. The technology and depth took a backseat to open-wheel, cartoonish (that’s a compliment) racing that gave me a nostalgic rush. While it wasn’t the three-quarter view of RC Pro Am from the Nintendo era, the graphics of the cars and tracks looked similar in design. The difference is that Formula Legends uses a behind-the-car perspective.

Parody on the Podium

Formula Legends keeps things refreshingly simple. There are no cutscenes, dialogue, or character arcs to distract from the action. Instead, players work through a championship ladder, unlocking new eras of racing as they progress. Each era brings cars that handle a little differently, which keeps returning tracks feeling fresh.

As you race, you gain experience points that unlock playable characters who parody real Formula 1 drivers past and present. Lewis Hamilton becomes Luis Hammerton. Valtteri Bottas becomes Batteri Voltas. Michael Schumacher becomes Mike Shoemaker. Team names also get the parody treatment: McLaren is McLaden, Sauber is Sobber, Mercedes is Merkseds. These tongue-in-cheek names add personality and a knowing wink for longtime F1 fans. Since the game isn’t licensed by the FIA, likenesses and real names aren’t allowed, but 3DClouds takes enough care to make everything recognizable.

Arcade Chaos on the Track

This is where Formula Legends shines and stumbles in equal measure. The handling is firmly in arcade territory, which makes races fast and accessible, but the lack of analog shoulder buttons on the Switch holds it back. Acceleration and braking feel like on/off switches with no nuance. Anyone who has driven a car knows that you feather the throttle at different levels. Hammer the gas too hard on a rainy day and even your grandma’s sedan can spin its tires. Now imagine that with a V10 engine. Without analog input, grip felt borderline unmanageable. Other reviews that I read noted a smoother experience with console controllers that have analog triggers.

Thankfully, there are assists that I turned on to make the game enjoyable. Anti-Lock Brakes and Acceleration Stability were literally game changers. I went from “I can barely play this game” to “Okay, this is actually a lot of fun!” But, then there are the computer opponents.

Formula 1 racing is about strategy, choosing your moments, forcing your opponents into mental mistakes that open the doors of opportunity. Formula Legends throws that in the trash. The computer opponents do not follow the racing line. They dive bomb into turns with no hope of actually making the turn, guaranteeing a wreck. To make matters worse, the wrecks act like glue. The two cars will just stick together until they hit a barrier or stop. My only hope was to not engage during the first few turns and then pick off my opponents one by one hoping that I was far enough ahead before the next turn to prevent them from plowing into me. Now that I know how to race against my opponents, I am out of gas and my tire wear is extreme and I need to make a pit stop.

Pit stops are a natural part of racing. In most racing games, the pit stops are automated. Bring the car to the pits and the fuel, repairing, and tire changes are done for you. Formula Legends offers an interactive mini-game twist. Once you hit your pits, the L button is for repairing, the R button is for fueling, and then you have to enter a random sequence of the 4 action buttons when prompted to make the tire change faster. Mistakes slow you down. It was a nice game-within-a-game that made pit stops more engaging and valuable.

RC Racer Vibes

The presentation leans into bright and colorful fun rather than realism, and it works in the game’s favor. Cars look small and almost toy-like, evoking the feel of an RC racer while still carrying enough detail to show the differences between eras. Like the rest of the game, tracks are not officially licensed, but design cues make it obvious which real-world circuits inspired them. Eau Rouge is unmistakable, even without the FIA’s blessing, helping you know immediately that while the track isn’t named Spa-Francorchamps, that’s definitely what it’s designed to be. Other tracks are also instantly recognizable like Monza and Monaco. And, yes, there are just as few passing opportunities at the Formula Legends version of Monaco as in real life. Just don’t tell the computer opponents that, they didn’t and won’t get the message.

The soundtrack is upbeat and fitting for an arcade racer. While nothing stands out as particularly memorable, the music does its job of keeping the energy high.

Final Verdict: Formula Legends

Once I turned on the assists, I enjoyed most of my time with Formula Legends. Even with the assists on, I lamented the lack of analog buttons on my Switch 2. However, the game plays smoothly and scratches the arcade racer itch while reminding me of RC Pro Am and Saturday Morning cartoons. If you’re looking for a true racing sim, Formula Legends is not the choice to make. If you’re looking for a quick, fun arcade race with some cheeky laughs and aggressive opponents, then you’ll enjoy Formula Legends about as much as I did. If given a choice, I would recommend playing on a console.

To hear me talk more about Formula Legends, be sure to listen to the September 24th, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:17:05 timestamp.

This review is based on a Switch 2 copy of Formula Legends provided by Renaissance PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG.