Welcome back to “Cup of Coffee or Game,” where we pit your daily caffeine fix against a video game you can grab for the same price. Today, we’re trading the coffee shop for the pit lane to review New Star GP, a retro-style F1 racer on the Nintendo Switch. Normally $30, it’s currently a steal at $2.99 on the eShop until January 6, 2026. So, does this game deserve your loose change, or should you stick with the latte?

The Premise: Nostalgia Meets the Podium

New Star GP is a loving throwback to the days of arcade racing cabinets like Virtua Racing and Daytona USA. It ditches the ultra-realistic simulation of modern F1 games for a more accessible, pick-up-and-play experience. You’ll manage a racing team across decades, upgrading your car, hiring staff, and developing strategies, all wrapped in a charming polygonal visual style.

The First Lap: What’s It Like to Play?

From the moment you hit the track, New Star GP nails the feeling of simple, fast-paced fun. The handling is arcade-friendly, making it easy to dive into a race. However, it adds just enough depth to keep things interesting, with elements like tire wear, fuel management, and dynamic weather that forces you to plan pit stops. A handy rewind feature lets you undo crashes, which is perfect for casual play.

Critics have praised this balance, with NintendoWorldReport calling it a “fun, bite-sized racing game” that avoids the slog of more serious sims. The game holds a solid 80% average on review aggregators like OpenCritic.

A Career in the Fast Lane

The meat of the game is its Career Mode, where you progress through racing seasons from the 1980s onward. You earn cash to upgrade your car’s engine, aerodynamics, and brakes, and manage your pit crew’s morale. It’s surprisingly engaging without being overwhelming.

Beyond career mode, you can jump into a quick Arcade Championship or create your own custom championships. A major highlight is the local split-screen multiplayer for up to four players, offering fantastic couch-competitive action, though the lack of online multiplayer is a noted downside.

The Verdict: Cup of Coffee or Game?

For the standard price of a premium coffee, this is an absolute no-brainer. Let’s break it down:

At its full $30 price, the game is a solid recommendation for fans of retro racers. At the sale price of $2.99, it’s an essential purchase for almost anyone with a Switch. You’re getting a complete, critically acclaimed game with dozens of hours of content for less than the cost of most mobile game microtransactions.

Final Call: Skip the coffee today. New Star GP is an easy, fuel-injected “Game.” It delivers pure, nostalgic fun and strategic depth in a perfect package for short bursts or long sessions. Grab it before the sale ends on January 6 and see if you have what it takes to become a racing legend.

Have you played New Star GP? What’s your favorite budget racing game on the Switch? Let me know in the comments, and suggest what I should review next for “Cup of Coffee or Game”!