Kevin C. Wong

Nitro Stream Racing (2023) [/]

Nitro Stream Racing is a Mario Kart-like racing game for streamers to play with their viewers and Captain TV also makes Stream Raiders. Streamer sets up a race. Players join by typing "!play" in chat or from the Stream Racing web site. Race mostly runs by itself though each racer has three messages they can "honk" and if they pick up a mega -- an attack that hopefully slows down the top racers -- they can activate it.

Like Stream Raiders you collect coins and experience which you use to customize your racer and driver and even power them up a bit. Also like Stream Raiders there is a race pass you can buy with real money to collect more rewards and there are streamer-specific items you can buy, such as a racing flag or car skins.

Currently I'm not particularly impressed. I think it's a bit too random. With all the megas and vehicles will crash and fall of the track by themselves (no deaths, after a few seconds you resume where you died) there is no sense of "someone is winning, there is a good chance they'll win the race". Also because of all the crash-ups the racers get pretty spread out so when streamer shows the race it's just the a few racer at a time. Mega is also a bit gimmicky as it gives you something to do but not something useful.

And if you think all the above Marbles on Stream doesn't have then you're right. I prefer Marbles as chill racing game that is also interesting to watch. Stream Racing is not necessarily intended as a direct competitor but it kind of is and as such kind of fails in my opinion.