A race where the camera is the finish line
Tinker Racers is a survival racing party game played from a top-down view with mini RC cars. There is no finish line to chase. What matters is staying in the camera frame, because anyone who falls out of view is out. The car in the lead becomes the camera target, so being first means everyone else has to keep up with you. Tracks are built around the house out of ordinary everyday objects, giving each race a cramped, chaotic feel. The game is a tribute from two Codemasters MicroMachines fans, and that old-school arcade spirit shows in the short, frantic rounds.
Playing together on one screen
Up to four players join on local multiplayer, and the game supports Remote Play Together so friends can join from their own setups. Three ways to play are available. Co-op Campaign has you teaming up to beat angry bots, unlock new tracks, and push into other rooms of the house; keeping damage to your car low raises your score, and playing together pushes scores even higher. Free For All drops the scoring and lets you race and troll your friends directly. Single Race is the traditional option, running up to four local players in split screen. Parents, siblings, and friends can all take part, so it works as a family game as well as a competitive one.
Before you start
The core rule is simple but easy to forget in the heat of a race: stay in sight. Leading puts you in the camera, which is both an advantage and a target, since the pack will be chasing you the whole time. Expect sudden crashes and tight corners, since the tracks are miniature and cluttered with household items. Damage matters in Co-op Campaign, where careful driving earns better scores, but matters less in Free For All, where the fun comes from messing with each other. The game carries a warning not to try building any of these tracks at home, citing risk of fire and severe damage to property.