Disney Speedstorm

If Mario Kart and Kingdom Hearts had a turbo-charged baby and raised it on Burnout 3, you’d get something close to Disney Speedstorm. This free-to-play combat racer from Gameloft hits the track with Mickey, Mulan, and a mine-tossing Jack Sparrow in tow, each drifting through meticulously themed circuits with enough nostalgia to power a fireworks finale at Epcot.

To its credit, Speedstorm doesn’t coast on its Disney license. Every racer has a unique skill, think Stitch popping into hyperdrive or Donald rage-punching the air, and each power-up has a charged variant that turns a banana peel into a tactical decision. Tracks rip through the Cave of Wonders, Mount Olympus, and even the Scare Floor, offering gorgeous, interactive detours you actually want to hit.

The moment-to-moment gameplay is tight and surprisingly aggressive. Bumping opponents into walls, chaining perfect drifts, and timing your nitro to launch past a fire-spewing genie head? That’s Saturday morning magic, folks. And when it’s running on PS5 or even the Switch, it’s buttery smooth, mostly.

But here’s the rub: behind every thrilling turn is a villainous layer of monetization. Want to level up Belle to beat a Season Tour challenge? That’ll cost you tokens, shards, coins, or… honestly, I lost track around the fifth currency. Regulated multiplayer keeps things fair, but ranked races feel like wallet duels. Kids might need a flowchart just to unlock Stitch.

Still, for a game that’s technically free, Disney Speedstorm barrels through genre fatigue with flair. Just bring your patience, and maybe a spreadsheet.