Retro Racing 2 vs SpecialEffect's Open Drive
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Retro Racing 2
Experience classic 2D top-down racing with a modern twist. Choose unique cars, collect power-ups, and compete on diverse tracks. Enjoy split-screen multiplayer and climb leaderboards for hours of nostalgic fun.
- Classic 2D Top-Down Racing
- Variety of Cars with Unique Attributes
- Power-Ups for Performance Boosts
- Multiple Challenging Level Packs
- Split-Screen Multiplayer (up to 4 players)
- Global Leaderboards
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PLEASE NOTE: Play the Lessons and Practice level packs for free. A one-time in-app purchase unlocks the full game. Rev your engines and get ready for a thrilling ride with Retro Racing 2, the ultimate old-school retro racing game that brings back the excitement of classic 2D top-down racing. Choose from a variety of cars, each with unique performance characteristics, and race across diverse tracks and challenging environments. Collect power-ups, to increase Top Speed, Acceleration and Tires, or for an instant Nitro boost, and speed your way to the top of the leaderboard! This nostalgic yet fresh racing game offers an adrenaline-pumping experience that will keep you hooked for hours. Slick graphics and exhilarating gameplay make Retro Racing 2 a must-play for racing enthusiasts of all ages. Features • Classic 2D Top-Down Racing: Enjoy the simplicity and thrill of retro-style racing with modern enhancements. • Cars: Choose from a variety of cars, each with distinct speed, handling, and acceleration attributes to suit your racing style and track. • Power-Ups: Collect power-ups scattered across the tracks to boost your car’s performance and gain an edge over your rivals. • Level Packs: Race through various challenging environments including: • Practice: Hone your skills and master the tracks before taking on tougher challenges. • Circuits: Traditional racing tracks for a pure, competitive experience. • Snow: Slippery and unpredictable tracks to test your control. • Sand: Tight sandy tracks that require careful handling and quick reflexes to avoid sliding off course. • Split-Screen Multiplayer: Compete with up to 4 players in split-screen mode and quadruple the fun! • Leaderboards: Climb to the top of the leaderboard, showcasing your racing prowess and achieving the ultimate bragging rights. Why You'll Love It • Fun for All Ages: Simple yet engaging gameplay makes it perfect for players of all ages. • Replay Value: Multiple cars, power-ups, and level packs, every race offers a new and exciting challenge, will keep you coming back to improve on your best time. • Competitive Spirit: The leaderboard adds a competitive edge, encouraging players to continuously improve their skills and outperform their friends. Get Ready to Race! Join the Retro Racing 2 community and relive the glory days of arcade racing with a modern twist. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a newcomer, there’s always a thrill waiting for you on the track. Download Retro Racing 2 today and experience the ultimate in retro racing fun!
SpecialEffect's Open Drive
Experience driving across diverse worlds with customizable controls, including eye gaze, touch, mouse, switch, controller, or keyboard. Explore, collect orbs, and master jumps with adjustable game speed and optional auto-steer.
- Multiple input methods (eye gaze, touch, mouse, controller, keyboard)
- Four distinct driving worlds
- Collectible orbs and challenging jumps
- Adjustable game speed
- Optional 'Auto Steer' mode
- Precise and Classic control schemes
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Created to enable players to use their preferred controls on iOS, the game is designed to be played using eye gaze or one of the following input methods: touch, a mouse cursor, switch control, a game controller or a keyboard. Eye gaze requires a compatible assistive eye gaze camera or use of the iOS Eye Tracking feature. Additional in-built iOS device controls such as the Virtual Trackpad, Head Tracking and Voice Control can also be used. App opens in landscape mode only. Experience driving across the four different worlds of Stunt Zone, Meadow, Snow Land and Speed Zone. Explore freely, collect the orbs, or try to beat your high score by making and landing jumps off ramps, mounds, and mountain tops in Roadster, Trickster and Speedster. To further customise how you play, you can adjust the game speed from 90-30% , giving you more time to make turns, line up jumps or refine your drifting. In our optional ‘Auto Steer’ game mode, you control accelerate and brake only, whilst steering is done automatically with your chosen car following a driving line. Finally, some supported game inputs will allow you to play using either our ‘Precise’ or ‘Classic’ control schemes. When available, you can switch between these using the onscreen button in the top left of the gameplay screen. SUPPORTED CONTROL INPUTS: Eye Gaze: Eye gaze requires a compatible assistive 'Made For iPad' eye gaze camera or use of the iOS Eye Tracking feature. Using the recommended ‘Precise’ mode within Open Drive, you use eye movement to move the pointer and the vehicle will follow. Touch: Using the button in the top left corner to use ‘Classic’ mode, which is recommended for Touch controls, you tap once on the button in the centre at the bottom of the screen to drive forwards. Tap on it again to brake and stop the vehicle and it will automatically start turning on the spot. When it is facing the direction that you want to drive, tap on it again to drive forwards. No drags or swipes are required. Mouse Cursor: Using the ‘Precise’ mode within the Open Drive app, which is recommended for mouse control, the vehicle will follow your mouse cursor position onscreen. No drags or holds of clicks are required. Switch Control: To scan through the onscreen targets using a switch, the use of the iOS Switch Control feature and a compatible switch interface or device is required. To drive forwards, scan to and then select the onscreen control button in the centre at the bottom of the screen to stop the vehicle and it will then start automatically turning on the spot. Select the control button again to drive in the direction you are facing. Keyboard: In ‘Precise’ mode, the Arrow keys or W,A,S,D are used to steer, accelerate, brake and reverse. The R key is used to reset the vehicle when you are stuck. Space can be used to stop the vehicle without reversing. The Esc key opens the pause menu. ‘Classic’ mode can be used to reduce the required inputs during gameplay, with just the Enter key needed to turn and drive forwards once the Classic controls button is highlighted at the bottom of the screen. Game Controller: Using an iOS compatible controller, in ‘Precise’ mode, the Left Stick is used to steer the vehicle and navigate the menus. Button 1 (e.g. A button on Xbox controller) is used to accelerate and to select menu buttons. Button 2 (e.g. B button on Xbox controller) brakes/reverses the vehicle. Button 3 (e.g. X button on an Xbox controller) is used to reset the vehicle if you get stuck. Button 8 (the Menu button on Xbox controller) is used to open the in-game pause menu. ‘Classic’ mode can be used to reduce the required inputs during gameplay, with just the Button 1 needed to turn and drive once the Classic controls button is highlighted at the bottom of the screen. SpecialEffect is a registered UK charity (1121004) that helps physically disabled players to access video games. Please visit https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/ for more information.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SpecialEffect's Open Drive at none against Retro Racing 2's 3. SpecialEffect's Open Drive also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). Retro Racing 2's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Retro Racing 2 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. SpecialEffect's Open Drive asks for nothing beyond the download.
Retro Racing 2 ships an update weekly, SpecialEffect's Open Drive daily. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Retro Racing 2 | SpecialEffect's Open Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (156 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 156 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Daily — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mr Qwak Limited | specialeffect.org.uk Ltd |
Customer experience
Retro Racing 2
SpecialEffect's Open Drive
Bugs and requests
Retro Racing 2
Reported bugs
2 issues- Cones placed in awkward positions
- Occasional crashes or performance issues
Requested features
4 requests- More tracks and game modes
- Online multiplayer
- Solo time trial mode
- Customization options (e.g., liveries)
SpecialEffect's Open Drive
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Retro Racing 2
- Stallion$0.99
- Willmans$1.99
- Premium Version$5.99
SpecialEffect's Open Drive
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Retro Racing 2 free?
Is SpecialEffect's Open Drive free?
Do Retro Racing 2 or SpecialEffect's Open Drive have ads?
Which is updated more often, Retro Racing 2 or SpecialEffect's Open Drive?
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