Star Wars: Galactic Racer was prototyped in the most unexpected way: as a board game covered in Post-It notes
Star Wars: Galactic Racer, developed by Fuse Games, has received critical acclaim for successfully capturing the essence of the Burnout racing franchise. The game features fast, punishing gameplay that earned it a five-star review. A significant portion of the development team brings experience from Criterion, the studio behind the original Burnout series, which clearly influenced the game’s design philosophy.
What makes this development story particularly interesting is Fuse Games’ unconventional prototyping methodology. Rather than relying entirely on modern game engines and digital tools, the team used physical prototypes—specifically a board game covered in Post-It notes—to rapidly iterate on game ideas and concepts. CEO Matt Webster explained that while modern engines are capable, there are advantages to getting ideas down physically and discussing them directly, making the iteration process faster and more collaborative than purely digital approaches.
A core focus of development was achieving the right “game feel”—the intangible but crucial element that makes Burnout feel distinctive. Creative Director Kieran Crimmin emphasized the importance of emotional connection to gameplay. The team worked to capture the “junky, battered-tech” aesthetic of Star Wars while maintaining the exhilarating sensation that defines Burnout’s racing experience. This balance between franchise identity and genre conventions appears to have succeeded, with Galactic Racer delivering a nostalgic Burnout experience within a Star Wars setting.