Screamer (2026 video game)
A neon-soaked arcade racer rebooting the 1995 classic.
Milestone developed and published the racing game Screamer, which launched on March 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. This reboot revives the 1995 original and marks the series' first new installment since Screamer 4x4 in 2000.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Milestone
- Publisher
- Plaion
- Designer
- Andrea Salamone
- Programmer
- Roberta Castano
- Artist
- Federico Mattioli (Art Director), Paolo Giannico (Lead Artist)
- Writer
- Kerry Kazmierowicztrimm
- Composer
- Max Aruj
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
Facts from the source article.
Development and promotion
Screamer was announced at The Game Awards 2024, with Troy Baker revealed to voice a pivotal character. Milestone released the first gameplay trailer in June 2025. The game reboots Milestone's 1995 MS-DOS title, originally developed under the name Graffiti. Inspired by 1980s and 1990s anime and manga, the game features animated cutscenes by Polygon Pictures, known for Tron: Uprising and Transformers Prime. The setting is Neo Rey, a futuristic city inspired by cyberpunk anime.
Plot
In the near future, the mysterious Mr. Apollo organizes the Screamer, an underground racing tournament in Neo Rey where cars are fitted with Echo devices that restore vehicle and driver after fatal crashes. Gage Veloc, a former engineer at Jupiter Stormers Industries (JSI) who left after his colleague James Edgeworth's death, invites former JSI teammates Aisha Waghmare, Gregor Falkenstein, and Lavinia Ricci Antinori to compete under the Jupiter Stormers banner. Private military contractors the Banshees—Hiroshi Jackson, Roisin Garrity, and Frederic Barthelemy—race as the Green Reapers, aiming to assassinate Anaconda Corp heir Gabriel Mertens for the death of their mentor Quinn Connolly. Anaconda Corp enters under sponsorship of Gabriel's mother, former Screamer Abigail Mertens, pitting Gabriel against corporate rivals Dirk van Wyk and Hope Kaminsky. Idol group Strike Force Romanda, led by Ritsuko Imai, joins as a publicity stunt, but Ritsuko seeks answers about James's death. Mr. Apollo stokes Hiroshi's resentment, leading Hiroshi to weaponize the Echo's regenerative properties. The Echo evolves into an emotion-fueled weapon granting psychic abilities, while Mr. Apollo sidelines Gage.
Reception
Screamer received generally favorable reviews on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and mixed or average reviews on Windows, according to Metacritic. OpenCritic reported 70% of critics recommended the game. Phil Iwaniuk of PC Gamer rated it 72/100, praising its visual presentation and characterization but criticizing twin-stick driving mechanics as disorienting, noting awkward transitions from drift to straight. Rock Paper Shotgun's James Archer praised the anime aesthetic, while Mark Warren noted punishing difficulty but found it did not dull enthusiasm. Luke Reilly of IGN gave an 8/10, calling it neon-soaked arcade racing requiring finesse like Wipeout and tactics like Mario Kart, criticizing uneven difficulty in tournament mode but praising modes including four-player split-screen. Reilly described it as a unique racer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published Screamer (2026 video game)?
Screamer was published by Plaion.
Who designed Screamer (2026 video game)?
Screamer was designed by Andrea Salamone.
Who composed the music for Screamer (2026 video game)?
The music for Screamer was composed by Max Aruj.
What engine does Screamer (2026 video game) use?
Screamer runs on Unreal Engine 5.
More in PlayStation 5 Game Library
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced