The original Cruis'n and a Midway staple of the N64 era. Forget simulation: it's a joyful tyre-screeching ride from San Francisco to Washington across twenty-one vehicles. The dated look is obvious, but the pure arcade fun is intact, perfect for a cathartic round with friends.
Your verdict
Category
Racing1 player7+
Split screen
Description
Midway's arcade racer taking drivers across the United States from San Francisco to Washington D.C. Published by Nintendo, released in 1996 in Europe and North America. Twenty-one vehicles including race cars and trucks, eight iconic American circuits, and instantly accessible arcade gameplay.
Cruis'n USA review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Crossing America coast to coast, foot to the floor and traffic to skim past: the race favours raw speed and instant sensation. No frills, just the rush of overtaking and bolting for the line. Direct, snappy and easy to pick up, this pure arcade product aims for simple fun and hits it head-on.
European pressing of this Midway port released in the console's PAL launch window. The European version is rarer than the American one because Nintendo curbed distribution of a title whose technical compromises against the arcade board the Western press already stressed. Desirability rests on its status as an N64 launch game in Europe and on a PAL box now hard to find in clean complete condition.
Is Cruis'n USA still worth playing in 2026?
Cruis'n USA brings Midway's emblematic arcade racing to N64, in which you cross the United States from San Francisco to Washington at the wheel of cars launched at full speed. The purely arcade spirit, focused on raw speed and immediate simplicity, offers direct fun in short sessions. The rudimentary driving and a presentation clearly behind the cabinet quickly show their limits. For fans of no-fuss retro arcade racing and those nostalgic for the golden age of arcades, it is an effective but dated outlet.
