A Codemasters top-down racing classic with tiny vehicles on miniature backdrops. Brilliant in local multiplayer, addictive, an essential gem.
Your verdict
Category
Racing1 player3+
Description
Micro Machines miniature cars race on everyday surfaces in this Codemasters Mega Drive game. Published by Codemasters, released in Europe in 1991. Top-down racing game with miniature cars on kitchen tables and swimming pools, addictive gameplay.
Micro Machines review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
The first instalment sets down the visual formula: a fixed camera placed vertically, vehicles reduced to a handful of pixels yet clearly coloured, tracks improvised on household objects. The simplicity of the rendering directly serves play, since nothing interferes with reading the racing lines or the position of the opponents.
The PAL Rev 1 of Micro Machines is the corrected version of the Codemasters game, distributed by Codemasters Europe with the specificity of the unofficial Codemasters cartridge format for Megadrive (without Sega approval). Its collector value comes from this editorial singularity and from the fact that Codemasters bypassed the Sega lockout for its Megadrive releases.
Is Micro Machines still worth playing in 2026?
A miniature racer by Codemasters, Micro Machines offers top down arcade races with small vehicles in everyday object settings like tables or desks. The adorable art direction, versus mode for up to eight players with pad sharing and immediate handling make this title an absolute party racing reference on Mega Drive. For anyone fond of local multiplayer games or original arcade races, a warm recommendation still valid today without any hesitation truly indeed here for any newcomer.
