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Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown: A Disconnected and Unbalanced Racing Experience
Review Update 12.09.2024
Still an early access experience after full release. Connection issues persist. If you're lucky, you might be able to complete two races in a row. The issues mentioned below remain unresolved. Login with a queue, even after investing €80. Even on 'release day,' still getting 'race server errors'—right after finishing a race. You race for 4-5 minutes only to magically lose connection. FIX YOUR DAMN ALWAYS-ONLINE REQUIREMENT IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HANDLE IT. In its current state, it's worth far less than 49 euros.
Review Update 22.09.2024
I spent several hours trying to explore the map to 100%. Many roads I discovered had to be driven again and again, because although they were marked as discovered, the progress wasn't saved. After restarting the game, these roads were missing again, along with two gas stations and a workshop. The map design is so poor that it's easy to overlook tiny roads, and depending on the angle of the map view, different shades of color appear on the streets, making it even more confusing. Streets driven on during races don't count towards map discovery—rarely have I seen something so dumb.
Every single time you close the game, you get an error message.
The promised compensations for pre-order customers have yet to materialize. If I put the game aside because it's simply not good, I won’t need any compensation anymore.

Review Update 03.10.2024 - 4 weeks after pre order release
Four weeks after the release of the Gold Edition, there is still no information about the promised compensation, leaving players empty-handed. The game is also nearly dead, with very few active players. A Day One patch released after 3.5 weeks hardly addressed the reported issues. It's a complete disaster. I am finally done with this game. It's tough having spent 80 euros on it.
Always-Online Frustration
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown was highly anticipated but is marred by flaws that make it difficult to enjoy, particularly for players who prefer solo play. The always-online requirement forces you to stay connected even for offline modes, removing the freedom to play at your own pace without constant connectivity issues. This undermines the enjoyment and autonomy of solo play.
Car Balance Problems
The gameplay suffers from significant car imbalance. The choice of car can make or break a race—select the right one, and it’s a breeze; choose poorly, and winning becomes nearly impossible, regardless of skill level. This imbalance is frustrating and detracts from the excitement of racing, limiting the player’s ability to experiment with different cars.
Expensive Cars and Upgrades
Car upgrades are excessively expensive and often fail to deliver a significant performance boost. The steep costs are hard to justify, especially with the limited car selection. The inflated prices push players toward repetitive grinding rather than offering meaningful progression. This pricing structure feels like a deliberate attempt to extend gameplay through grinding rather than rewarding players.
Poor Physics and Frustrating AI
The game’s physics are inconsistent: good on normal roads but terrible on off-road tracks. Handling on gravel and dirt is clunky and unrealistic, making these sections nearly unplayable. Side quests like driving supercars on gravel roads highlight these issues, offering little fun and feeling like a bad imitation of Mario Kart on ice. The driving behavior in the rain is also very unsuitable for an arcade racer.
The AI is equally frustrating. It aggressively pushes you off the road, but you can’t push back, making races feel one-sided. Additionally, the AI's difficulty fluctuates wildly from race to race, even on the same setting, complicating the challenge and making it hard to measure your own performance.
Missing Lifestyle Elements
Previous Test Drive games were known for their lifestyle elements. Unfortunately, this aspect is almost completely absent in Solar Crown. The game neglects these elements, stripping away the charm that once defined the series and leaving a more generic racing experience.
Nonsensical Side Quests
The game features illogical side quests that task you with using hypercars—meant for asphalt racing—on poorly rendered dirt roads. These missions are frustrating and highlight the game’s poor off-road physics. They feel like unnecessary padding rather than meaningful challenges.
Lack of Customization
Customization options are disappointingly limited. Paint choices are minimal and barely noticeable, with exorbitant costs—about half the price of a Fiat 500, regardless of the car. Wheel customization is also restricted, with no resizing options and missing major brands. This lack of depth makes the game’s customization feel superficial and uninspired. No real other Customizationoptions available so far.
Additionally, the complete absence of difficulty options is another glaring issue. Players should have the freedom to choose race difficulty, but the game offers no such option. This limits player choice and forces a one-size-fits-all experience, failing to accommodate varying skill levels and preferences.
No Pause, No Control
The inability to pause during races is a major oversight. This lack of basic functionality is frustrating, especially when you need to address real-life interruptions. Restarting the entire race after an interruption, including resetting car settings and dealing with loading screens, adds unnecessary frustration and downtime.
Poor Communication and Development Priorities
Community management is lacking, with slow responses and minimal fixes for critical issues. This poor communication leaves players feeling abandoned and frustrated, suggesting that the developers are more focused on pushing content than addressing core problems.
Final Verdict: A Game Released Too Soon
In summary, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown had the potential to be a great racing game but falls short due to technical issues, poor balancing, and misguided design choices. For solo players seeking a smooth experience, this game is hard to recommend. Significant improvements are needed, and it’s clear that the game was released before it was fully ready.
The system requirements are high, and achieving smooth performance requires powerful hardware. While I can play at QHD 1440p with around 140 FPS thanks to frame generation with my 7900 XTX, those without high-end systems will struggle. Checking hardware benchmarks before purchasing is advisable.
An Unfinished Product at a Premium Price
The game feels like a beta version rather than a polished product. Many customers have paid a steep price for a game that doesn’t deliver as promised. The €80 price tag is excessive, and even the €49 standard version doesn’t seem justified. Significant improvements are needed for the game to be worth its price.
A Game I Wanted to Love, But Can’t
I had high hopes for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. It was on my wishlist for two years, and I was excited to dive into it. However, each time I launch the game, the disappointment grows. It’s heartbreaking to see a game with so much potential fall apart due to poor decisions.
Advice to Developers: Learn from Past Mistakes
Many decisions seem to have been made by those who don’t fully understand gaming. The developers should take inspiration from CD Projekt Red’s response to Cyberpunk 2077. Their approach to addressing post-launch issues should serve as a model for improving Solar Crown. Listening to player feedback, fixing critical problems, and showing a commitment to improvement are essential steps toward turning this game around.