A retro-style 3D racing game for the SEGA Dreamcast
Inspired by the golden era of N64 and PS1 racing games
RetroRacer is a love letter to the arcade racing games of the late 90s. Built from the ground up for the SEGA Dreamcast using KallistiOS, it features procedurally generated tracks, N64-style low-poly graphics, and fast arcade action.
Every race is unique thanks to the procedural track generation system - no two races are ever the same!
- 🎮 4 Game Modes - Something for everyone
- 🛣️ Procedural Tracks - Infinite variety with randomly generated circuits
- 🤖 AI Opponents - Race against up to 7 computer-controlled vehicles
- 🏆 Championship Mode - Compete in a 4-race Grand Prix series
- ⏱️ Time Trials - Perfect your racing line and beat your best times
- 🎨 Retro Aesthetics - Authentic N64-era low-poly graphics
Sit back and watch AI drivers compete against each other. Perfect for demos or just enjoying the procedural tracks. Choose from 4 difficulty levels to see different racing strategies.
Jump right into the action! Race a single procedurally generated track against AI opponents. Quick and satisfying gameplay.
No opponents, no distractions - just you against the clock. Master the track and shave seconds off your best lap time. Ghost data tracks your personal best.
The ultimate test! Compete in a 4-race championship series. Earn points based on your finishing position across all races. Different tracks each race keep you on your toes.
Points System:
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Choose your ride! Each vehicle class offers a different driving experience:
| Class | Top Speed | Acceleration | Handling | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | Beginners |
| Speed | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | Straights |
| Handling | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | Tight corners |
| Balanced | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | All-rounders |
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ DREAMCAST │
┌───────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────┼───────────────┐
│ │ │ │
│ Analog │ ┌─────────┐ │ X Y │
│ Stick │ │ START │ │ │
│ ○ │ └─────────┘ │ A B │
│ │ │ │
│ D-Pad │ │ │
│ ┌───┐ │ │ │
│ │ ▲ │ │ │ │
│ ┌─┼───┼─┐ │ │ │
│ │◄│ │►│ │ │ │
│ └─┼───┼─┘ │ │ │
│ │ ▼ │ │ │ │
│ └───┘ │ │ │
└───────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────┘
│ │
Left Trigger Right Trigger
(Brake) (Throttle)
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Analog Stick / D-Pad ◄► | Steering |
| A Button / Right Trigger | Accelerate |
| B Button / Left Trigger | Brake |
| Start | Pause Game |
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| D-Pad ▲▼ | Navigate menu |
| A / Start | Select |
| B | Back |
Hold A + B + X + Y + Start simultaneously to exit to Dreamcast BIOS.
The easiest way to build on Windows:
# One-time setup (installs Docker Desktop)
scripts\windows\setup.bat
# Build the game
build.batUsing Docker (no setup required):
./scripts/docker-build.shOr install the full toolchain:
./scripts/setup-kos.sh
source scripts/env.sh
./scripts/build.sh| Command | Description |
|---|---|
build.bat / ./scripts/build.sh |
Build ELF executable |
build.bat cdi |
Create bootable disc image |
build.bat clean |
Clean build artifacts |
build.bat shell |
Interactive build environment |
Option A: Docker (Recommended)
- Docker Desktop (Windows/Mac) or Docker Engine (Linux)
- No other dependencies needed!
Option B: Full Toolchain
- KallistiOS SDK
- SH4 cross-compiler (sh-elf-gcc)
- ARM cross-compiler (arm-eabi-gcc)
retroracer/
├── 📄 Makefile # KallistiOS build configuration
├── 📄 build.bat # Windows build script
├── 📁 include/ # Header files
│ ├── ai.h # AI racing system
│ ├── game.h # Game state management
│ ├── input.h # Controller input
│ ├── math3d.h # 3D math library
│ ├── menu.h # Menu system
│ ├── physics.h # Physics engine
│ ├── render.h # PVR rendering
│ ├── track.h # Track generation
│ └── vehicle.h # Vehicle physics
├── 📁 src/ # Source files
│ ├── main.c # Entry point
│ ├── game.c # Core game logic
│ ├── ai.c # AI behavior
│ ├── input.c # Input handling
│ ├── math3d.c # Vector/matrix math
│ ├── menu.c # Menu UI
│ ├── physics.c # Collision detection
│ ├── render.c # Graphics rendering
│ ├── track.c # Procedural track generation
│ └── vehicle.c # Vehicle dynamics
├── 📁 scripts/
│ ├── setup-kos.sh # KallistiOS installer
│ ├── build.sh # Linux/Mac build script
│ ├── docker-build.sh # Docker build script
│ └── 📁 windows/ # Windows-specific scripts
└── 📁 assets/ # Game assets (models, textures)
- Rendering: PowerVR hardware-accelerated 3D graphics
- Resolution: 640×480 @ 60fps target
- Physics: Arcade-style vehicle dynamics with grip simulation
- AI: Path-following with overtaking and difficulty scaling
- Tracks: Procedural generation with straights, curves, and elevation
Tracks are generated using a seeded random algorithm that creates:
- Straight sections - Variable length high-speed zones
- Curves - Left and right turns up to 45°
- Hills - Elevation changes for jumps and dips
- Checkpoints - Lap timing and progress tracking
Each difficulty level affects track complexity:
- Easy: Gentle curves, mostly flat
- Medium: Moderate curves, some hills
- Hard: Sharp turns, significant elevation
- Expert: Technical circuits with maximum variety
This project is open source. Feel free to learn from it, modify it, and share it!
- KallistiOS - Dreamcast development library
- Inspired by classic racers: Ridge Racer, Daytona USA, Mario Kart 64
Made with ❤️ for the Dreamcast community
Keep the dream alive!