The Test Drive series is back. It has been twelve years since the last instalments – Test Drive Unlimited 2 (2011) and Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends (2012) – and neither of those releases were particularly well-received. For that reason, the series was shelved for quite some time. But now, it’s made a return, thanks to developer Kylotonn and publisher Nacon.
Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown brings a fresh take on open-world racing games, and this is exactly what was needed. The new game blends racing, lifestyle, and social elements into a beautifully recreated version of Hong Kong Island. Compared to recent Test Drive titles and the Need for Speed series, Solar Crown offers a noticeably better experience, and I even find it more intriguing than Forza Horizon 5 or Gran Turismo 7. While I enjoy the Forza Horizon series, its latest release became boring for me rather quickly.
In contrast, Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown feels much more engaging, at least initially. It caters perfectly to players like me who don’t play racing games every day and aren’t obsessed with perfecting apexes or shaving milliseconds in hyper-realistic simulators, but who enjoy occasionally cruising around an open world, exploring, and racing against AI opponents (or other players roaming the world). That’s exactly what this game delivers.
The car selection in the game is solid. Some hardcore car enthusiasts may find it a bit lacking, but for someone like me, it’s more than enough, offering everything from the Ford Mustang GT to the Apollo Intensa Emozione and the Audi R8 Coupe V10 RWS. If you’re looking to drive a classic, there are options like the Citroen 2CV. The game even features off-road segments, for which I chose the Ford F-150. However, I was surprised by the lack of Asian cars in the game, given the Hong Kong setting. I expected a larger variety. Another annoyance is that many dealerships have duplicate models. Are these placeholders for vehicles to be added later?
Of course, cars cost money, which you earn by racing and exploring the world. I’ve been asked a lot about how difficult it is to make money in the game, and honestly, it depends on how often and how well you race. The higher you place, the more money you earn. In my experience, I was able to comfortably earn around 100,000 credits per hour, even though I spent a lot of time just driving around, testing different cars, and often placing between 3rd and 6th in races. So, for more skilled players focusing on higher-paying races, it shouldn’t be a problem to gather the 13-15 million credits needed for the most expensive cars I’ve seen so far.
Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown also offers impressive views of Hong Kong—from bustling cityscapes to lush forests and scenic coastlines. The environment invites exploration, with hidden wrecks, cash rewards, and discovery points scattered around the map. While the visuals might not quite match Forza Horizon 5, which is a visually stunning game, Solar Crown still holds its own with a beautifully crafted world.
You can choose between “Performance” and “Graphics” modes in the settings. In “Graphics” mode, the game looks even more stunning, but for racing and shooting games, I prefer smoother frame rates, so I play in “Performance” mode, which offers a steady 60 frames per second on Xbox. Interestingly, the game also provides an option to turn HDR off, which is unusual. Typically, games enable HDR automatically based on your console or TV settings. However, I found that with HDR on, the colors (tested across various screens) seemed washed out and dull, so I turned HDR off, which made the city look much more vibrant.
The gameplay and vehicle handling are similar to other racing games. Some cars are more cumbersome and difficult to control than others, but I believe everyone will find a vehicle that suits their preferences. Plus, you can always head to the garage to modify or upgrade your vehicles as needed. Unfortunately, I can’t provide detailed information about the customization aspect, as I tend to avoid it in racing games—I’m here to race, not tinker in the garage.
One frequent complaint I’ve heard, especially during streaming, is that the streets seem emptier than what the developer had previously shown and promised. I can’t personally compare, as I didn’t watch the developer’s streams. This might be due to me playing on a console while the developer likely showcased the PC version. In my opinion, the streets aren’t that empty. True, compared to Hong Kong’s typical traffic, they are sparse, but if Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown included the same level of traffic as the real Hong Kong, racing at maximum speed in a supercar would be nearly impossible.
One feature missing from the game is the ability to purchase houses, a feature present in previous titles. Instead, you now have a room in a luxury hotel. Casinos are also absent at launch but are expected to be added in the summer of next year, according to early plans.
Clan wars, another much-anticipated feature, won’t arrive until next year as well. This addition seems like a fun element since you can choose between two clans and earn points for your chosen side. Thankfully, there are still regular clan races where the two clans compete, and you’ll also face off against higher-ranked drivers in one-on-one races to climb your clan’s hierarchy.
However, the game does have a major drawback that I’ve encountered multiple times even before the official launch. First, you need to create a Nacon account, which must be linked to your console account (and can only be done through the console). When I tried to create the account on a computer, I ran into issues with account linking, which brings me to the core problem. The account is necessary because the game is “always online.” If the servers go down, your internet connection drops, or maintenance is underway, you can’t play Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown. I experienced multiple instances of server downtime before the game’s official release, and the maintenance periods often occurred during my usual playtime.
I think it comes as no surprise that one day the servers for this game will be shut down for good, and when that happens, you’ll no longer be able to play the game you bought. This is something that might disappoint many players and make them seriously reconsider purchasing the game.
If you can look past the “always online” requirement and some minor bugs (which will hopefully be fixed by the time the game fully launches), Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown is a decent open-world racing game worth considering. The world is beautiful, the gameplay is enjoyable, and the game has plenty of potential to compete with giants like Forza Horizon and Gran Turismo. I’ll reiterate, however, that this is not a realistic racing simulator. Instead, Solar Crown is more of an arcade racing game, which is exactly what I prefer. But for more serious car enthusiasts, the game might feel a bit lacking.
Initially, in my first review of Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown, I recommended the game. However, recent developments have forced me to lower my rating, and instead of a recommendation, I now suggest waiting before buying it or reconsidering whether a game with an “always online” condition is worth your money. Since the servers opened to a wider audience, there have been queues to access the game, with wait times stretching to tens of minutes. It’s not uncommon to receive an error message after waiting 15-20 minutes, forcing you to start over. Considering that the game is currently only available to Gold Edition buyers, and standard edition buyers have to wait until September 12th, these queues and problems don’t inspire much confidence in the developer.
