The racing game genre is poised for a strong year in 2026, but a cult-classic arcade title has already made its debut: Armadillo Racing. Originally released by Namco in 1997, the game is now available on modern consoles for the first time as part of Hamster Corporation's Arcade Archives series. Armadillo Racing puts players in control of rolling armadillos, offering a unique take on the racing genre.
The original arcade version of Armadillo Racing featured a distinctive, oversized cabinet controlled by a large trackball, an input method that contributed to the game's unique feel and likely hindered its previous re-releases. This new digital version aims to preserve that experience. The Arcade Archives release includes an Original Mode that faithfully recreates the arcade game, alongside Time Attack, Hi-Score, and Caravan Modes for different gameplay challenges. The game will also support trackball peripherals for those seeking an authentic control experience.
Armadillo Racing is now available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The release date was July 23.