Pole Position
Pole Position is a 1982 racing arcade game developed by Namco and distributed in North America by Atari. Players first drive a qualifying lap to earn a grid position, then compete in a Formula One-style race around a track modeled on Japan's Fuji Speedway, steering, shifting between low and high gears, and braking against both a strict time limit and rival cars along a scaling pseudo-3D road lined with billboards.
One of the most successful and highest-grossing arcade games of its time, Pole Position set the standard for racing games with its behind-the-car rear view, qualifying-lap structure, checkpoints that extend the timer, and vivid sense of speed and collision. Its design conventions deeply influenced the driving genre for years to come.
Pole Position remains a foundational racing classic available in numerous compilations, and its innovations became staples that shaped countless racing games that followed, including its own sequel.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Pole Position, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slipstream Indie | € 13,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Circuit Superstars Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Horizon Chase Turbo | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Hotshot Racing | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
Slipstream Indie
€ 13,99An indie retro racer built to evoke the pseudo-3D arcade racing of the 80s and early 90s.
Slipstream runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Circuit Superstars Indie
€ 19,99Top-down racing with real tyre wear and pit stops, simple to look at and hard to master.
Circuit Superstars runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Horizon Chase Turbo
€ 19,99A colorful arcade racer that revives the fast, simple thrills of 1980s driving games.
Horizon Chase Turbo runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Hotshot Racing
€ 19,99Flat-shaded arcade racing at 60 frames a second, deliberately built on early-80s cabinet handling.
Hotshot Racing runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
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