Nightmare Kart

Look, I think it's time we face the truth: FromSoftware is never bringing their classic eldritch-hunting Soulsborne title to PC. At least, not in the near future. For those players frustrated with the lack of Yarnham adventures on their gaming rig, the next best thing is now available: Nightmare Kart.

What began as a joke quickly became a reality with this racing game developed by LWMedia. You might remember the memes about a supposed "Bloodborne Kart" coming to PC before the proper Bloodborne Steam port. Well, that meme is now a fully-fledged game – and it plays amazingly well!

Nightmare Kart combines the gothic landscapes of Bloodborne's Yarnham with the frantic action of Mario Kart. The result is a racing game that, on paper, shouldn't work. Still, the combination of high-speed action races and stylish visuals makes Nightmare Kart one of the best Mario Kart clones you'll ever play. No, seriously.

Racing the Horrors

As much as we'd loved a Bloodborne kart racing game, it's clear that FromSoftware would never pursue such a pipe dream. Still, what LWMedia delivered here is essentially the next best thing: a game with all the flair of Bloodborne, minus the copyright infringement. Win-win!

Even though you and I know the game is based on Bloodborne, the developers went the extra mile to create a unique identity for Nightmare Kart. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the visuals and overall presentation reminded me more of Nightmare Creatures than it ever did Bloodborne.

PSOne Goodness

The original "Bloodborne Kart" meme was made using a composite screenshot mixing scenes from Bloodborne and Assassin's Creed: Syndicate. I would recognize that carriage anywhere! However, Nightmare Kart goes for a more restrained presentation, delivering a game that wouldn't look out of place on a PSOne.

While not everyone might be a fan of the "software-rendered" look of Nightmare Kart – especially more modern players – the game makes up for it with its fluid animations and its frantic sense of speed. The result is an experience that, while not as good-looking as something like Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, delivers the same thrills we'd come to expect from an arcadey kart racer.

Compete and Combat

Like any good Mario Kart clone, much of the action in Nightmare Kart isn't focused on the racing per se. No, what matters here is using items and combat mechanics to your advantage. Winning isn't the only thing that matters in Nightmare Kart: you also have to make sure your opponents can't win.

As you race, you'll also have the chance to hunt eldritch abominations along the way. Killing monsters not only gives you an edge in every race, but it also opens up more about the lore of Nightmare Kart. There's a surprisingly deep game hidden under all the Bloodborne references here, and it's still impressive it all came from a silly meme made a few years back.

Even if we never get Bloodborne on PC, Nightmare Kart is a great racing game that stands on its own two legs as a hectic arcade racer that any Mario Kart fan will surely love.

Pros

• Hectic races with a great sense of speed
• Dozens of secrets and deep lore to find
• Great retro-inspired visuals

Cons

• The barebones presentation might not appeal to everyone
• Some issues with collision detection in certain tracks