As of August 12, 2026, Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer is available for $11.89, down from $16.99, on the Xbox store page. The limited-time discount gives fans a cheaper way to revisit Namco Limited’s 1993 arcade racer, and no end date has been announced for the offer.
Xbox Wire’s overview also covers the controls, difficulty levels, score modes, and extra features included in this version. Underneath the retro presentation is the same fast arcade formula: complete the required laps before time runs out, reach the finish line first, and keep the car moving through every corner.
Ridge Racer was built for Namco’s 3D CG System 22 hardware, and its drifting remains the star of the show. The car’s handling rewards players who carry speed into a turn instead of simply braking for every corner.
How to start a race in Ridge Racer
Because the original game was designed for an arcade cabinet, the first race begins with a small extra step. Press Insert Credit twice, then hit Accelerate to launch the event.
The Left/Right stick behaves like a steering wheel and returns to the center when released. That can feel natural for players familiar with a wheel, but the D-pad offers a more direct option if the spring-loaded stick takes some getting used to.
Four choices are available: NOVICE, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED, and T.T. (TIME TRIAL). Each setting changes factors such as maximum speed, lap count, and track layout, so learning the course becomes just as important as controlling the drift. Before the race starts, the Shift up and Shift down buttons can also cycle through the BGM options.
Arcade Archives 2 modes and rankings
ORIGINAL MODE recreates the arcade experience while allowing players to adjust a range of settings. For score chasers, HI SCORE MODE, CARAVAN MODE, and TIME ATTACK MODE send results to online rankings.
Those ranking modes use their own rules, with most settings locked to keep runs comparable. TIME ATTACK MODE focuses on finishing quickly rather than building the highest score. The game is single-player, so the broader NETWORK MODE found in some Arcade Archives 2 releases is not included here.
Quick saves, rewind, and retro display options
Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer adds several conveniences without removing the original arcade feel. In ORIGINAL MODE, four standard save slots are joined by a dedicated Quick Save slot. Players can save or load with separate buttons without taking their finger off the accelerator.
The Rewind feature lets players reverse the last few seconds after clipping another car, missing a racing line, or making a small mistake. It will not rescue an entire run, but it can make practice laps much less punishing.
Several screen settings are available for players who want a more period-accurate presentation. Screen Filter adds scanlines, CRT TV Filter recreates a curved display, Brightness can add darker corners, and Screen Noise supplies another layer of old-school visual texture.
The store description also notes a DX version with H-shifter and clutch support, along with VRR support for a closer reproduction of the original arcade experience. With the price temporarily reduced to $11.89, Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer offers a compact way to revisit one of Namco’s early 3D racing landmarks.
Will you be taking a few laps around Ridge Racer’s classic course? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
