Degen Rivals takes the classic kart-racing genre, straps weapons to the chassis, and drops eight players into a battle royale arena where survival, not clean cornering is the ultimate goal. Developed by Tevaera Labs and Look Mister, the title pitches itself as a blend of Mario Kart and demolition derby mayhem. While it captures brief bursts of chaotic multiplayer fun, technical hiccups and questionable design choices hold it back from true greatness.
Developer: Glazial
Publisher: Glazial
Release Date: Coming Soon
CPU: Intel Core i5 / AMD Equivalent
GPU: Geforce GTX 1060 / AMD Equivalent
RAM: 4 GB
HDD: 10 GB
Review code provided
Gameplay & Mechanics
At its core, Degen Rivals relies on aggressive vehicle combat. Rather than racing along traditional laps, 8-player matches drop you into arenas designed for maximum collision. The main Battle Royale mode utilizes a shrinking zone called The Crush, forcing karts closer together until only one survivor remains. The combat mechanics emphasize weight and physicality.
Ramming an opponent sends them spinning, while weapons like blasters, pizza boomerangs, and orbital strikes add predictable party game absurdity. For variation, objective driven Demolition Party modes like Cops n’ Robbers and Loot Smash force players to pivot between offensive play and stealing items under fire.
Outside the arena, the game offers heavy visual customization. “The Lab” allows you to build avatar characters by mixing traits, while “The Garage” lets you tweak kart parts, paint jobs, and weapon loadouts.
The PC Experience: Fun Meets Friction
When a match comes together, Degen Rivals offers genuinely hilarious moments. Slamming a rival out of the safe zone right as “The Crush” closes in feels deeply rewarding. The fast match length (3 to 5 minutes) makes it an easy pick-up-and-play title for casual sessions with friends.
However, the PC port suffers from noticeable control issues. Mouse and keyboard bindings feel awkward out of the box, with sluggish camera movement that makes precise targeting frustrating. While controller support improves the vehicle handling, menu navigation still retains the clunky feel of a mobile-first interface. Furthermore, performance drops occur during heavily populated combat scenes, and netcode latency occasionally leads to desynced collisions.
Final Thoughts
Degen Rivals succeeds in delivering short, energetic blasts of vehicular destruction. If you enjoy party games with a demolition derby spin, there is fun to be had here—especially with friends in private lobbies. However, uneven PC optimization, control friction, and UI quirks prevent it from becoming a top-tier arcade racer.
