Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Micro Machines

Review
Also known as
微型机器

Race tiny vehicles on household tracks with tight controls and challenging overhead competition.

Micro Machines was originally released in 1991 for the NES by Camerica, and this is the earliest commercial release of the game on any platform.

About Micro Machines

Micro Machines presents a top-down racing experience where miniature vehicles compete on household surfaces rather than conventional tracks. The game's 21 courses feature distinct environmental interactions, such as navigating pencil sharpeners on a desk or using snooker table pockets as part of the route. Tanks introduce direct combat by allowing players to fire upon opponents directly ahead.

In the single-player challenge, progression requires finishing within the top two positions across a sequence of races while managing a limited pool of lives. A strategic element exists in selecting which computer-controlled opponents to face and eliminate during this campaign. Completing three consecutive races without a continue unlocks a time trial that can reward an extra life, making the overall pacing challenging.

Multiplayer represents a significant design focus, employing a head-to-head system where players begin with four points each. The leader can force the trailing opponent off-screen, shifting a slider in their favor; winning a level requires achieving this four more times than the rival. If three laps are completed first, the current leader wins, with a tie triggering a sudden death round. While nine tracks support this competitive mode, the head-to-head format is also available for solo play across all courses.

Micro Machines Screenshots

10 images
Title screen
Choose a character
Racing in the bath tub
Racing on the kitchen table
The outcome of a race
Watch out for obstacles on the desktop
Flying choppers in two player mode
Avoid balls on the pool table
Water gets in the way at the beach
On top of the workbench