Zero Racers[a] is a racing game developed by Nintendo for the Virtual Boy, based on the F-Zero series. It was planned for release in 1996 but was canceled following the failure of the Virtual Boy.
Zero Racers was to be the first F-Zero game to feature 3D graphics. Players choose one of four characters, each with their hovercar, and race against AI-controlled characters in fifteen tracks divided into three leagues.
According to a Nintendo employee, Zero Racers was complete, had been rated by the ESRB and materials had been made for release. It is scheduled to be released for the first time on the Nintendo Classics service in 2026.
Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot of Zero Racers. Virtual Boy games use a red-and-black color scheme.
Zero Racers is a futuristic racing game in which players compete in a high-speed racing tournament. There are four F-Zero characters that have their own selectable vehicle along with its unique performance abilities. These characters include Captain Falcon, James McCloud, and Jody Summer, the latter two originally intended to debut in this game before cancellation, ultimately being featured in F-Zero X.[1][2][3][4][5]
The objective is to beat opponents to the finish while avoiding hazards that damage the players' vehicle. Each machine has a power meter, serving as measurement of the machine's durability; it decreases when the machine collides with the side of the track or another vehicle.[6] Energy is replenished by driving over pit areas placed along the home straight or nearby.[6][4] Unlike the original F-Zero, the vehicles race in 3D in tunnels.[2][6]Game Informer likened it to the Death Star run from the 1977 film Star Wars.[5]
A race in Zero Racers consists of a set lap number around the track. The player must complete each lap in a successively higher place to avoid disqualification from the race. For each lap completed, the player is rewarded with an approximate speed boost called "Rapid" and a number of points determined by place. An on-screen display is shown to indicate that a boost can be used; however, the player is limited to saving up to three at a time.[6] If a certain number of points are accumulated, an "extra machine" is acquired that gives the player another chance to retry the course.[6]Zero Racers includes two modes of play. In the Grand Prix mode, the player chooses a league and races against other vehicles through each track in that league while avoiding disqualification. A total of fifteen tracks divided into three leagues are featured in the game.[6] The Practice mode allows the player to practice on courses from the Grand Prix mode.[6]
History
Zero Racers was previewed by Nintendo Power in their July 1996 issue under the name G-Zero and planned for a late 1996 launch.[2][7]Nintendo Power published an in-depth article in its August issue under the name Zero Racers.[8][6] It was also previewed in the September 1996 issue of the British magazine Nintendo Magazine System and the October 1998 issue of the American magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.[4][9] False reports suggested it had been displayed at E3 1996.[10]
After the commercial failure of the Virtual Boy, Nintendo canceled the Zero Racers release.[5] Some speculated that it had never left early development and that the screenshots were mockups .[10] However, according to the former Nintendo of America localizer and associate producer Jim Wornell, it was complete and had a manual, package, label, and ESRB rating.[5] On January 27, 2026, Nintendo announced that Zero Racers would be released for the first time on the Nintendo Classics service later that year.[11]
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