Cubed3 last looked at Gear.Club Unlimited when the original racer graced the Nintendo Switch back in 2017, yet sadly it failed to live up to expectations of fans who had tasted the likes of Burnout, Forza Horizon, Ridge Racer, Gran Turismo, et al. Now that the third entry in the series has blasted off on Switch 2, can it prove to be stronger than the likes of GRID Legends Deluxe Edition or even the free download of Asphalt Legends, which has now received an official Nintendo Switch 2 Edition boost?
Gear.Club Unlimited 3 arrives with a weight of expectation. Eden Games, the Lyon‑based studio behind Test Drive Unlimited, V‑Rally, and the original Gear.Club Unlimited entries, has a long and respected history in the racing genre. Its work helped define open‑road driving on consoles, and its previous Switch titles demonstrated a clear understanding of how to build responsive handling within hardware constraints. That pedigree sets a high bar for the series’ Switch 2 debut. The result is a racer that shows ambition on paper yet sadly struggles to deliver the refinement, consistency, and technical assurance expected from a studio with Eden’s background.
The handling model is the strongest element. Cars feel grounded and weighty, with a more deliberate steering rhythm than earlier entries. The improved analogue inputs of Switch 2 help the driving feel more precise, and there is a clear attempt to create a more authentic sense of grip and body movement. The experience changes dramatically depending on which graphics mode is selected, though. Gear.Club Unlimited 3 offers a 30fps ‘Quality’ mode and a 60fps ‘Performance’ mode, and the contrast between them defines much of the experience. It really is like chalk and cheese in the difference, affecting handling and overall control of all elements.
Quality mode aims for sharper visuals but suffers from unstable frame pacing, ghosting, and noticeable stutter. It looks pretty on the pre-race fly-throughs of the track, but the inconsistent refresh undermines the handling model and makes cornering feel unpredictable. The mode becomes difficult to recommend because the technical instability directly affects gameplay to the point of wanting to put down the controller and move onto something else.
Performance mode is the saving grace as it restores the intended responsiveness with a smoother 60fps target, and the driving immediately feels more confident. The trade‑off is a significant drop in visual clarity, however. It all controls considerably better, almost like a totally different racing experience, but the environments lose so much detail, lighting becomes flatter, and the overall presentation resembles an older arcade racer rather than a modern Switch 2 release. The split between the two modes leaves the game without a definitive identity, and neither option feels fully realised.
It would almost be better if the team dropped the Quality mode and focused on refining the Performance mode instead, since one is utterly unplayable and the other looks like an up-resolution version of something like a GameCube or Wii title. Head over to Arcade Club Bury or NQ64 in Manchester and you will definitely find better looking arcade offerings.
The overall presentation suffers as well, with the package surrounding the racing being another area where the game falls massively short. Story mode uses static cut‑out characters, plain text, and just gives off a general dull vibe. There is also no voiceover, and the music is functional rather than memorable. The approach feels dated and lacks the energy needed to support the career structure – again feeling like it was built for a much older piece of hardware. The simplicity of the presentation sits at odds with the ambition of the handling model and the scale of the regions. It creates a sense of disconnection that weakens immersion. Unfortunately, it reaches the point where players will find themselves skipping most of the introductory segments, since nothing grabs the attention.
Load times also disappoint, which is quite shocking, and goes to show how unpolished this release is. Despite the relatively modest visual complexity, transitions between menus and events take longer than expected. The delays interrupt the flow of short races and make everything feel highly unrefined. Switch 2’s hardware is capable of rapid loading, and the game’s structure would benefit greatly from snappier transitions. The current implementation adds friction to a package that already struggles to maintain momentum.
Track variety is one of the game’s more successful elements, and a saving grace, thankfully. The French Mediterranean and Japanese regions offer a mix of coastal roads, city streets, and mountain passes. The new Highway mode introduces traffic‑dodging challenges that add variety, although the mode relies heavily on spectacle rather than depth. The races themselves are short and often end before they have a chance to build tension. The AI behaviour also frustratingly leans on noticeable rubber‑banding, which causes rivals to surge unnaturally during the final stretch, or whenever you have even the slightest of bumps, and it reduces the satisfaction of clean driving. The structure suits brief sessions but limits the sense of progression.
The car roster is broad, with over 40 licensed vehicles from European and Japanese manufacturers. The attention to detail in the models is impressive, and the range of mechanical and cosmetic customisation options allows players to create a personalised garage. The Deluxe Edition adds further content, including the Bugatti Mistral, Nissan GT‑R R35 Nismo, and Nissan 370Z Nismo, along with cosmetic packs and a Career Starter bundle that provides additional resources and engineers. These additions enhance early progression but do not address the underlying issues with race design and presentation.
Progression during races themselves is built around the ‘UNLIMITED’ bar, a global meter that fills as you complete tracks, Time Attacks, and Highway events. It unlocks new regions, rivals, and car tiers, while race points, performance ratings, and GCU Dollars form the backbone of car upgrades and garage expansion. The system is straightforward, although the repetitive event structure and that awful rubber‑banding AI reduce the sense of meaningful advancement.
Value is a significant consideration when considering whether to grab this as a pick-up-and-play title in short bursts. The intended RRP of £44.99 places the game in direct competition with more polished racers, which is an immediate turn-off, especially since it still regularly gets listed at that price on eShop. Rummaging around online retailers will lead to a decent discount, with some places already discounting it to around £29, yet even then it leaves a lot to be considered. Even with a hefty reduction, the overall package struggles to compete with stronger alternatives.
Asphalt Legends is available for free and delivers sharper visuals, smoother performance, and a more cohesive presentation. Even the original Switch release of Burnout Paradise Remastered continues to run at a stable 60fps on Switch 2 and offers far greater depth, making it a higher recommendation, and the same could be said of GRID Legends Deluxe Edition. Against these options, Gear.Club Unlimited 3 feels underdeveloped for its original and discounted price bracket.
The absence of online multiplayer at launch further limits the game’s longevity, especially given the short race structure and reliance on repeated events. Whilst there is no online multiplayer as of yet, there is at least a local split‑screen mode, which allows two players to race together in standard events, duels, and Highway runs on a single system.
On the whole, Gear.Club Unlimited 3 is a title with clear ambition. The handling model shows promise, the regions offer visual variety, and the car roster is impressive. However, the technical inconsistency, dated presentation, slow load times, rubber‑banding AI, and limited content create a package that feels less polished than expected from Eden Games. The studio’s history sets expectations for a confident and refined Switch 2 debut, yet the final product falls short of that legacy. The result is a racer that entertains in short bursts and hints at a stronger future for the series, but struggles to justify its price or its pedigree. Gear.Club Unlimited 3, then, is merely functional and occasionally enjoyable, yet ultimately disappointing.
