Data Wing
Review

Data Wing (2017) is a racing game where you guide an arrow through courses, race opponents, and aim for the fastest lap times. Using simple yet nuanced controls, you expertly navigate each track, gaining boosts by thrusting away from the walls and perfecting your line. The varied skill-based challenge and a simple story combine for an elegantly designed experience.

You play a Wing whose sole purpose is transporting data through different systems. As you do, you discover text files that tell the story of a young girl who gets sent to a camp for gifted children. You read about family disputes and fallings out and decide to help get a message to her before her phone gets reset.

The controls are simple: you can turn left, right, and brake, as you traverse different courses to complete specific timed or distance challenges ranging from reaching the end of the course to racing against computer-controlled wings to beating a level quickly enough. While it sounds simple, the physics make it so that turning perfectly can be tough, and you need to learn how to angle your wing just right so you gain a speed boost by accelerating away from walls around turns. Additional speed boosts mean you can gain even greater speed to come out on top. It's simple to learn, but mastering it takes patience and determination.

The result is a unique challenge that combines the classic arcade racing style of play with unique challenges and ways to play, offering myriad opportunities to experiment with ambitious actions and moves.

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Data Wing 13 months ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 5 weeks ago.