TrackMania
Racing series emphasizing track creation and online time trials.
TrackMania is a series of racing games developed by Ubisoft Nadeo and Firebrand Games, available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo DS, and Wii. The series is notable for allowing players to create their own tracks using a building-block process similar to earlier games such as Excitebike (1984), Racing Destruction Set (1985), and Stunts (1990). Tracks and replays are saved as .gbx 3D files.
- first_release
- TrackMania (2003)
- platforms
- Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Nintendo DS, Wii
- developer
- Ubisoft Nadeo, Firebrand Games
- genre
- Racing (time trial format)
- notable_free_release
- TrackMania Nations (2006), freeware, reached nearly 1 million registered online players within weeks
- world_records
- Six Guinness World Records in Gamer's Edition 2008, including 'Biggest Online Race' and 'Most Popular Online Racing Sim'
Lore & Background
The TrackMania series began in 2003 and expanded with titles such as TrackMania Sunrise, TrackMania Nations (released January 27, 2006 as a free promotion for the Electronic Sports World Cup), TrackMania United, and various console versions including TrackMania DS (2008/2009) and TrackMania Wii (announced June 30, 2009, released in North America March 24, 2011 after delays). The Wii version featured a primitive online system and a special 'F' class of tracks unlocked after accruing a certain number of medals. TrackMania2 introduced new environments: Canyon (with split-screen and ManiaScript), Stadium (open beta February 27, 2013, released June 20, 2013), Valley (July 4, 2013), and Lagoon (May 23, 2017). TrackMania Turbo (2016) was a spin-off inspired by 90s arcade racers, released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows. A remake of TrackMania Nations, titled Trackmania (2020), was announced February 29, 2020, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and released July 1, 2020 on Windows, with console and cloud releases on May 15, 2023; the base game is free-to-play with a paid subscription for additional content.
Reader's Guide
TrackMania's significance lies in its pioneering track-building mechanics and its free-to-play model that drove massive online communities. The series awarded six Guinness World Records in 2008, including 'Biggest Online Race' and 'Most Popular Online Racing Sim'. Its time trial format, with medals for beating set times and online leaderboards, fostered competitive play. The 2006 free release TrackMania Nations attracted nearly 1 million registered players within weeks, establishing a lasting esports presence. The series also experimented with copy protection: early PC versions used StarForce, which silently installed drivers; later versions (TrackMania United Forever and TrackMania Nations Forever) removed StarForce. Spin-offs included Shootmania (released 2013) and the unreleased Questmania. The 2020 remake continued the free-to-play approach, ensuring ongoing accessibility. TrackMania's legacy is its blend of creative track design and competitive racing, influencing later track-building games.
Did You Know?
- TrackMania tracks and replays are saved as .gbx 3D files.
- TrackMania Nations was released as freeware on January 27, 2006, and reached nearly 1 million registered online players within weeks.
- The series holds six Guinness World Records from the 2008 Gamer's Edition, including 'Biggest Online Race' and 'Most Popular Online Racing Sim'.
- TrackMania Wii was delayed in North America from July 20, 2010 to March 24, 2011, according to the publisher Dreamcatcher Interactive.
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