Play Hi-octane Online

Hi-Octane is a futuristic racing game released in 1995 for MS-DOS. Developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts, it is a first-person perspective game that combines hovercraft racing with combat elements in a science fiction setting.

Players control one of six distinct hover cars, which vary in speed and armament, such as the fast Flexiwing or the heavily armed Berserker. The primary objective is to win races across a selection of nine tracks, either in single events or a championship series. Core gameplay involves steering and accelerating while managing three offensive systems: a minigun with unlimited ammunition, limited missiles, and a booster for bursts of speed. Vehicles are affected by track surfaces, slowing on dirt or water, and players must collect power-ups scattered on the course to replenish fuel, armor, and missiles. Tracks feature alternate routes and shortcuts, and some include gates or ramps that change position randomly, adding variability to each lap.

The game offers several modes beyond standard racing. These include a split-screen option for direct competition, a clone race where players compete against a recorded best time, and a deathmatch mode where the goal is to eliminate opponents rather than finish first. A hot seat mode allows up to eight players to take turns on one computer, with AI controlling vehicles between turns. Players can select from eight teams, which determine vehicle color, and can upgrade their car's minigun, missile, and booster capacities during a race by collecting the corresponding power-ups.