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Speed Freak
Speed Freak is a first-person racing arcade game released by Vectorbeam in 1979. Using vector graphics, the game places players behind the wheel of a car driving along a winding road, tasked with avoiding oncoming vehicles and roadside obstacles. The perspective simulates forward motion as the road scrolls toward the player. Speed increases over time, making obstacle avoidance progressively more difficult. Controls consist of a steering wheel and accelerator, giving the feel of actual driving. The game supports two players, who take turns competing for high scores. Collisions with other cars or barriers end a run. There are no distinct levels in a traditional sense; the challenge escalates continuously as the player survives longer on the road.
- Developer
- Vectorbeam
- Released
- 1979
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 (4.8K)
- Last updated
Speed Freak Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Speed Freak on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Speed Freak Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Speed Freak on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Speed Freak" Arcade longplay 1979
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Speed Freak released?
Speed Freak was released in 1979 for the Arcade.
Who developed Speed Freak?
Speed Freak was developed by Vectorbeam, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Speed Freak support?
Speed Freak supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Speed Freak?
Speed Freak is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Speed Freak for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Speed Freak runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Speed Freak in the browser?
No. Speed Freak streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Speed Freak?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Speed Freak work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Speed Freak this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Speed Freak. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
