Sometimes, you just wanna go fast. Like, really fast. Feel that pixelated breeze whipping past as you hurl yourself through a wild, abstract playground at Mach 10. That’s where The Local comes in—a free, adrenaline-pumping multiplayer sandbox cooked up by a lone Aussie dev, JINC. It’s a glorious nod to the janky, physics-bending movement of old-school FPS games, and it’s got that perfect mix of “holy crap, I’m untouchable” and “oh no, I’m about to eat dirt.” You need to jump in and experience it for yourself.
This game’s a total throwback to the days when strafing mid-air made you a speed demon, bunny hopping let you laugh at friction, and sliding uphill felt like a middle finger to Newton. Here, you’ll be grinding rails like you’re auditioning for Jet Set Radio, boosting down slopes, and launching off ramps with reckless abandon. It’s chaos in the best way. I learned quick—after a few glorious wipeouts—that fall damage is no joke unless you hit a bounce pad or rail to save your bacon. The faster you fly, the tighter the margin for error, but chaining grinds, hops, and slides into a seamless flow? That’s the kind of rush that keeps you hooked.
And The Local isn’t just a one-trick pony. Sure, the map’s a single, sprawling cartoonish sci-fi take on Australia, but it’s packed with stuff to do. You’ve got checkpoint races and target-shooting challenges—complete with ghost replays to taunt your past self or flex on others. Online multiplayer throws you into a mad dash against rivals to hit key spots first. Then there’s the standout Orders mode, where you’re a gig economy speedster, snagging packages and yeeting them (and yourself) to drop-off points for cash. Spend your haul on upgrades or chase rarer, high-value deliveries. It’s hectic, juggling all that while dodging a grisly end via gravity smackdown.
Here’s where it gets spicy: the game’s got attitude. Survive too long, and it starts throwing homing missiles your way from turrets dotted around. Stick around even longer, and hovertanks roll up to ruin your day. You can shoot back with your finger-guns—pew pew—but that’s just another ball to juggle. I’ve had runs where I’m weaving through missile barrages, nailing jumps, and cackling like a maniac. The online leaderboards are a battlefield, and I’m tempted to camp them myself.
It’s out now, mostly free, with an optional “supporter package” tossing in an endurance race mode called Inferno and some cosmetic flair. JINC told me he’s eyeing Steam Workshop support for custom levels if the player base grows enough—fingers crossed, because I’d kill to see what the community whips up. I’ve crashed and burned plenty already, but every run feels like a story worth telling. Grab it, give it a whirl, and let’s convince this dev the multiplayer speedster sandbox scene’s worth doubling down on. Trust me, you won’t regret diving into The Local.
