Rock n' Roll Racing screenshot

Release year: 1993

Rock n' Roll Racing

Category: ArcadeRacingVehicular Combat

Rock n' Roll Racing isn't your typical racing game - it's a full-throttle battle set to some of the most iconic rock music of all time. Originally released in 1993 for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, this game quickly became a fan favorite thanks to its mix of high-speed action, weapon-based combat, and unforgettable soundtrack.

You don't just race - you fight your way to the finish. Pick from a wild cast of intergalactic racers, each with their own personality and stats, then upgrade your vehicle with everything from better engines to brutal weaponry. Missiles, mines, lasers - all fair game on tracks packed with hazards, sharp turns, and jumps that keep every lap unpredictable. One of the game's standout features is its licensed rock soundtrack, with classics like "Born to Be Wild", "Paranoid", and "Bad to the Bone" blasting in the background as you race. Combined with the energetic voiceover from the in-game announcer, it creates a thrilling, almost concert-like atmosphere that's rare even today.

Whether you're dodging enemy fire, blasting rivals off the road, or catching air on a big jump, Rock n' Roll Racing delivers pure arcade chaos with every race. Play it online now and relive the glory days of the Genesis/Mega Drive where the races were loud, fast, and always full of surprises.

Start
Start / Pause in game
Joystick
Steer
A
Weapon
B
Accelerate (Double - Nitro)
C
Mines
Save / Restart / Load

🎮 Cheat Codes and Secrets

Want to shake things up on the track? Rock n' Roll Racing includes a handful of awesome cheats and hidden features that can give you an edge or just make things more fun. From unlocking secret characters to getting infinite ammo, here are some of the best tricks to try out while playing the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version.

Note: You can use WASD instead of when playing on PC.

Olaf character unlocked in Rock n' Roll Racing

Unlock Olaf

Olaf, the Viking from The Lost Vikings, makes a surprise appearance as a playable racer in Rock n' Roll Racing. He's not available by default, but you can unlock him with a secret input on the character select screen.

To unlock Olaf, at the character select screen press:

If entered correctly, Olaf will be added to the list of available racers. You'll see him alongside the standard characters, ready to jump into the action with his own stats and style. A fun Easter egg for fans of Blizzard's early days - and a great racer in his own right.

Driving off-track using cheat code in Rock n' Roll Racing

Drive Anywhere

Want total freedom on the track? This cheat lets you drive beyond the usual racing boundaries - perfect for exploring or just causing chaos during a race.

To activate free driving, go to Set Options, then press:

If entered correctly, you'll be able to steer your vehicle anywhere on the track - even off the main course. Great for messing around or finding new ways to take out your opponents.

Racing on Inferno planet in Rock n' Roll Racing

Unlock Inferno in VS Mode

Inferno is one of the most intense and chaotic planets in the game - and with this code, you can unlock it for races in VS Mode.

To unlock Inferno in VS Mode, go to Change Planets, then press:

If entered correctly, Inferno will become available as a selectable planet, letting you take the action to its fiery, hazard-filled tracks.

$250,000 money cheat activated in Rock n' Roll Racing

Infinite Money

Need a quick cash boost to upgrade your ride? This cheat gives you $250,000 instantly - and you can repeat it as many times as you like.

To get infinite money, go to the main screen showing your racing stats, driver, and current money, then press:

If entered correctly, you'll receive $250,000 added to your total. Use it to max out your car, buy better weapons, or just stack up cash for fun - there's no limit to how often you can do it.

Infinite bullets cheat code entered in Rock n' Roll Racing

Infinite Bullets and Cluster Bombs

Want nonstop firepower? This cheat gives you unlimited bullets and cluster bombs - but keep in mind, your rivals get them too, so the battlefield gets wild fast.

To activate infinite ammo, enter the Buy Equipment screen, then press:

If entered correctly, you'll have endless bullets and cluster bombs for your next race. Just be prepared for even more explosions than usual - your enemies are fully armed too.

Game screen after entering a password - Rock n' Roll Racing

Passwords

Rock n' Roll Racing uses a password system to save your progress and start races with specific setups. Some codes let you play as certain characters with upgraded vehicles, while others unlock high skill levels or even the game's ending. Below are some of the most useful passwords for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive version.

Codes for Any Character and Powered-Up Cars in Any Division:

  • Rookie - Flea: RM20 RS!V XWJ!
  • Rookie - Hawk: 8M2H RSYV XWJ!
  • Rookie - Jake: RM1H RSKV XWJ!
  • Rookie - Katarina: 8M20 RS6V XWJ!
  • Rookie - Olaf: RM10 RSTV XWJ!
  • Rookie - Snake: RM2H RS2V XWJ!
  • Rookie - Tarquinn: 8M1H RSFV XWJ!
  • Veteran - Flea: HM2W RS!V XWJ!
  • Veteran - Hawk: 0M2C RSYV XWJ!
  • Veteran - Jake: HM1C RSKV XWJ!
  • Veteran - Katarina: OM2W RS6V XWJ!
  • Veteran - Olaf: HM1W RSTV XWJ!
  • Veteran - Snake: HM2C RS2V XWJ!
  • Veteran - Tarquinn: 0M1C RSFV XWJ!
  • Warrior - Flea: 8M28 RS!V XWJ!
  • Warrior - Hawk: RM2R RSYV XWJ!
  • Warrior - Jake: 8M1R RSKV XWJ!
  • Warrior - Katarina: RM28 RS6V XWJ!
  • Warrior - Olaf: 8M18 RSTV XWJ!
  • Warrior - Snake: 8M2R RS2V XWJ!
  • Warrior - Tarquinn: RM1R RSFV XWJ!

Passwords for Veteran skill level:

  • Part 1 of Planet 2: 6!!W R429 RJ6Q
  • Part 1 of Planet 3: 3KWW C92J RJ6Q
  • Part 1 of Planet 4: 4SBW Z52N 8S8P
  • Part 1 of Planet 5: 7!7V 7G1X 8S8P
  • Part 2 of Planet 1: XFDW S60V WS6M
  • Part 2 of Planet 2: Y26W M609 RJ6Q
  • Part 2 of Planet 3: WHGW CL0D 8S8P
  • Part 2 of Planet 4: X0NV MT0N 8S8P
  • Part 2 of Planet 5: 3LLW RGZX 5TF9

Play as Snake, fully loaded car, any difficulty, any planet, any division:

  • Rookie - Bogmire: SPFH 7G2B XWJ!
  • Rookie - Bogmire, Div A: J5YH Z70B XWJ!
  • Rookie - Bogmire, Div B: Q40H HT23 XWJ!
  • Rookie - Chem IV, Div A: HQWH T80V XWJ!
  • Rookie - Drakonis, Div A: G!!H JN03 XWJ!
  • Rookie - Drakonis, Div B: Q40H HT23 XWJ!
  • Veteran - Bogmire, Div A: S5YC Z70B XWJ!
  • Veteran - Bogmire, Div B: JPFC YG2B XWJ!
  • Veteran - Chem IV, Div A: RQWC T80V XWJ!
  • Veteran - Drakonis, Div A: Q!!C JN03 XWJ!
  • Veteran - Drakonis, Div B: G40C HT23 XWJ!
  • Veteran - New Mojave, Div A: T5YC Z70L XWJ!
  • Veteran - New Mojave, Div B: K5YC Z72L XWJ!
  • Veteran - NHO, Div A: L5YC Z7ZV XWJ!
  • Veteran - NHO, Div B: B5YC Z71C XWJ!
  • Warrior - Bogmire, Div A: 15YR Z70B XWJ!
  • Warrior - Bogmire, Div B: 9PFR 7G2B XWJ!
  • Warrior - Chem IV, Div A: 0QWR T80V XWJ!
  • Warrior - Drakonis, Div A: Z!!R JN03 XWJ!
  • Warrior - Drakonis, Div B: 740R HT23 XWJ!
  • Warrior - Inferno, Div A: W5YR Z723 XWJ!
  • Warrior - Inferno, Div B: 45YR Z713 XWJ!
  • Warrior - New Mojave, Div A: 25YR Z70L XWJ!
  • Warrior - New Mojave, Div B: !5YR Z72L XWJ!
  • Warrior - NHO, Div A: V5YR Z7ZV XWJ!
  • Warrior - NHO, Div B: 35YR 271V XWJ!

View ending

To view the ending of the game, enter the password: RG1Y 5HP1 2F!!

🧠 Interesting Facts

Here are some fun and verified facts about Rock n' Roll Racing that make it one of the most memorable games of the 16-bit era:

🎸 Developed by the Studio That Became Blizzard

Rock n' Roll Racing was developed by Silicon & Synapse, the same team that would later become Blizzard Entertainment - creators of Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft. This was one of their earliest console hits.

🎤 Real Rock Songs, Digitized for 16-Bit

The game features digitized versions of actual licensed rock songs - including "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath and "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf. This was rare for the time due to hardware limitations and licensing costs, especially on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive.

🧊 Olaf Is a Crossover Guest

Olaf, one of the hidden racers in the game, is a direct crossover from The Lost Vikings, another early Blizzard title. His appearance was a fun Easter egg and one of the first examples of character crossover in console games.

🎮 Commentator Voice by Larry "Supermouth" Huffman

The in-game announcer, known for his energetic voiceovers, is voiced by Larry "Supermouth" Huffman, a real-life motorsports announcer. His unique style gave the game a sports-broadcast feel that set it apart from other racing titles.

🏁 Shared Engine with RPM Racing

Rock n' Roll Racing is considered a spiritual successor to RPM Racing (1991), an earlier SNES game by the same team. While RPM was more basic, many of its core ideas were refined and expanded into Rock n' Roll Racing.

💾 No Battery Saves - Only Passwords

Unlike many games of the time, Rock n' Roll Racing didn't use a battery save system. Instead, it relied entirely on long, complex passwords to save your progress - leading to players keeping notebooks full of codes.

🏁 Final Thoughts - Why It Still Rocks

Rock n' Roll Racing stands out as one of the boldest and most unforgettable games on the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive. With its mix of high-speed racing, over-the-top weapon combat, and a soundtrack packed with rock legends, it brought a new kind of energy to the 16-bit era.

Its legacy lives on - not just because of the music or gameplay, but because of how well it all comes together. From the roaring commentary of Larry Huffman to hidden characters like Olaf, every detail adds to the fun.

Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering it today, this game still delivers raw, chaotic entertainment that holds up remarkably well.

You can play Rock n' Roll Racing online right here and see for yourself why it still rocks after all these years.