A surreal, glitchy driving game from the world’s most secretive state—and why it exists at all
Imagine a racing game where the speed limit is your patience, the soundtrack loops like a broken elevator, and the biggest thrill is being scolded by a digital traffic cop. Welcome to Pyongyang Racer, North Korea’s first (and only) internationally released video game—a bizarre, pixelated peek into the Hermit Kingdom’s idea of fun.
Released in 2012, Pyongyang Racer was developed by Nosotek, a German–North Korean joint venture, and commissioned by Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based travel agency specializing in trips to North Korea. The goal? A nonviolent, nonpolitical advergame to promote tourism. The result? A low-res, Flash-based driving simulator that feels like a propaganda pamphlet wrapped in a tech demo.
You play as a tourist cruising a Hwiparam II (a real North Korean car) through eerily empty streets of Pyongyang. Landmarks like the Ryugyong Hotel and Arch of Triumph pop up as you collect fuel cans and try not to crash into stationary cars. Stray from the road and a stern policewoman reminds you to stay in line—literally.
“It’s like Crazy Taxi got rerouted through a bureaucratic maze,
went on a government-mandated meditation retreat,
and forgot how to have fun.”
Critics weren’t kind. Tech in Asia called it “pretty awful,” citing “glitches and artifacts,” while Jalopnik’s Jason Torchinsky described it as “slow, wildly boring, empty, incredibly restricted.” Even the game’s own website admitted it wasn’t “a high-end technological wonder.”
But Pyongyang Racer isn’t just a bad game—it’s a fascinating artifact. It offers a rare glimpse into North Korea’s digital ambitions and the peculiar ways it engages with the outside world.
Other North Korean Games (Yes, There Are More)
While Pyongyang Racer is the most (in)famous, it’s not alone. North Korea has dabbled in game development, often through Nosotek, which created mobile games like The Big Lebowski Bowling and Men in Black: Alien Assault for Western markets.
Domestically, games like “Tank Game,” “Swift Girl,” and “Rubber Slingshot Shooting” are popular, especially on devices like the Samjiyon tablet. These games often mimic Western titles, re-skinned with local flair and ideology.
There’s also Brave Scouts, a 3D shooter based on the state-produced cartoon Squirrel and Hedgehog, where adorable animals battle imperialist weasels. It’s as weird as it sounds.
Can You Play Them?
Pyongyang Racer is still available online for free, though you might need a Flash emulator. As for the others, they’re mostly confined within North Korea’s borders, running on state-approved devices with no internet access. Some, like Brave Scouts, have surfaced online, but they’re rare finds.
The Takeaway
Some games are built for thrills—this one feels more like a state-sponsored brochure on wheels. Pyongyang Racer is less a game and more a digital curiosity: a clunky, government-approved attempt at soft power. It’s a strange reminder that even the most closed-off regimes feel the need to create (and carefully control) entertainment. Sometimes, that impulse leads to a game where the highlight is… a fuel gauge.
