Type the names, press Start and let the 8-bit cars decide. The finishing order is drawn fairly before the first car moves; the race just shows it.
A pixel car race is a random name picker drawn like an old arcade racer. Every name becomes a little 8-bit car in its own colour, with blocky wheels that spin as it drives down a checkered pixel road. The cars trade places, kick up dust and charge for the line, and the first one across wins. You get a podium for the top three and the full finishing order below it.
The retro look works well on a projector or a stream: the sprites are drawn pixel by pixel and scaled up crisp, so they stay sharp on any screen. Up to 60 cars fit on the road, and the results copy in one click.
How to run a pixel car race
- Type or paste the names, one per line. Each line is one racer.
- Pick a race length: about 10 seconds for Short, up to about a minute for Epic.
- Press Start race. The camera follows the leader along the pixel track.
- When the last racer arrives, check the podium and the full order, then press Copy results or run it again.
Is the car race fair?
Yes. When you press Start, the page shuffles the names with your browser's crypto.getRandomValues, and every finishing order has the same chance. That shuffle is the result. Each car then gets a speed curve with bursts and slow patches, tuned to cross the line at its assigned moment.
The overtakes are animation, and nothing during the race changes the outcome. Colour and lane do not matter. Your list stays in your browser and is never uploaded.
Ideas for pixel car races
- Draw giveaway winners on a retro or gaming stream.
- Pick the order of players for a game night or a tournament bracket.
- Choose who presents first in class with a race everyone can watch.
- Settle who gets the front seat, the last slice or the next turn.
Frequently asked questions
What does the pixel car race sound like?
Like an arcade cabinet: square-wave countdown beeps, a chiptune jingle at the start and a short fanfare for the winner. All sounds are made in the browser and can be turned off in the race settings.
Can I paste a list from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Copy a column from Excel or Google Sheets and paste it into the names box, and each row becomes one racer. You can also import an .xlsx, CSV, Word or text file.
Can the same name win twice in a row?
Yes, every race is a fresh draw. If each name should only win once, tick Remove winner after race and the winner is taken off the list.