For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best video games, our attention this time turns to the best racing video games of all time. Some of these titles exhibit qualities the whole family will enjoy, while others aim to please gamers who enjoy the single-player experience. Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below, and we’ll get them added on!
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe is a creative and colorful racing game that the entire family can enjoy. It offers beautiful and immersive tracks, recognizable characters from the Mario franchise, and introduces new things like Zero Gravity karts, special guests from other Nintendo franchises, and full-fledged battle modes. The game modes offer unique objectives that allow players to attain new experiences each time they boot up the game. Furthermore, Mario Kart 8: Deluxe’s online play allows for those who don’t have friends nearby to play with others online. All the modes can be played online, so there’s no reason for fans to feel disheartened that they can’t play the game with other players. Also, the music in this game leans toward exhilarating and charming, depending on the tracks you’re racing on. Mario Kart 8: Deluxe may be a port of the original Mario Kart 8 Nintendo Wii U title, but it adds enough newer content to satisfy its $60 price. It’s definitely worth picking up if you’ve been craving a racing game that offers things different from the norm.
Midnight Club III
Midnight Club III improves upon its past predecessors in many ways. This title not only included more ways to customize your vehicles, but its visuals were also immersive and well-detailed. This game truly captured the raw adrenaline rush you’d attain when playing a racing title in an arcade. Alongside its incredible gameplay, is its empowering soundtrack. Most of these tracks feel great to listen to while you’re driving down streets at the speed of light. Midnight Club 3 also introduced special moves that players could perform. These vary in terms of the size of your vehicle. For instance, big cars can produce a shockwave on the ground that knocks traffic out of your way. As for smaller and faster vehicles, you can slow down time. This allows you to move through traffic easier. Although they do show signs of lasting too long, the powers themselves are fun to use. While it doesn’t take a realistic approach toward driving a vehicle, Midnight Club III allows fans to take to the streets and drive in any matter they wish.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest installment in the Forza Horizon franchise that delivers a greater experience. This time around, the game takes place in Mexico and offers vastly larger landscapes from that area. The areas are vibrant and beautifully done. You’ll notice every detail as you drive in your favorite vehicle of choice. The landscapes also vary in theme. You can expect to drive through lively deserts, well-forested jungles, historical landmarks, and expansive canyons. You’ll even get to explore hidden and darkened areas during your travels. These locations are meant to evoke feelings of grandeur and wonder. The game’s weather system is also awe-inspiring. As you traverse through these jungles and deserts, you may notice strange and bizarre phenomena. These range from things like towering dust or tropical storms. The game also receives updates occasionally that will add new rewards, events, collectibles, and areas for you to explore. The game also has a way for you to team up with your friends or other players online. There are challenges tailored to the online mode. The game manages to do away with menus, loading screens, and lobbies to allow for you to seamlessly get to your friend’s world without no interruptions.
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 was a racing game developed by Namco for the PlayStation. It was the Ridge Racer series’ fourth game and the first one to appear on the system. It generates the same energy as any other arcade-style racing game but with a tight emphasis on sliding around corners. The power sliding mechanics allowed the game to feel different and fresh. It also made turning with vehicles feel more action-packed and grand. Ridge Racer Type 4 also featured a great unlock system where you’d gain access to new vehicles by completing the game’s Grand Prix mode. The mode offered fair challenges and the rewards you’d reap here were phenomenal. There were over 320 vehicles you could unlock, and the game even featured a Pac-Man-themed vehicle that you’d attain in the game. While it hasn’t aged the best graphically, it offers enough content to satisfy the need of completion addicts and racing fans alike.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout Paradise Remastered is a visually enhanced version of the original game. It introduces a new take on the classic city of Paradise while also providing a wide playground for you and your friends to explore. The remastered version includes all the add-ons fans remember but is now rendered in beautiful 4K visuals. This game will have you wanting to discover every nook and cranny Paradise City offers. It also contains fresh new events, online challenges, and many new vehicles for you to take for a spin. These vehicles range from well-designed legendary cars to fast and furious motorbikes. The online multiplayer in this game is also a breath of fresh air. There are modes like Cops and Robbers to standard races. Both of which promise to give you a grandiose and fun-filled experience.
Diddy Kong Racing
Diddy Kong Racing is a beloved Nintendo 64 racing game seeping in content, characters, and a unique approach to the Mario Kart formula. Unlike Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing features a story mode of some kind that’s enjoyable and worthwhile. The vehicles in the game are unique. Instead of standard go-karts, Diddy Kong Racing opted to allow fans to race their friends in planes, boats, hovercrafts, and other vehicles. The vehicles also were themed with the character’s personalities quite well. The game also contained fewer RNG mechanics than Mario Kart does. The items feel fair, and the game feels more layered with strategy because of it. Unfortunately, the game is a thing of the past. It hasn’t seen a re-release in a long time.
Wave Race 64
Wave Race 64 is an incredible sports racing game full of beauty. The game features a nice single-player mode and a great split-screen 2-player versus mode. The gameplay itself is simple and easy to control. This allows anyone of any age to pick up and play the game. It’s not the most well-known series, but it’s a classic to those who had the opportunity to play it. Wave Race 64’s hailed mode is its Championship mode. This mode works as a fine tutorial and method for unlocking characters and different stages. You’ll be met with four characters, each differing in abilities like speed, acceleration, and others. You must choose one of them and compete against three other racers in a series of 3-lap races. These races are a doozy because they feature obstacles that you’ll need to jump over and avoid. You’ll also need to make sure that you pass the game’s bouy precisely, otherwise, your speed and momentum will decrease. Wave Race may be a dead franchise now, but it’s certain to give new fans a wonderful time.
F-Zero GX
F-Zero was one of Nintendo’s flagship racing games next to Mario Kart. Instead of Mario Kart’s party game aesthetic, F-Zero opted to be a competitively fast-racing game. While it has yet to receive a new entry for some ungodly reason, fans still consider it a classic. F-Zero GX was the last entry in the franchise and was developed by Nintendo’s old enemy Sega. This game offers lightning-fast races, a brutal difficulty curve, and an ensemble of wacky characters. Each character has a unique vehicle and ability. These characters compete in high stake races consisting of over thirty members on one track. While racing players can furiously ram into others, causing them to dislodge or lose control. Succumbing to the damage causes your vehicle’s energy supply to deplete, so it’s important to avoid taking damage at all costs. Like other racing games, the goal’s to come in First Place, so the tension will be boundless throughout each race. If you’ve ever wanted a racing game that’s full of intensity and charm, pick up F-Zero GX.
Need For Speed: Underground 2
Many fans would agree that Need For Speed peaked when the studio released Underground 2. With a pulsating soundtrack, a great balance of arcade and serious racing along with a lot of customisation, this game still holds up to this day. Need For Speed has always been a series of ups and downs but this is the game that many would agree is at the top of the podium for the franchise’s releases. If you’re looking for a great racing title with lots of customisation, challenging races and a great soundtrack, look no further than this gem!
Cruis’n Blast
Cruis’n Blast takes the classic arcade racer and amplifies its wackiness and fun to extraordinary levels. While it was available to play in arcades, that scene has started to dwindle thanks to the rise of consoles. Therefore, to save the franchise, its developers decided to bring the racer to modern consoles, notably, the Nintendo Switch. Cruis’n Blast offers 20+ new and returning tracks for players to choose from. Each of them boasts incredible visuals, engaging soundtracks, and well-designed track layouts. The console version also offers a Tour mode, that works as the game’s story or arcade mode. Tours consist of four races and feature tracks that’ll have you driving through storms and avoiding hazards like helicopters and dinosaurs. As you can tell, the races are over-the-top and the vehicles you can choose from follow suit. The game starts players off with standard cars like Hummers and Corvettes. As you progress, you’ll encounter unimaginable vehicle options ranging from helicopters to Triceratops. It’s a silly game full of love, and one that everyone in the family can enjoy.
Gran Turismo 7
The Gran Turismo franchise is near and dear to most simulation gaming fans. Many fans argue that it set the gold standard for games of its kind, and is a franchise that PlayStation uses to showcase its console’s visual and technical achievements. Grand Turismo 7 aimed to keep the praise coming and manages to do so with ease. Grand Turismo 7’s gameplay feels more precise regarding its visuals, gameplay, and sound design. It takes care of culture seriously with its high-resolution graphics giving each car proper care. The driving aspect of this game never felt better. Every intricate detail they implemented into the environment like its weather patterns feel precise and realistic. Besides its incredible atmosphere, the game offers many modes and challenges for the players to compete in. These range from things like time trials and competitive races to features like the Dream Garage and Arcade. While the multiplayer may be lacking behind, it’s decent enough to hold your attention. Therefore, Grand Turismo 7 delivers an incredible racing experience that’ll keep you on its tracks for years. So, there we have it, our picks for the best racing video games of all time! What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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