Racing Games Collection

Racing games are among the oldest and most popular video game genres. For example, Wipeout for the Magnavox Odyssey console was released in 1972. It's also worth mentioning Speed Race, which drew players to amusement arcades in the 1970s. Over the years, the genre has grown and evolved, creating multiple sub-genres. Consequently, you can find a wide range of diverse racing games for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

Sim racing games

If you're looking for the most faithful driving experience, you should choose racing simulation games. They are the most realistic of all racing genres. The sim racing creators emphasize realistic physics; thus, handling depends on the surface, weather, car settings, and many other factors. It also makes them the most difficult. You have to be incredibly cautious and precise to win races. In sim racing games, reckless, Fast-and-Furious-style driving will lead you to nothing but a totaled car or a damaged engine. A good example of a sim racing game is F1 22, which lets you feel like an F1 driver, or NASCAR 21: Ignition, which takes us to the world of NASCAR racing. Also Assetto Corsa series will provide you with a realistic driving experience.

There are also sim racing games that loosen the belt of realism a little bit and don't punish players for their mistakes as severely. This subgenre is called simcade or semi-simulation and includes such renowned franchises as Forza. It is divided into two sub-series. Forza Motorsport lets players take part in professional-style track racing, while Forza Horizon introduces open-world gameplay. Gran Turismo is another long-running simcade series. Virtually each GT installment has been placed among the best PlayStation racing games. Furthermore, Project CARS 3 can also be classified as a simcade game, as it moved away from the series' roots. There's something for WRC fans too. The Dirt Rally series, which was launched in 1997 as Colin McRae Rally, perfectly balances simulation with arcade elements.

Arcade

Players who prefer a more casual experience should choose arcade racing games. This subgenre prioritizes entertainment over realism. As a result, you can push the pedal to the floor without worrying that any collision will eliminate you from the competition. In arcade racing games, such as Burnout Paradise or Need for Speed Unbound, aspects of vehicle management are limited and usually focus on customizing cars' visuals. Even though modern arcade racing games offer dozens of playable cars, their handling is rather similar. Consequently, you don't have to master each track and car. However, we should note that while most of the Need For Speed games are pure arcades, some installments in this long-running series represent simcade (NFS ProStreet) or even simulation (NFS Shift and Shift 2) sub-genres. Most arcade racing games rely on realistic visuals and detailed models of licensed cars, yet some choose a completely different approach. For instance, Hot Wheels Unleashed lets players drive toy cars. Its polished driving model and uncanny setting make a great combination. As a result, Hot Wheels Unleashed is an entertaining title for kids and adults.

Kart racers

We're speaking of games suitable for young and grown gamers; hence, we have to mention kart racing titles. Such releases as Mario Kart 8 offer colorful graphics, simple controls, and amusing circuits filled with traps and shortcuts. Moreover, players may use a vast range of power-ups that let them gain a temporary boost or even knock their opponents out. It makes Mario Kart incredibly unrealistic and entertaining. Of course, Mario isn't the only well-known character who owns a kart racer. If you're #TeamSonic, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed and Team Sonic Racing are perfect for you. There's something for Garfield fans too. Garfield Kart: Furious Racing stars the lasagna-eating cat and his friends.

Split-screen racers

Racing games are fantastic if you want to compete with other players. Thus, most of them feature online modes. In addition, some games offer split-screen, which is sometimes called couch multiplayer, because it allows you to play with your friends while sitting on the same piece of furniture. It makes those releases wonderful family and party games. If you're looking for a racing game with a split-screen mode, we would recommend such titles as Mario Kart 8, Team Sonic Racing, Dirt 5, Blur, and WRC 8.

Motorcycle races

Let's not forget that racing games aren't limited solely to cars. If you're a fan of two-wheeled vehicles, there are games that let you experience the thrill of speed on a powerful motorcycle. The MotoGP series is one example worth mentioning. It offers an exciting arcade-style racing experience with realistic physics and environments. There are also releases providing a much more realistic take on motorcycle racing. For example, Ride 4. This game, developed by Milestone, is sometimes described as the bike counterpart of the Forza Motorsport series. On the other hand, SBK 22, which allows players to compete in the prestigious Superbike World Championship, may be considered the F1 22's peer.

Futuristic racing games

There's also a vast group of racing games that don't try to recreate reality on any level as they take us to the distant future. For instance, Xenon Racer is set in 2030 in a world where racing rides can fly. Also, in the Wipeout series, we may assume the role of a driver of gravity-defying ships. Nonetheless, the most prominent example of a science-fiction racing game is, without any doubt, Star Wars Episode I: Racer, one of the best Star Wars games ever released. As you may be aware, it allowed players to compete in podracing events from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Some sources even declare that the racing sequence in the movie was deliberately extended to advertise the game. This 1999 classic was released in 2020, so now it's available on many platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, becoming arguably one of the top racing games on each.