The racing genre has come to define many eras of gaming, from the top-down pixelated efforts of yore to the photorealistic system-sellers that adorn modern consoles. The good news is that many of these games have stood the test of time, and are worth digging out and playing again (as long as you’re able to find them).
12Need for Speed Underground 2
Need for Speed Underground 2might just be the most-requested racing remaster of all time. It feels like a remaster that EA simply doesn’t want to touch, likely due to the game’s liberal use of licensed properties including a suitably mid-2000s soundtrack featuringQueens of the Stone Age,Snoop Dogg, and a particularly memorableSpiderbaitcover of Black Betty.
This was the first open-worldNeed for Speedracer, set in the fictionalized city of Bayview (a mash-up of Los Angeles and San Francisco). It featured satisfying arcade handling, even more car customization than the original, and 31 vehicles (with US and EU-specific versions). The best way to playNFSU2is using a PS2 emulator, which looks great when you jack up the native rendering resolution. The originalUndergroundis also worth revisiting, especially if you love circuit-based events.
11Ridge Racer
The originalRidge Racerfirst appeared in arcades in 1993 before making the leap to PlayStation a year later (even later than that in the US and EU). The game went toe-to-toe with SEGA’s best at the time, and its PlayStation version ensured that Sony had an answer toDaytona USAandSEGA Rally. Since the whole game could be loaded into RAM, you could even switch out the disc and play a CD as you raced.
Ridge Racerbecame defined by its rigid physics, tremendous sense of speed, and pounding soundtrack. The franchise went on to become a mainstay of future console generations, and though things have dropped off in recent years, you may now enjoy the original on modern consoles with improved performance and visuals thanks toArcade Archives 2 RIDGE RACERon Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
10F-Zero
F-Zerois one of those rare Nintendo franchises that are just begging to be brought back from the dead. This high-speed futuristic racing game first appeared on the SNES in 1990 (and a year later in the US), and is notable for its use of pseudo-3D graphics, excellent soundtrack, and sense of speed.
9Wipeout 2097
Wipeoutwas developed by Psygnosis and released in 1995 as a PlayStation launch title (before later being released on DOS, Windows, and the Sega Saturn). It was the first game to include licensed electronic music from the likes ofOrbital,Leftfield, andThe Chemical Brothers. LikeF-Zero, it’s a high-speed anti-gravity racing game set in the distant future.
While the first game broke ground, the follow-up (known asWipeout XLin the US) is arguably the more playable title. It’s much faster and more aggressive, features better handling and controls, and still has a thumping soundtrack that features the likes ofThe ProdigyandThe Future Sound of London. If you’re looking for an accessible modern version, giveWipeout Omega Collectiona shot (PS4, PS5), which remasters later titlesWipeout HDandWipeout 2048.
8Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4was the third best-selling game on the PlayStation 2, which should speak volumes about just how good it is. Having launched in 2004 (in Japan, at least), the game featured 51 tracks, 721 cars, a legendary physics model, and some of the best visuals on any game of the PS2 era. Even now, this version is surprisingly playable, with plenty of content to keep you busy for months.
So what if I told you there’s a mod forGT4that’s been years in the making, and it makes the game even better? TheGran Turismo 4 Spec II Modoverhauls the gameplay, presentation, and clunky menu systemfor modern audiences. You’ll need an emulator, PS2 BIOS files, and an NTSC copy of theGran Turismo 4 Online Betato try this out for yourself. Coupled with your emulator’s ability to upscale and apply other visual modifications like anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering, you can getGT4looking and playing better than ever.
7Burnout 3: Takedown
Criterion Games earned its reputation with the now-legendaryBurnoutfranchise. This is an arcade racer that ditches realism and licensing in favor of breakneck speed and explosive crashes. The 2004 releaseBurnout 3: Takedownis arguably the series’ finest hour, releasing for PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox console to universal praise.
The game’s subtitle refers to the introduction of takedowns, in which the goal is to eliminate opponents by ramming them until they wipe out. Crash Mode, in which the goal is to cause as much damage as possible within a set piece scenario, returns but with the addition of an “aftertouch” feature that makes for more impressive and explosive accidents.
PrequelBurnout 2: Point of Impactand sequelBurnout: Paradiseare also worth playing, but the latter lacks Crash Mode and the former can feel a bit rusty.
6Virtua Racer
Virtua Racerwas a revolutionary racing game for its time. Released in 1992 into arcades, the game featured blocky 3D graphics and is often credited for popularizing the visual style in the years that followed. In it, you race an open-wheel racer that looks suspiciously like a Formula One car through beginner, intermediate, and expert tracks. Hit the checkpoints to add more time, and reach the end in first place to win.
While you might think the game hasn’t aged that gracefully, I’d implore you to give it another shot. You can do so relatively easily thanks to theSEGA AGES Virtua Racerport that’s now available onNintendo Switch. At $7.99 full price, it’s a game that’s great for short bursts (and it’s often on sale for far less). For my money, this is one of SEGA’s most playable vintage racers and even beats outDaytona USA.
5Crazy Taxi
WhileCrazy Taximight not be a racing game in the strictest sense, you will be doing a lot of racing around as you rush between fares to extend your time and earn the best possible rank. The game first appeared in arcades in 1999, with a Dreamcast release following a year later. Versions were made available for most generations up until the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, including a dodgy Steam release that lacked the original soundtrack.
The home release is notable for its inclusion of another course via the “Original” mode menu option, and the ability to choose between arcade rules (where fares earn you time) or timed runs. I’ve been playing a lot of the Dreamcast version on my Steam Deck recently, and the game really holds up well with its loud visuals, iconic soundtrack byThe Offspring, and a nostalgic early-2000s vibe.
4Forza Motorsport 2
You probably won’t findForza Motorsport 2on many “best racing games” lists, and I’ll be the first to concede that this one is a bit of a personal favorite. Released in 2007, the game built on what Turn 10 achieved with the originalForza(having recently leftProject Gotham Racingbehind), and I still count it as one of my favorite simcade racing games (and not just because I got it in two-pack withViva Piñataon the other disc).
FM2excels for me because I love the idea of taking grandma’s old VW Golf, slapping some upgrades on it, coming up with an outrageous paint job, and then racing it against similarly ordinary cars in the Sunday leagues. Sure, there are much faster Super GT cars and Le Mans exhibition races, but the satisfaction of FM2—and something the series has lost, in my opinion—is the simplicity of racing road cars around very fast tracks. The sense of progress is steady and oh-so-satisfying.
This is an Xbox 360 game, with no modern version available (but you should findplenty of cheap copies in thrift storesand online marketplaces). It also doesn’t work on the Series X|S consoles, so it’s a goodreason to buy an old Xbox 360.
3Rock N Roll Racing
Released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System,Rock N Rollracing is a beloved racing game played from an isometric perspective from Silicon & Synapse (which later rebranded to Blizzard Entertainment). As the name might suggest, the game blended music and racing, with cheap versions of recognizable tunes like Highway Star byDeep Purple, Paranoid byBlack Sabbathand Breaking the Law byJudas Priest.
The game highlights the stark differences between home consoles and arcades in the early 90s, as SEGA and Namco transitioned to full 3D. Despite its humble appearance, the game has earned a cult following, and it’s also relatively easy to play on modern consoles since the release of theBlizzard Arcade Collectionon PS4, Xbox One, and Switch (with PS5 and Xbox Series X|S compatibility).
