The Racing Genre is huge, encapsulating some of gaming’s most prestigious titles. Heavy hitters likeGran TurismoandForzaare household names, but what about those racers that fly under the radar?
If you’re ready to drive off the beaten track, here’s a selection of fantastic racing games you may have missed.
10Hotshot Racing
Low Poly Perfection
Hotshot Racing
Hotshot Racingis aneye-catching arcade racerwith attractive Low Poly graphics.
The title certainly looks the part, and I’m pleased to say it plays just as well. Steering is responsive, and the pacing feels just right for an arcade-style driving game. There’s a decent selection of drivers, each with a unique vehicle and stats, and afree DLCcame out after launch to bolster the track pool and game modes.
I usually steer clear of experimental modes in driving games, but I love the selection here. In Drive or Explode, for example, you lose health if your vehicle drops beneath a designated speed, forcing you to drive recklessly to stay ahead.
You will finish the Career Mode in no time, but it’s perfect for a short session or if you don’t have time to slog through a lengthy campaign.
9Old School Rally
Breaking The Monopoly
Key Information
Frozen Lake Games
Release Date
Rally games are a dying breed outside of theDirtgames, which is a massive problem if you don’t like how that series operates or itssimulation aspect.
If you enjoy rally games from yesteryear, you may enjoyOld School Rally, ahomage to icons likeColin McRae Rallyon the PlayStation. Frozen Lake Games follows the source material to the letter, complete with slippery handling and co-driver barking directions at you.
The art style isdeliberately retro, and it’s pretty easy to tell what the cars are supposed to be, even if they aren’t named as such.
I appreciate the no-nonsense approach ofOld School Rally, and the game is constantly being updated. Even split-screen support was added recently!
8Micro Maniacs
At Least They Can’t Get A Puncture
Codemasters
Playstation
April 2000
Micro Machinesis a well-known and respected racing series, even if the games were at their best over two decades ago.
Micro Maniacsis a well-made butbizarre twist on the series, trading cars for racers that run the tracks on foot.
The gameplay resembles the belovedMicro Machines V3withcreative courses and locales. Racers are miniature, so regular household objects become obstacles, and there’s a generous selection of weapons and powerups.
The pitter-patter of feet is an odd replacement for car engines, but the premise works. Even though it’s a PS1 game, I’d argueMicro Maniacsis far better than newer series entries, likeMicro Machines World Series.
Move over, Wipeout.
I enjoy a bit ofWipeoutas much as anybody, but if Sony isn’t willing to make a new game, we’ll have to get our anti-grav fix elsewhere.
Fortunately, we don’t have to look too far.Redout 2is agorgeous futuristic racerwith stunning environments, stylish ships, and death-defying tracks.
Much of what you know and love from other futuristic racers is here, butRedout 2has an identity of its own and is easily one ofthe fastest racersout there.
The most significant difference is the lack of weapons. You needpure racing skillsand razor-sharp reflexes to take first place. Many hazards are brutally difficult to avoid unless you know what’s coming, so this is a racer you should avoid if you’re tired!
Wipeoutmay be dormant, butRedout 2provesthe anti-gravity space is in great hands.
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Sometimes it’s all about cruising in the city.
Why Does Nobody Talk About This One?
Bluris a stylish arcade racer with a unique twist to weaponized driving.
I rarely seeBlurmentioned anywhere, so perhaps everyone thinks it sucks, but I thoroughly enjoy it. Blur is what you get when you mix arealistic-looking driving game with flashy weaponsand abilities.
The graphics are great, and there’s plenty of environmental flare when driving on water or neon-lit streets.
Car handling is farmore forgiving than a sim racer, and there’s even visible damage, which makes powerups feel far more impactful.
I love how pickups line up neatly along the car spoiler, and there’s never a dull moment when you’re surrounded by opponents trying to blow you off the road.
5Rumble Racing
Do A Barrel Roll!
Electronic Arts
April 2001
Rumble Racingisone of my favorite PS2 racersand one I never see any hype about.
Rumble Racingis an arcade-style racer with weapons and a nitro system. Many racing games give you nitro for drifting, butRumble Racinggives it for landing stunts instead.
You canflip and roll your car midair, and the better the trick, the better the boost.
There are many cars to choose from, and racetracks range fromaqueducts to curvy mountain roads.Rumble Racingis pretty difficult, and it is unforgiving if you crash. That said, victories feel earned, and the championship trophies reward you with new vehicles.
4Horizon Chase Turbo
A Brilliant 90s Throwback
Horizon Chase Turbo
Horizon Chase Turbois a slick arcade racing gamereminiscent ofOutrunand other 90s classics.
The game wears its inspiration on its sleeve, and that’s not a bad thing. I enjoy the usual “drift to get boost” mechanic that’s commonplace in many racers, but it’s not essential. Horizon Chase Turbo does have a boost system, but you’re tied to just a few uses per race, so you mustpick your moment.
There are tons of unlockables and a broad World Tour mode with many surprisingly pretty locales and environments.The vibrant art style is eye candy, and if you enjoyHorizon Chase Turbo, the sequelHorizon Chase 2,came out earlier in 2024.
Ready To Get Your Hands Dirty?
Black Rock Studios
PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (PC Version now unavailable)
September 2008
We rarely see decent quad-bike racing games. But back in the PS3 era, Black Rock Studios shared a fantastic take on the sport.
Pureplays likeSSXon Wheelsif they traded the snow for mud and dirt. The quad bikes are responsive but feelwild and out of control, which is so refreshing compared to the alternatives.
There’s a robust trick system, and you’re rewarded boost based on your stunts.Repeat tricks are penalized, so you may’t just rely on your favorites for the entire race.
Purelooks and feels incredible and shouldn’t be overlooked, even if quad bike racing has niche appeal.
2Mashed: Drive to Survive
The Perfect Couch Racer
Supersonic
PS2 and Steam
Mashedis an addictivetop-down racerthat’s perfect for local multiplayer.
I love a good couch racer, but playing on a split screen is pretty rough if there are more than two players. Mashed avoids this entirely, asall racers are on the screen simultaneously.
You win by racing ahead of your opponents, so the camera loses them, and points are earned when you’re the only one left.
There’s a decent selection of weapons andeliminated players can call airstrikes on survivors, so they don’t have to twiddle their thumbs.
Fortunately, that airstrike is low-impact but can still be effective if you hit an opponent on a sharp turn.
Mashedis afantastic party racerand worth a try if you don’t mind the dated visuals.
1Split/Second
A One-Off Wonder
Split/Second
Split/Secondis a slick and stylish racer, and while it’s adored by many who played, it’srelegated to the pages of gaming history.
Players participate in a reality TV show where tricks and stunts fill a “Power Play” meter. I know what you’re thinking; it’s another game where you drift to boost. While the drifting part is true, the reward is far more unique.
you’re able to spend your Power Play meter totrigger hazardous eventson the racetrack. We’re not talking about minor inconveniences here. You canbring down entire buildingsat the touch of a button!
The destruction still holds up, and combined with solid arcade racing mechanics,Split/Secondis in a league of its own.
It’s criminal a sequel doesn’t exist, but sadly, Split/Second was Black Rock Studio’s final game before shutting down.
All the racing games in this list came out for consoles or PC, butdon’t sleep on mobilefor your portable racing fix.
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No checkered flags in sight, but still plenty of fun to be had!
