Racing games have a proud tradition in gaming that exists for nearly as long as video games have been a medium. Through the years, racing games have come with various vehicle types across various tones and styles of racing, from wacky racing to pro simulations, tight technical drives to arcade fun.
Here are 15 games we view at as being the greatest racing games of all time, and what made them such classics.
15 Best Racing Games of All Time, Ranked
15. Wacky Wheels (1994)
When it comes to early-90’s kart racing games there’s an obvious standard bearer, but if this list included every Mario Kart game beloved by fans there’d be room for little else. Instead, I want to give some attention to a PC racer that is immediately apparent as being inspired by the SNES classic. A shareware superstar that found its way onto many 90s PCs via bundles and giveaways with the option to unlock additional tracks and racers by purchasing a license, Wacky Wheels brought the fun of 16-bit era kart racing to PC players who didn’t have a console of their own.
14. Wave Race 64 (1996)
The world of racing games may be dominated by cars and karts, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some amazing non-traditional racing offerings, too. Wave Race 64 is a gaming classic from the N64 era, putting players in control of racers on personal watercrafts and challenging them to whip and zip around watery courses. Tricking and stunting on jumps gave arcade fun, while the unusual nature of racing on wavy waters created a uniquely thrilling racing experience.
13. Road Rash (1991)
Nintendo didn’t have a corner on the market for 90s racing games, however, and the Sega Genesis got its own shot at an instant classic with motorcycle beat-em-up Road Rash. At first blush, Road Rash could easily be mistaken for any of its generational peers in the endless road racing genre with nothing changed more than a motorcycle in place of a car. And then you see a rider bludgeon his opponent off their bike and realize you’re racing in a whole new world. The unique twist was enough to see the game land to critical acclaim and remain a cherished favorite, even spinning off a rollerblading-based offshoot, through the decades since.
12. MotoGP 24 (2024)
If you would rather have a crack at a more realistic motorcycle racing experience, MotoGP has you covered. As the top motorcycle racing series on the market, MotoGP 24 lets you feel the rush of competing in the highest level of two-wheeled motorsports in both online play and the offline career mode. The ‘24 edition introduced rider transfers to the career mode to create the most true-to-life sim yet.
11. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer (1999)
While the Star Wars prequels had a far from smooth arrival in the 90s, if there was one thing fans could agree on, it was that “Duel of the Fates” and the final lightsaber battle slapped. If there was a second thing, it’s that Star Wars Episode 1: Racer was an excellent racing game in a setting few fans likely thought they’d ever see. Putting you at the helm of a pod racer, the game offered everything you could ask for in a pod racing game, with high speeds, dangerous opponents, and potentially explosive mistakes.
10. SSX Tricky (2001)
Released just 13 months after the first game in the series, SSX Tricky could easily have ended up as another rushed sequel. Instead, it arrived as a game which would go down as many gamers’ favorite in the series. Racing on a snowboard was a unique take on racing games, while the inclusion of big air tricks to help you build up boosting power added a fun tweak to standard racing.
9. EA Sports F1 24 (2024)
As an EA game, EA Sports F1 24 is as vulnerable to the usual criticisms as any other annual sports title, namely a lack of meaningful changes year-to-year and a seeming disconnect between players and the publisher. Despite all that, on a one-off basis, the games also provide an excellent experience for F1 fans who want to get behind the wheel and curse out Max Verstappen as he dives inside them on a corner. Nothing will give an F1 watcher more appreciation of what drivers do than a first attempt to just navigate the chaos of a start without causing a multi-car mishap at the first breaking zone. The joy you feel the first time you see the pros hit a corner and think “oh, I love passing there” is just an added perk.
8. F-Zero (1990)
Mario Kart isn’t the only beloved Nintendo racing franchise with Super Nintendo roots, as the sci-fi racing series F-Zero is an SNES classic. Featuring racing that felt indescribably fast for its time, F-Zero puts you in the cockpit of vehicles that can fly along futuristic tracks, power ahead with speed boost pads, and even explode if you don’t manage your damage carefully. For younger gamers wondering what all the hype is about, there’s 2023’s F-Zero 99, part of a line of battle royale-style reboots of classic games where you can see how wonderful these racers feel to pilot even today.
7. Colin McRae Rally (1998)
The Colin McRae series — later rebranded to Dirt following McRae and his three passengers’ passing in a helicopter crash — is the leading name in rally racing games. While the differences between racing styles in gaming can often feel minimal, the low-traction, twisting, and turning drives of rally with a copilot by your side provides a different gaming experience for players, and it was the 1998 classic that got the ball rolling on this beloved franchise.
6. Need for Speed: Carbon (2006)
While it was a given that a Need for Speed game would find a place on this list as one of the premiere franchises in racing game history, which to pick is a thornier subject. Released back-to-back, Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Need for Speed: Carbon both have their backers for best in the bunch. While Carbon gets knocked a bit for a shorter campaign and updates that some felt could have been more substantial, the addition of teammate racing, drag, and canyon race modes — and enhanced car customization — earns the nod.
5. Daytona USA (1994)
The king of the arcade raceways, Daytona USA cabinets remain a hot property for gamers more than 30 years after its initial release. After debuting as the 9th-highest grossing arcade game in the world in 1994 it was number one the next year as gamers flocked to get their butts into the arcade game’s physical seat, feet on the pedals and hands on the wheel. With home gaming ports and sequels to follow, Daytona USA arrived with a splash that has continued to reverberate through the decades. Even as a personal fan of the Cruise’n series I have to admit who the arcade racing king is.
4. iRacing (2008)
If you’ve ever found yourself crashing out in the first turn of an F1 game and thought “this is just not a crunchy enough simulation” then iRacing might just be the game you’re looking for. Available as a subscription service, iRacing tries to bring the true experience of a career in racing to your computer. This not only includes an outstanding physics engine powering tailored representations of real cars and courses, but also how you race. In addition to more-standard skill-based ratings, iRacing also requires players to drive safely, meaning too much time off the track or in the back of another car carries punishments, creating an online racing style that focuses on clean passing over arcade racing tactics.
3. Forza Horizon 5 (2021)
For a lot of the series on this list it’s a tough choice whether to choose an early favorite that established the collection or a modern iteration that grew it. For the Forza series, the choice was easy. Forza Horizon 5 landed with a huge splash to near unanimous praise from reviewers and gamers alike, and racked up a collection of year-end awards accordingly. From wonderfully realistic controls, to a broad array of race options, there’s a lot to love with Forza Horizon 5.
2. Gran Turismo (1997)
With a list like this, you’re always going to have to leave off some gamers’ most beloved series, such is the glut of great racing games through the years. One series that was never in doubt was Gran Turismo. While the series is overflowing with well-received entries, the initial release is the obvious choice here. With 140 real world cars Gran Turismo would have been a game changer on that alone even before factoring in the wonderful feel of its ahead-of-its-time driving physics. This game raised the ceiling and helped create the modern racing game landscape we all enjoy.
1. Mario Kart 8 (2014), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
There are many games on this list with plenty of fans ready to make extremely strong claims for No. 1 overall. Ultimately, the nod goes to a game so good, Nintendo made it through an entire generation without feeling the need to release anything new beyond a port of the latest title. Originally released for the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 proved to be such a hit that even the gravitational pull of the system’s flop was not enough to keep it from being a smash hit with players. When Nintendo came back punching with one of the most popular console’s in history in the Switch, porting the game over was an obvious call. The result was Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. To call it a success would be an understatement. Nintendo rode the good will — and great gaming experiences — all the way through the Switch’s entire cycle with the much-hyped Mario Kart 9 finally teased for release on the Switch 2 later this year.
So those are my picks for the top racing games of all time, but there’s no doubt you’ve got some great ones that didn’t make the cut. Tell us what you’d do different with your rankings!
Published: Feb 16, 2025 11:59 am