one series is even three times in the ten best racing games of all time. (source: polyphony digital)
The best racing games of all time. From simulation to arcade racer; we present you the highest rated racers on the review platform metacritic.
Whether ultra-realistic racing simulation in the style of assetto corsa, arcade racers like pacer or offroad racing like DIRT 5– the genre of racing games is perhaps as varied as no other. We present you the 10 best racing games of all time ahead – based on the average score of the platform metacritic.
READ MORE:
- sim racing guide part 1 – the basics
10th place: wipeout XL/2097
Wipeout is considered the king of future-racers and the XL-derivative (resp. 2097 in europe) from 1996 is undoubtedly the best part of the series. Cool gliders, fat beats, incredible speeds – what more could you ask for in a racing game?? Nowadays we recommend especially the wipeout omega collection for playstation 4, thanks to which 2097 shines in new splendor.
9th place: test drive le mans
The racing simulation was released back in 2000 for sega dreamcast and, as the name suggests, revolved around the legendary 24-hour races. Peppered with arcade elements, the title was one of the best racers for the dreamcast.
8th place: mario kart super circuit
One of the lesser known spin-off series installments is the one for game boy advance. But that doesn’t make it any less good: in fact, the third installment of the series has the highest ratings in the time-honored mario kart series.
7th place: gran turismo 2
With "my favorite game" from the band the cardigans, GT 2 boasts perhaps the most iconic intro song of all racing games. But also in terms of gameplay, part 2 on the first playstation towers above most other racers and was able to boast a fleet of over 650 cars. Suzuki escudo pikes peak, anyone?
- READ MORE: the best steering wheels for sim-racing
6th place: real racing 2
If you want to play racing games on your iphone, there’s no way around the real racing series. And yes: such a race simulation also works on the smartphone.
5th place: burnout 3 takedown
Oh burnout. Games like this are no longer being developed. Burnout 3 was great. Hot races, brutal takedowns and the legendary crash mode. This thing is rightly cult!
4th place: jet car stunts
Mobile racing game, the second! But this time in arcade format. Here it’s all about daredevil stunts on tracks, peppered with loops, jumps and much more. thanks to precise control still a hit after more than 11 years.
3rd place: need for speed: shift
Need for speed is one of the most famous racing game series ever. However, only one spin-off made it into the top 10, and that for mobile devices, and of all things, the only sim spin-off in the series known for its arcade gameplay. Shift, the first game from slightly mad studios, now known for project cars.
- READ MORE: project cars 3 – reboot successful
2nd place: gran turismo 3 A-spec
GT3 marked a quantum leap in the racing game genre in 2001. Not least thanks to the generation change to the playstation 2, which due to the hardware power provided unprecedented graphics. By the way, for us the (european) intro song is "just A day" from feeder the undisputed number one!
1st place: gran turismo
With a metascore of 96, the first gran turismo towers above all other racing games, and that’s hardly surprising, since the racer revolutionized the genre in 1998. No racing game has ever been more realistic and beautiful, which is why gran turismo has earned its name as a "real driving simulator". Gran turismo is still the benchmark for all other racing games, at least on consoles.
- READ MORE: logitech G923 steering wheel test
Read more about racing and esports on earlygame. We have all the info on the E-race championship for you and provide you with helpful tips for WRC 9.