The Best Racing Games of All Time

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Updated September 1, 2023 13.9K votes 1.1K voters 70.2K views
Over 1.1K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Racing Games of All Time
Latest additions: WRC Generations, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway, Dakar Desert Rally
Most divisive: Blur

This is a list of the best racing games of all time for any console or system. These highly rated racing games are ordered by popularity, so only the greatest racing games are at the top of the list. Spanning the entire history of the genre, these racing games are considered the best in the genre. Sure, some titles may seem dated by today’s standards, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still awesome.

This list includes all challenging racing games that have ever hit the shelves, so it doesn't necessarily have all the more obscure or new racing games. From Colin McRae Rally to Car Wars, Mario Kart 8 and more, be sure to vote up your all-time favorite racing games.

This list answers the questions, "What are the best racing games?" and "What is the greatest racing game of all time?"

Ranked by
  • Need for Speed: Underground 2
    1

    Need for Speed: Underground 2

    Nov 15 2004
    405 votes
    • Developer: EA Canada, Pocketeers
    Need for Speed: Underground 2 is a cross-platform racing video game and the eighth installment in the popular Need for Speed driving game series published and developed by Electronic Arts. Released in 2004, it is the direct sequel to Need for Speed: Underground, and is part of the Need for Speed series, available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Like its predecessor, it was also commercially successful, and sold four million copies worldwide. The game is based around tuning cars for street races, resuming the Need for Speed: Underground storyline. Need for Speed: Underground 2 provides several new features, such as a broader customization, new methods of selecting races, the "explore" mode. The City Center was based on Philadelphia, Beacon Hill was based on Beverley Hills and Coal Harbor was based on Camden, New Jersey. Underground 2 also introduces several SUVs, which could be customized as extensively as other Underground 2 vehicles and used to race against other SUV racers. Brooke Burke is the voice of Rachel Teller, the person who guides the player throughout the game.
  • Gran Turismo 4
    2

    Gran Turismo 4

    Dec 28 2004
    245 votes
    • Developer: Polyphony Digital
    Gran Turismo 4 is a 2004 racing video game, and the fourth installment in the Gran Turismo series. It is also the final game to support the Sony PlayStation 2. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment and was released on December 27, 2004 in Japan and Hong Kong, February 22, 2005 in North America, and March 9, 2005 in Europe, and has since been re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line. Gran Turismo 4 is one of only four titles for the PlayStation 2 that is capable of 1080i output, for another release, being named Tourist Trophy which was also created by Polyphony and based heavily on the physics engine of GT4. GT4 was delayed for over a year and a half by Polyphony Digital, and had its online mode removed. Gran Turismo has yet held the title to being number one seller and highest production Polyphony Digital has ever seen. The game features over 700 cars from 80 manufacturers, from as early as the 1886 Daimler Motor Carriage and as far into the future as concepts for 2022. The game also features 51 tracks, many of which are new or modified versions of old Gran Turismo favorites, with some notable real-world additions.
  • Forza Motorsport 4
    3

    Forza Motorsport 4

    Oct 11 2011
    210 votes
    • Developer: Turn 10 Studios
    Forza Motorsport 4 is a racing video game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the fourth installment in the Forza Motorsport series. It is the first title in the series to support the Kinect sensor alongside the traditional controller-based gameplay. New to the series is the Autovista mode, a mode in which players can view precise details such as engine parts and interior gauges on a select number of cars. It features a partnership with BBC's Top Gear as well as its American counterpart. Jeremy Clarkson, presenter for Top Gear, provides commentary in the game's Autovista mode. Other partnerships include a two-year agreement with the American Le Mans Series. Over 500 cars and 26 tracks are included. The game received universal acclaim from critics. Aggregate websites GameRankings and Metacritic report scores of 90.50% and 91 out of 100, respectively. Metacritic also reports eight perfect scores from various media outlets. Critics praised the enhanced vehicle physics, updated visuals, and strong sound design. Several reviewers also gave high marks for the Forza 4 '​s Autovista mode.
  • Gran Turismo 2
    4

    Gran Turismo 2

    Dec 11 1999
    245 votes
    • Developer: Polyphony Digital
    Gran Turismo 2 is a racing game for the Sony PlayStation. Gran Turismo 2 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999. The games serves as a sequel to Gran Turismo. It was well-received publicly and critically, shipping 1.71 million copies in Japan, 20,000 in Southeast Asia, 3.96 million in North America, and 3.68 million in Europe for a total of 9.37 million copies as of April 30, 2008, and eventually becoming a Sony Greatest Hits game. The title received an average of 93% in Metacritic's aggregate. Gran Turismo 2 was also the first PS1 game to be emulated on the Dreamcast via Bleemcast.
  • Burnout 3: Takedown
    5

    Burnout 3: Takedown

    Sep 07 2004
    313 votes
    • Developer: Criterion Games
    Burnout 3: Takedown is a racing game developed by Criterion Games and published by EA Games for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the third game in Criterion's Burnout series. The game was released in September 2004 and drew critical acclaim and a large fanbase.
  • Forza Horizon 3
    6

    Forza Horizon 3

    2016
    124 votes
    • Developer: Playground Games
    Forza Horizon 3 is an open world racing video game developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft Studios for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows 10. The game features cross-platform play between the two platforms. The game was released on 23 September 2016 for Ultimate Edition players, and 27 September 2016 for standard and Deluxe Edition players. It is the third Forza Horizon and the ninth instalment in the Forza series. As with previous Horizon games, Turn 10 Studios assisted Playground Games in the game's development. It is set in a fictional representation of Australia. Additional content has been released in the form of car packs and two world expansions, which also include additional cars. Forza Horizon 3 is a racing video game set in an open world environment based in a fictional representation of Australia.