Best Racing Games: Drop The Bananas And Pick Up The Pace

Now in its eighth generation and available with seemingly never ending downloadable content upgrades, it's the perennial pole-sitter in the arcade driving game genre. Mario Kart 8 lets you play single player or up to four players on one screen and one Nintendo Switch. You can also play online or by connecting Switches over a LAN. Pick it up and play a quick race by yourself, or host a nightlong racing party, it works for everything.

The game is currently up to forty-some characters, some dating back to the dawn of video games, so it appeals to all ages. It also works for all skill levels; this version even has a Smart Steering option to help newbs and younger gamers get up to speed in their first few laps.

Gamers can enjoy classic racing action, with or without weapons and power-ups, in a huge variety of modifiable vehicles. There are also five different types of battles, which are more like tag or capture the flag, but motorized. New battle stadiums are being added just like tracks. Whether you're more of a Mario, definitely a Donkey Kong, or literally a Link, you will enjoy hours of gameplay on your Nintendo Switch.

If you're looking for a racing game that has great graphics, good physics, a lot of action, and more carnage per dollar than amateur prowrestling, this is your jam. It looks as if the a group of totally sane and competent game designers started building a perfectly normal racing game and at some point, a neurotoxin was released into their cubicles turning them into depraved crash-obsessed deviants – I mean that in the nicest way possible.

Wreckfest has one of the most diverse catalog of vehicles ever seen. You can drive racecars and supercars, or get weird and get down in combines and school buses. The AI racers leave a lot to be desired, but they all have celebrity names, so maybe their racing skills are more realistic than I think. You can modify your car with everything from real performance upgrades and armor, or add decorations like chainsaws and poop emojis – maybe too on the nose since you can race a motorized outhouse.

As you may have already guessed, this may not be considered appropriate for the younger racers in your house. Some themes are questionable and the damage models are incredibly real. Wreckfest is available on Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and XBOX One. Some versions are available for a fraction of the price of most other games and downloadable demos can help decide if it's for you.

The term, game changer, is thrown around way too often these days. Velan Studios has delivered a truly expectation shattering experience with it's latest version of augmented reality gaming. Yes, this isn't the first attempt, that involved Mario Kart and a large scoop of disappointment. Now teamed up with legendary Hot Wheels brand, it delivers everything you fantasized about as a kid and wanting to actually drive around inside your house.

Included with the game is an RC car with a camera, along with four racing gates, which define the layout of the track in real physical space. Once setup, you can race around your house in first person view while graphics and narrative are added by your console. 

Rally Rift offers arcade style racing, with the typical power ups, but also offers stunt driving and obstacles courses you would expect from Hot Wheels. You can choose from over 140 different Hot Wheels cars to drive in the game, although the physical RC car doesn't change. If you buy more cars, you can race multi-player, otherwise you can race AI cars. The stunt modes may be the most entertaining, so you won't feel like you have to add additional cars immediately. The downside, is you need a decent amount of floorspace in your home, and you almost have to have to have hardwood or tile floors for the car to perform well. It is pretty simple to setup and it is an experience that would absolutely shock your seven year-old self.