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Not all of us can, or even want to have a dedicated driving-sim rig at home. Sometimes you just want to crush your family members while drifting and trash talking your way to the wednesday night post dinner time grand prix. For those occasions you want a racing game, not a simulator. But, there are literally hundreds of titles available for all the different gaming platforms including consoles and PCs.
Selecting the Best Overall of what’s available wasn’t a difficult choice, but looking at the huge variety of the constantly expanding choices made selecting the best in other categories more interesting. We weighed age group, skill level, overall enjoyment, and our perceived value in making the decision. Even if these aren’t necessarily perfect for your expectations, they will get you headed down the right road, pun intended.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Edition
- Best Value: Wreckfest
- Most Innovative: Hot Wheels Rift Rally
Our Methodology
The first driving game I played, Night Driver on the Atari 2600 may have been the original first person driving game. I have played everything from simplistic smartphone based games to costs-more-than-a-spec-Miata, ultra-realistic full motion simulators. This guide is focused on games; simulators will be left for another day. Smartphone games were also ignored as 5-inch screens and no controller is best suited for Solitaire or Sudoku. Besides my years of experience, I also consulted with an actual expert, my 11 year-old son.
Best Overall
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Best Value
Wreckfest
Most Innovative
Hot Wheels Rift Rally
Our Verdict
The Best Overall pick is the Gold Standard of arcade style driving games, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Edition. But, if you’re looking for something more grown up and filled with action and carnage, then Wreckfest might be more your speed.
Features to Consider
The most obvious thing to consider when choosing a racing game is what platform it’ll be compatible with. If you want to play Mario Kart 8, and not one of the hundreds of inferior clones, you have to have a Nintendo Switch. Many other games are offered on multiple platforms like Playstation and Xbox, but there are plenty of one platform examples. The next thing is a combination of age and skill level. Driving simulators offer incredibly realistic driving experiences, but require too much practice and commitment for either young or casual gamers. Lastly, look for what you, or the person your buying for is passionate about. Hardcore NASCAR fans probably aren’t going to be into rally racing and neither of them might be interested in being Bowser in a bumper car racing around Rainbow Road.
FAQs
Q: Can I cross-play from one console to another?
A: This largely depends on the racing game. While many video games allow you to play against friends with an Xbox and PS4, others will not. Check with the maker of the game to see if they enable cross-play.
Q: If I have two consoles, do I have to buy two copies of the game?
A: In some cases, yes, you will have to buy two copies of the game. For instance, if you have two Nintendo Switches, then you will need two copies of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However, if you have two Xbox Ones, you may not need separate copies. Microsoft has set up a system that connects one Xbox to another to allow both to play digital games owner by either owner.
Q: Do all racing games support a racing wheel?
A: No, not all racing games will support the connection of a racing wheel. The majority of PC games will work with one. Xbox, PS4, and Nintendo games may enable the use of one, but you should check with the system you own to see if there is a wheel that works with them.