Summary
We live in a time when video games have never been better or more abundant. Regardless of which genres you enjoy, there are likely at least two dozen good games that you’re able to choose from right now. However, that isn’t the case with racing games, which seem to be few and far between. So what happened?
Racing Games Were Once King
Back in the 90s and early 2000s, every console needed to launch with a handful of exciting games in order to sell millions of units. Technology was rapidly advancing, and what better way to showcase the new hardware than with a selection of new games?
Among those new games, there had to be at least one or two racing games that set the tone for the genre on the new platform,asMario Kartdid on Nintendo consoles. You probably remember classic racing games from the golden era:Need for Speed,Gran Turismo,Forza Motorsport(and laterHorizon),Colin McRae RallyandDirt,Driver,Test Drive,Grand Prix,and so many others.
If I named them all, we’d be here all day. That’s how ubiquitous the racing genre used to be.
Moreover, it seemed like every publisher or developer had to have at least one racing game. Rockstar Games hadMidnight Club, Sega hadVirtual Racer,DaytonaandSega Rally, Sony hadMotorStormandGran Turismo, and Bandai Namco hadRidge RacerandFinal Lap.
Electronic Arts (EA) has the longest and most comprehensive list, as the publisher ownsNeed for Speed,Burnout, andNASCAR, and thanks to the acquisition of Codemasters, a bunch of others likeGrid,DirtandRally,F1, andProject Cars.
Many of these titles had a unique identity that made them stand out. Some were fun arcade experiences that prioritized vehicular combat in the form of smashing into other cars in nitro-fueled chases, while others were pure simulations that attempted to recreate real-life track races.
Regardless of what type of racing sub-genre you prefer, there was a healthy selection to choose from.
Even individual entries from a franchise had a unique flavor.Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed,Underground,Most Wanted, andCarbonwere all released within six years of one another, yet each game felt different and found their fans.
We’ve also seen a fair share of experimental racing games that didn’t just blatantly copy the other games from the genre. RememberBlurand even the somewhat recentOnrush? We just don’t see experimental games like those anymore.
The Genre Isn’t as Popular as It Once Was
I’m not saying that nobody plays racing games anymore. There are still plenty of enthusiasts who spend good money onrealistic racing sim systems, and many others who enjoy racing with friends while relaxing on the couch, controller in hand.
Still, there’s no denying the fact that the racing genre is in decline, perhaps because there’s a lack of interest.Younger gamers tend to gravitate towards other popular genres, like shooters, MOBAs, and RPGs. I have two younger half-brothers who genuinely love cars, yet neither of them plays racing games on a regular basis. They mostly play whatever is trending.
Can you recall a racing game that went “viral” in the past decade? Me neither.
Another potential reason why racing games aren’t being made is monetization. Creating a new racing game from the ground up is very expensive, so it has to be sold at full price. But there’s no guarantee that the game will sell.
Making the game free and monetizing through in-game purchases isn’t really a viable strategy, either. If the developer locks the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 behind a paywall, it will spark an outrage. Releasing pay-to-win cars is a surefire way to kill your game, so developers avoid it at all costs. The only solution to monetizing cars is to make free alternatives, which is essentially whatForza Horizondoes.
Another factor is the lack of innovation within the genre. Even bonafide enthusiasts like myself have shifted focus away from the genre because racing games now rarely provide the depth and progression that make a game interesting.Need for Speedused to be great at the stereotypical rags-to-riches storytelling, but what’s the point if the gameplay falls flat?
In my opinion, the last true innovation happened in 2018 whenForza Horizon 4introduced four unique seasons that completely changed how your car drives based on weather conditions, only for its successor to replace them with a simplified weather system.
Unique Racing Games Are Rare (But Still Exist)
The real unsung heroes of the racing genre are the slightly less popular games that you can find on Steam. You’ve likely seenphotorealistic clipsfrom aheavily moddedAssetto Corsa.
BeamNG.driveis a physics sandbox game that lets you do almost anything. ThinkGarry’s Modbut car-oriented.iRacingis a hardcore subscription-based racing sim.
CarX Drift Racing OnlineandCarX Streetare also solid games, though they lack licensed vehicles.
There are also several games adjacent to racers that you might enjoy.SnowRunnerandMudRunnerare highly realistic simulation games that allow you to drive off-road.Euro Truck Simulator 2is also holding up well, a game that has accumulated nearly 600,000 reviews on Steam despite its niche appeal.Pacific Driveis a cool first-person survival game where you drive through a world filled with paranormal objects.
A Few Franchises Keep the Genre Alive
Although most of the big racing game franchises either no longer exist or are shadows of their former selves, there are a few notable standouts.Forza Horizon 5and theMotorsportreboot are excellent games, despite their flaws.
The Crew 2has an insanely large map that features a mini contiguous US, andMotorfestis an okay budget-friendlyForza Horizonclone.Gran Turismo 7is an serviceable simulation racer.
Wreckfest, from the creators ofFlatOut, is a demolition derby game that’s getting a well-deserved sequel, which I look forward to playing. TheF1series is also good, though I resent the predatory practice of publishers selling the same game every year.
Need for Speed Heatis worth playing for cop chases alone. Ubisoft’sTrackmaniais also seriously underrated. It’s one of the best free arcade racers, which is perfect if you love setting times for short laps and breaking records.
While racing games aren’t what they used to be, I’m still hopeful for a revitalization of the genre. A few standout racing games, either within existing franchises or new IPs, could be all it takes to spark a new wave of interest among gamers.
EA needs to fixNeed for Speedand reviveBurnout, Rockstar Games would be at the top of the world with a newMidnight Club, and Playground Games could reinvent the wheel by simply usingForza’sengine to create a more focused campaign with fewer but more distinct-feeling cars. Perhaps a few successful games are all it takes.
In the meantime, I’ll be keeping myself entertained withPacific DriveandAssetto Corsa.
