8 Top-Rated Racing Arcade Games

While simulators are fun, arcade races may be pretty therapeutic. The top arcade racing games are listed here.

Racing games are getting more realistic. The genre has come a long way from early races like Pole Position, with fully licensed car lineups and extensive vehicle customization. These games are often classified as simulations or arcade races.

Racing simulators can immerse gamers in an experience that is as close to the real thing as possible. Arcade-style games, on the other hand, trade realism for entertainment. Even though some are deemed superior, each racing game has a place in the gaming industry. This essay will concentrate on the finest arcade races available today.

Via Erhard updated this on May 31, 2024: For decades, arcade races have been a fan favorite. While there aren’t as many beginners as there once were, these games continue to have a large fan following. Players may not only discover new arcade races but also return to some of the most legendary ones and still have an enjoyable experience, thanks to unforgettably intense and adrenaline-boosting games.

Players may also explore imaginative sci-fi and realistic virtual worlds where they can put their driving abilities and reflexes to the test while playing some of the finest arcade racing games ever made. Players in these games may also operate historic automobiles, excellent space vehicles, and even destructive trucks while enjoying jaw-dropping visuals and often spectacular races loaded with challenges and enjoyment.

1. Ridge Racer 3D

Ridge Racer 3D is an excellent choice for players of all skill levels who want a fun arcade racing game with good graphics and controls for drifting. This driving game is like an arcade game and is easy to pick up and play, thanks to its simple controls and 3D effects that can help new players avoid hazards.

Players can try out high-speed roads with beautiful designs and choose from more than ten cars. Even though Ridge Racer 3D is a single-player game, it’s still a lot of fun because players can try out different slides, routes, and Drift Hunters.

2. MotorStorm: Apocalypse

MotorStorm games, especially the brutal but very fun Apocalypse, are great if you’re looking for lost PlayStation series that are really exciting and fun. The players will be taken to a dangerous but fun world where they can race against other players and even drive fast through crowds.

Even though Apocalypse is one of the most violent arcade racing games, it is still very popular because the tracks, cars, and settings are all different. It’s a crazy, random arcade racing game with beautiful graphics that will keep you entertained for hours.

3. Distance

Distance is one of the most creative games ever made about racing. It combines arcade racing with parkour to make a truly unique game for its players. This future arcade game looks great and is fun to play for both new and experienced players.

Gamers can go on adventures alone or with their friends in Distance’s strange, neon-lit city when they play in online mode. Distance is different because during the races, players can not only drive on the roads, but also drive upside down on buildings and even fly as they find interesting new tracks and routes.

4. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer

Star Wars Episode 1: Racer was released one day before Star Wars: The Phantom Menace had even hit screens. LucasArts clearly thought that people would want a Podracing game after seeing the race in the movie, so they didn’t waste any time getting a tie-in game ready to go. Because of when the game came out, a lot of people thought it was just a quick way to make money, but thank goodness that wasn’t the case.

Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is a very fun racing game with a great sense of speed, a lot of creative tracks, and interesting ways to change your car.

5. Crazy Taxi

Crazy Taxi is still one of the most strange driving games ever made, just like its name says. As the name implies, players take control of a cab driver who has to make as many trips as possible.

But this isn’t a car driving game at all, since traffic and crime rules don’t seem to be followed. Players can get to their location by driving through fields, up hills, and on streets. If they take a few seconds too long, the rider will tell them they are going too slow.

6. TrackMania Turbo

Even though 2020’s TrackMania could be a good game, its predecessor, 2015’s TrackMania Turbo, is a little easier to play. This series is all about speed, tricks, and wild (but short) tracks. A run usually doesn’t take more than a minute, and the driver should always be trying to beat their times.

TrackMania Turbo is an arcade racer that can keep someone busy for years. It has 200 tracks, four types of cars, and a shocking amount of detail.

7. Dirt 5

The Dirt series is one of the most popular video racing games out there. Dirt 5, the latest game in the series, might be the easiest one to play so far. Along with good images and a pick-up-and-play quality, Dirt 5 offers an overflow of career mode material to keep players engaged.

This game came out for next-generation platforms like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S. It’s also on Xbox Game Pass, which makes it one of the most accessible classic racing games to get.

8. Wreckfest

Wreckfest is an excellent destruction derby-style arcade racing game that came out at a time when those kinds of games were getting hard to find. It’s a must-play for anyone who has been craving something a little bit weirder. As the name suggests, the race tracks in Wreckfest are a symphony of destruction, which is made even better by the game’s fantastic damage system.

Wreckfest is a lot of fun to play because it has a wide range of unique cars and a good mix of realistic and comical tracks. So, get in an RV and start driving straight toward the finish line.