When people think of Nintendo racing games they instantly think of Mario Kart. However, Nintendo has a long history of producing racing games. More importantly, Nintendo's racing franchises have been consistently top-notch. These titles range from side-scrolling dirt bike games to futuristic arcade racers to green shell throwing kart racing titles.
It isn't a stretch to say that people expect a game polished to a sheen when it comes to Nintendo's first-party titles, and fear not, the racing franchises they have produced are not an exception to this rule. In fact, it is perfectly reasonable to make the claim that there isn't a stinker in the bunch.
8 Excitebike
A Shigeru Miyamoto title, Excitebike's engine actually laid the groundwork for the first Mario title. However, it is more than just a curio. Excitebike is, to this day, an engaging racing title. Having a pleasing graphical style, and fun physics engine, it's an exhilarating experience.
All of the sequels were reasonably well-received, too. These include the solid N64 sequel, as well as two quasi-spinoffs on the Wii (Excite Truck and Excitebots), but the most iconic is still the Nintendo game. Thankfully, Excitebike is readily available on the Switch eShop.
7 F1 Race Series
It is easy to dismiss the F1 Race series. Outside of the Game Boy title, these games didn't release in the west. Even worse, two of them were on the Famicom Disk system (both Famicom Grand Prix games), which is an entire console that never left Japan. Therefore, it's an easy series to dismiss. However, the thing is, they are all very good. The Game Boy F1 Race feels like something that shouldn't be possible. It is so fast. F1 Race (on both the Famicom and Game Boy) plays like Pole Position (a classic racing title in its own right).
The first Famicom Grand Prix is a top-down racing title that emphasizes keeping track of your car's condition (frequent pit stops will be necessary). Famicom Grand Prix 2 is an Out Run-style racing title. All of these games are stunningly good (in an era where the racing games weren't particularly strong).
6 Kirby Air Ride
Yes, another Nintendo mascot did receive another racing game. And much like the other instances of this happening, it is excellent. Kirby Air Ride is a simpler title, but it does a great job of providing a sense of speed and delivering a ton of airtime. It is pick up and play friendly, and has a unique feel to it.
Air Ride also has a "Top Ride" mode, which is a Super Off Road-style racing game. This means that Air Ride comes essentially with two separate racing games. City Trial is Air Ride's battle mode. This is a vehicle building mode that tasks players with collecting parts to complete a set in order to build the best vehicle and then forces them to compete in different events once the time limit has expired. It is a ton of fun and a lot more involved than almost every battle mode found in nearly every other racing game.
5 1080 Snowboarding
There are a grand total of two games in the 1080 series. These snowboarding racing titles are known for their smooth gameplay and incredible sense of speed. 1080 Avalanche was a game that was maligned for all the wrong reasons. It was compared (unfavorably) to the excellent SSX series, but the 1080 series has a very different focus.
These games are, first and foremost, racing titles. There is a trick system, but 1080 is more grounded than some of its arcade-style contemporaries (the game even forces you to orient your board as you land). The name of the game here is speed. This is a racing first snowboarding game that should absolutely be given more consideration than it is. It is among the best ever.
4 Wave Race
Many people don't know this, but the Wave Race series didn't actually start on the Nintendo 64. The first title was actually a top-down Game Boy title. The Game Boy title is an interesting little game, attempting to deliver the experience of riding a jetski to the portable console. Of course, that is a lot to ask of the Game Boy. So, ultimately, the Wave Race series started off as a mildly successful, interesting experiment. However, once Wave Race 64 came around, the series finally made a splash.
To this day the way your jetski feels in the water is impressive. The way you have to corral the waves, and not fight against the water, learning to work with the motion of the ocean, just feels perfect. The sequel, Wave Race Blue Storm, is every ounce as good. Nothing else feels like these games. There are other excellent racing games that are set in the water (we see you, Hydro Thunder), but NOTHING feels like the Wave Race games. Just another amazing Nintendo racing franchise that seems to have been left stranded at sea.
3 Diddy Kong Racing
There was a total of one Diddy Kong Racing game (with one misguided port to the DS). During its time there were people who claimed that Diddy Kong Racing was just another Mario Kart, which isn't exactly a horribly unfair criticism, as it does take a lot from its predecessor. However, what a lot of people are missing is how dramatic the embellishments in Diddy Kong Racing are.
Many people think of the different vehicle types as being one of the key features, and those definitely add to the variety, but the best example of a notable upgrade over the Mario Kart formula is found in the balloon powerups. Instead of all the items being completely random, each balloon color corresponds to an item. Better yet, items can be upgraded by picking up multiples of the same type. Ultimately, this makes Diddy Kong Racing a version of Mario Kart that rewards skillful play.
In a lot of ways, Diddy Kong Racing is the best Kart Racing game of its era. Unfortunately, there is only one of them, which hurts its overall strength as a "franchise" (especially given how misguided the DS port was). Still, this game is pure gold for kart racing fans and can't be recommended enough.
2 Mario Kart
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Everyone loves Mario Kart. That is a simple fact. Even people who grumble about video games can probably be convinced to give it a spin. That is because Mario Kart games deliver an enduring experience that is enjoyable for players of all skill levels.
Sure, you can be good at Mario Kart (especially when it comes to the drift and dash mechanics), but that just means you will be in first place, which means you are going to be hit with a disproportionate amount of lighting bolts, red shells, and blue shells. That is, of course, how Mario Kart keeps everyone feeling like they are still a part of the race, the worse your position, the better the items you will obtain. This means that you often have a genuine chance to make a stunning comeback.
Beyond that expertly designed ebb and flow which allows a variety of skill levels to play together, Mario Kart works as a celebration of the Mario games (and they are starting to celebrate all Nintendo games, including more tracks themed after other series). Mario Kart may not be the most skillful racing title, but it is absolutely the most accessible.
1 F-Zero
Of all the Nintendo racing franchises, F-Zero may just be the best. As far as consistency is concerned, the worst F-Zero games (which are all on the Gameboy Advance) are still very good games. And what of the best F-Zero games?
Well, F-Zero on the Super Nintendo is still an exhilarating experience with an absolutely killer soundtrack, F-Zero X is an excellent arcade racing title on the N64 that goes toe-to-toe with any other arcade racer of its era, and F-Zero GX is probably the best arcade racing game ever made. Not the best Nintendo racing game, not the best on the Gamecube, just the best. No qualifiers are needed. Believe the hype.