Since the release of Pole Position in the arcades four decades ago, racing titles have been a staple genre in video games. Whether you are slamming on the gas to complete a time trial, attempting to keep your shield charged to protect your banged-up hovercar in a futuristic race, or just trying to get to the next checkpoint before the timer wears out in a classic race against the clock, excellent racing titles have come in many shapes and sizes.
But what is the best retro console to play these classic adrenaline-pumping engine revvers on? Well, there really isn't one good answer. Fascinatingly, many retro consoles have their own identity when it comes to their racing titles. One thing is universally true, though: racing fans aren't going to struggle to satiate those tire squealing tendencies.
10 TurboGrafx-16
It feels like most 8-bit racing titles did not age as gracefully as some other genres on the 8-bit consoles. However, the TurboGrafx-16, which existed in a nebulous space between 8-bit and 16-bit, has a number of titles that have stood the test of time far better. For starters, the TurboGrafx-16 has a port of Out Run that is WAY better than it has any right to be. The console also has some really nice top-down titles (especially for people willing to import titles like World Circuit or Motor Roader 2).
However, the most notable racing game on the system has to be Final Lap Twin. This has a classic RPG style mode, but instead of fighting random battles, you are challenged to races. The gameplay itself here is shockingly smooth. These are the types of experiences that transcend hardware limitations.
9 PlayStation Portable
Portable racing titles, up until the release of the PSP, had been pretty limited. There were a few decent enough top-down racing games, but for the most part, it just wasn't a genre that was particularly well represented on handhelds. That changed with the PSP. The PSP has an excellent lineup of classic titles that deliver the home console experience in a portable form factor.
The futuristic combat-racing Wipeout was well represented on the PSP. Burnout had an excellent release on Sony's mighty portable, too. Ridge Racer, Motorstorm, and Gran Turismo all made an appearance as well. There is just a ton here for racing fans who want to burn rubber on the go.
8 Super Nintendo
There were a lot of great multiplatform racing titles in the 16-bit era. You had the Micro Machine games, which were excellent top-down racing titles. There was Super Off-Road, which has always made for an excellent multiplayer title, due to the nature of the entire track being visible at all times. The SNES also had some excellent exclusive such as the incredible F-Zero (with quite possibly the best video game soundtrack of all time), and the first Mario Kart, which manages to feel extremely unique due to its sprite-based graphics.
While the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis share a lot of similar titles, the Super Nintendo has one big advantage: most of the Genesis racing exclusives would be released on the Sega Saturn (where they were just substantially better). Ultimately, the SNES' superweapon is that its exclusives stayed on the SNES.
7 Nintendo 64
The racing game selection on the N64 is much like the story of the N64 itself. It doesn't have a ton of racing games, but the racing games it has are great. With Diddy Kong Racing, and one of the best Mario Kart games, the N64 clearly has great kart racers. However, it also has the excellent F-Zero X, which is a fantastic arcadey experience.
Lastly, it has the racing game that focused on fluid dynamics: Wave Race. Which is a racing game unlike any other (outside of its own sequel, that is). The N64's form factor deserves mention here, as it is one of the few consoles that has four controller ports out of the box, making it a go-to console for local multiplayer.
6 Dreamcast
The Dreamcast has a reputation for delivering great arcade experiences. That trend is continued with the console's exuberant, pulse-pounding, arcade lineup of racing titles. A perfect example of the style of arcade experience is the excellent Sega Rally 2, which is a more content-rich version of the Arcade classic (which, at the time of release, was an arcade contemporary). Another would be Hydrothunder; the high-flying, fast-paced, arcade racing title that included transforming vehicles long before it was cool.
The Dreamcast also had an excellent version of Daytona USA. Last, but certainly not least, the unconventional Crazy Taxi was a staple of the console. The Dreamcast's racing lineup really is laser-focused on delivering that early aughts, colorful arcade experience, but if that is what you are looking for then no one did it better.
5 Xbox
Right from the beginning, the Xbox was a strong player in the racing game space. Of course, the absolute king of modern racing, Forza, got its start here. And right from the start, Forza Motorsport was an excellent racing title. It did things that the Gran Turismo games didn't do, such as damage to vehicles. Motorsport isn't a pure arcade racer, but it isn't as rigid as a simulation style, either.
Before Forza became the king of racing, the Project Gotham Racing games ruled. These titles are absolutely some of the best racing games on the console. They had dynamic weather and custom soundtracks. They also did a fantastic job of straddling the line between arcade racing and simulation-style racing. In fact, that feels like the identity of the Xbox racing experience. It is a console filled with great racing games that ride the line between the two styles.
4 GameCube
In a lot of ways, the GameCube's racing lineup is pretty similar to the N64 lineup, but with updated titles. F-Zero GX for the GameCube is among the best arcade racing games ever made. Kirby Air Ride is an excellent arcade racer (that comes packed with a Kirbyified version of Super Off-Road).
Like all Nintendo systems, it features an excellent kart racing title in Mario Kart: Double Dash. Lastly, the GameCube has the excellent Wave Race: Bluestorm, which is a worthy sequel to the fantastic N64 title.
3 PlayStation 2
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Another console with a long lineup of fantastic racing titles, the PlayStation 2 has its own Gran Turismo title, but it also has a slew of excellent arcadey titles. This includes the classics like Ridge Racer, Need For Speed, and the excellent sequel to Out Run, but it also includes new franchises like Midnight Club and the ATV Offroad titles.
Lastly, SSX has three titles on the PlayStation 2 which may, at first, seem like an odd thing to mention here, but these games feature exhilarating racing (even if it is on snowboards). Overall, the PS2 is home to a whole host of different racing experiences.
2 Sega Saturn
The 32-bit era was an incredible time for racing titles. With the Sega Saturn, some notable titles that had, traditionally, been substantially better in the arcade were starting to be emulated effectively in the home. Sega Rally is a great example of that, it is a fantastic conversion of the fast-paced, colorful arcade title.
The Saturn also has the best version of Out Run ever released. Another arcade classic that had been on other consoles, but is best on the Saturn, is Super Hang-On. That is the story of the Saturn's racing titles: many of them appeared on other consoles, but this was the best you ever saw them.
1 PlayStation
The PlayStation has a number of classic racing titles. For those who are more interested in simulation-style racing games, the PlayStation has the venerated Gran Turismo games. For arcadey racers, The PlayStation has Ridge Racer and Need For Speed. It also has a great kart racer in Crash Team Racing and for racing games that have a combat element, you have Road Rash and Wipeout.
The PS1 also has some interesting imports for fans of the genre, too. Racing Lagoon is a Japanese exclusive racing RPG absolutely worth your time. For the PlayStation, the name of the game is variety. For racing fans, this is a console that has a lot to offer.