In most cases, racing games fall into one of two categories. They're either realistic simulation games like the Forza series or wacky arcade titles like Mario Kart. The interesting thing about the Burnout games is they include elements of both.
Visually the titles tend to look pretty realistic, from the environments to the cars. However, vehicles move and control a lot easier than they would in real-life. Plus, in actual races - outside of destruction derbies - participants aren't meant to decimate everyone in their path. So, in many ways, it's the best of both worlds, and the combination has produced some great games. Yet, which entries are superior?
8 Burnout Crash!
Crash has always been a popular event in the Burnout series, and this entire spin-off game is built around it. Your goal is to create as much carnage as possible by careening into an intersection and crashing into as much as you can.
Unfortunately, that's pretty much all you do, as this is just a small downloadable game that doesn't include other events. In fact, it doesn't contain a lot of the content that the other games do. It's not all bad, though, it runs smoothly, and the change to a top-down view was a good decision as it works well for Crash. Yet, it's not the greatest top-down game ever, nor is it among the best Burnout titles.
7 Burnout
Every series has to start somewhere, and Burnout began in 2001. As such, the title looks and feels a little dated. It isn't a particularly strong first outing anyway, as it doesn't contain the chaos fans expect from the series.
It's more of a typical racing game. All the modes revolve around winning races or beating time trials. And while you can knock into your opponent, destroying them isn't really encouraged like it is in later games. It does have some typical Burnout features, though, such as Boost and the ability to build that Boost by doing dangerous things. Plus, the high-speed driving and traffic dodging that the series would become known for are established in this game.
6 Burnout Legends
Burnout Legends is the only game in the series released exclusively on handheld consoles. Whether or not the series works on these platforms depends on which system you play. The PSP version of the game manages to smoothly bring the high-speed action of the console titles to the smaller screen. The port for the Nintendo DS, however, has a lot more problems. Everything from how it looks to how it runs is poor on the two-screened system.
Even on the PSP, the game isn't perfect, though. It feels very much like a retread of Burnout 3. It has a lot of the same modes and contains several tracks from the previous games, too. So, it's more of a repackage than an actual fresh instalment in the series.
5 Burnout Dominator
The developers of Dominator made the controversial choice to not include Crash events in the game. This decision alone hurts the overall appeal of the title, as does the removal of the ability to smash small civilian vehicles into your opponents.
Dominator adds some things, though. For instance, it brings Burnouts back, which allows you to use non-stop Boost as long as you're brave enough. It also has a few new modes, such as the Drift, Near Miss, and Burnout challenges, along with Maniac Mode. Unfortunately, they're all a little similar and don't match up to the quality of some of the classic modes. Still, Dominator retains a lot of what made the earlier games great, including the exciting, high-octane driving. Therefore, it's a solid game regardless of its flaws.
4 Burnout 2: Point Of Impact
While it's not quite as good as its successors, the second Burnout is still among the best PlayStation 2 racing games ever and a significant upgrade from the first instalment. This title is truly what set the groundwork for the series.
One example of this is the introduction of Crash mode, where you destroy as much as you can. Furthermore, the game includes Pursuit mode, in which you have to wreck an escaping criminal's car. So, this is the first entry to encourage you to smash other people's vehicles. And while the visuals don't hold up too well, the core gameplay is still very enjoyable.
3 Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise is a divisive game among the fanbase. It alienates some fans because it heavily alters the formula of the series. The switch to open-world is the biggest change since it impacts everything in the game.
For example, races no longer have their own tracks, and instead, you trigger them in the open world. And these races don't have set routes. They simply have an end goal that you must reach. This adds a tactical element to the racing, but the unique tracks are missed. There are also plenty of alterations in regards to Crash mode, damage retention, and progression. Some of the changes are good, while others are bad. But driving (or crashing) around Paradise City is a fun and unique experience.
2 Burnout Revenge
The developers' focus for Revenge seemed to be more about tweaking things as opposed to doing any wholesale changes. It worked, as Burnout Revenge is a phenomenal arcade racer. The title includes all the classic Burnout modes from Crash to Road Rage.
It also adds Traffic Attack, which makes use of the new ability to hit small civilian cars. While it's not the best mode the series has ever produced, it's enjoyable, and the traffic checking ability, in general, is a welcome addition. Along with the new mode, the game includes a couple of fresh takedowns, including the vertical and revenge ones. Overall, it's an amazing game despite its lack of innovation.
1 Burnout 3: Takedown
Takedown is arguably the most beloved game in the series, and it's easy to see why. The title took the series to a whole other level with its incredibly polished and exciting driving mechanics. Plus, the destructive aspect of the series is expanded upon in this one due to the debut of takedowns.
The ability to destroy your opponents' vehicles by smashing into them or pushing them into a wall helps separate this title and the Burnout series from the average racer. With the new mechanic comes the popular Road Rage mode, which is all about taking down other cars. This mode, along with the improvements to Crash and World Tour, make this the best title the series has produced. In fact, it's among the greatest ever arcade racers in general.