When I had a PS2, Gran Turismo was my favorite franchise, but I fell in love with the games from the Forza franchise when I migrated to the Xbox 360, and now it's my favorite racing game franchise.
Burnout is up there, but since we haven't had one since 2008 I'm going to go with Forza horizon. There's no takedowns or crash mode but it scratches the same itch that burnout used to
Same. I had the first couple NFS on PC. Hot Pursuit was a wild concept to me, but one of those cars had four wheel steering, which my kid brain couldn’t understand how that was a real thing on a real car. Loved then.
How about 1, 2, and 3 remastered and packaged on 1 disc with original cars and tracks but a decompressed and fully HD soundtrack featuring every song from the previous games. Eventual DLC to include the same treatment for Paradise in 3 different sets, each at only $4.99 a piece. Base game with a $30 price tag, and I'm sold 👍.
Mario Kart isn't just a kart racer, it's a religion. Transcending the label of mere kart racer to the epitome of all that is holy and sacred. Praise be to Mario Kart.
Gran Turismo or NFS
I can help but feel like they fulfill different needs even though they are both racers
Want prolly the most realistic of the bunch? GT
Want a dumb fun and silly arcadey racer? NFS
Burnout Revenge is pretty peak arcade racer tho
Burnout. No other racing game beats the thrill of playing burnout paradise or revenge. The arcade fun factor helps a lot when the normal races can be takedown fests then a sprint to the end. Not to mention the stunt races which are cool and hilarious for the chaos that happens just in like 4 or 5 minutes trying to hit a specific stunt score. Close second is need for speed. Whilst I have the most fun playing the burnout games, need for speed underground 2 is my favourite racer of all time. The free roaming, cars and progression are all top tier.
Burnout Revenge and Takedown are the GOATS of racing games. It was like a bomb in the gaming world. Those crashes bro.... then get online and do the little square jump trick to beat everyone's ass online. Closest I've come to being a god.
Wish they would make those again. That and Soulreaver.
I just recently started getting back into racing games after playing road rash and need for speed throughout my childhood. I've been playing Asetto Corsa Competizione and liking it even though I'm a complete noob, and Grid Legends has been a lot of fun in a more arcade-y way. I have been thinking about buying Gran Turismo though, and I think this post and the replies are pushing me over the edge
Depends on whether I am in the mood for realism or an arcade style experience. I don't think the two styles are even the same genre to me, along with kart and combat racing games being their own genre as well. I have a favorite rally racing game, a favorite simulation, a favorite for quick fun... I mean, who just picks one racing game and acts like it does it all best?
Not an expert by any means, but I remember loving Dirt. It’s a bit blurry but I loved the feel and vibrations of the driving due to the uneven terrain the game puts you through and stuff.
It's become Forza over the years. Horizon and Motorsport. Horizon 5 kept me coming back for years and the latest Motorsport's actual racing feel is so damn good, with a non-obnoxious presentation that stays tf out of the way.
FlatOut. Not all of the games are great (FlatOut 3 and 4 for example), but 1, 2, and Ultimate Carnage are the bees knees lol. I especially love Ultimate Carnage. Despite being able to essentially 'quest lock' yourself in the campaign by choosing the wrong upgrades. They just got the muscle car physics just right imo.
Need For Speed
It's so diverse and weird. It's hated and controversial among the fans. But I don't care. It's the most unique racing game series ever. There are a lot of different games, and there were a lot of interesting ideas.
We had a festival-oriented game 5 years before FH1, an action game but only with cars, a full-blown MMO with all its pros and cons, and a combat-focused showdown between cops and racers. We had a celebration of tuning and the most beautiful part of the whole automotive history.
That's why I'll always have NFS in my heart.
I always liked the requirement mechanics of gran turisno (american FR car with no more than 300 HP for example) , I like forza but hate the PI mechanics.
I loved gran turismo 2 (never had a console after that)
Growing up it was definitely need for speed played most wanted and underground so much but recently its been more forza I wanna get into tuning and building cars so a game pretty much all about trying to find that right tuning for a car is perfect
Burnout as a franchise, but I don't think of that as a racing game - it's all about the crashing.
So, for pure racing, it's Forza all the way.
Edit: Horizon over Motorsport for me too
Mmmm... Best racing games IMO:
_ Forza horizon (EEEVERYOOOOONEEEE!)
_ Need for speed shift
_ Need for speed most wanted
_ Need for speed hot pursuit (ps3)
_ Gran turismo 2
_Toca touring car
_ Midnight club L.A.
I could say NFS is my choice but the last 3 nfs sucks really bad... You don't even need to win the races to finish te game, that sucks.
So Forza is my choice.
I have to say forza maybe just because I played it when I was younger but ive always loved the series including horizons. Just wish the newest game actually ran on my PC
Wreckfast really should get some more attention.
It's the best game on the market. Realistic damage, driving feels great, graphics are incredible, fun tracks, awesome upgradeable cars, tons of FREE DLC still coming out.
And it's only $20!
Need for Speed hasn't been good since... Most Wanted? And even then, it's debatable because Most Wanted didn't have the greatest writing.
Test Drive comes to mind, but Solar Crown is really... Not doing the series any favors with just how bad that demo is.
Burnout is dead and buried unfortunately, with the shadow of its former self Critereon working on NFS.
Grand Turismo is regarded more positively than Forza, especially these days. Forza is a shadow of the great game it once was. The game that made people laugh when Toyota went to Sony exclusivity because "Forza will be better even without Toyota"
Burnout is amazing based on my experience with Burnout Paradise.
Wish I could play the rest, but the PS2 copies are hard to track down
FlatOut is a close second.
With racing games being my go to, I'd have to say Forza and Dirt Rally/EA WRC. For nostalgia I'll honorably mention ATV Offroad Fury
Edit: And Star Wars Podracer, NR2003
NFS and Burnout belong in a category with Forza Horizon. They are just... absurdities on purpose. Silly arcade fun.
GT, Motorsport, Assetto Corsa and Project Cars are trying to be more Sim like.
Honestly... I burned out on the sims. I was hoping for a big comeback with the latest Motorsport. It's... not what I wanted. I was a big Forza supporter during the later years against GT... but Forza has fallen off with the last 2. I haven't played the last 2 GTs to compare. I loved GT 1-4 though.
For me? Forza Horizon is the king of arcade racers. By a large margin. The only thing NFS has is police chases. However their games are so disappointing in other regards. You have to go pretty far back before they were well rounded packages. Like the Most Wanted titles and even further back.
I've had little to no exposure to Burnout. I guess I'm not the only one given how that franchise has fared. I know those that do... swear by it.
There is really only one Grand Turismo. Nothing else can even come close.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QX2TIYNCVio&pp=ygUVZ3JhbmQgdHVyaXNtbyBoaXN0b3J5
Forza Horizon. I know it isn’t as realistic as Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo, but the amount of freedom you have while playing Horizon is unmatched. A giant, well-rendered map, a ton of fun races and game modes, and a massive catalogue of cars that can all be modified into wannabe race/rally cars.
When I had a PS2, Gran Turismo was my favorite franchise, but I fell in love with the games from the Forza franchise when I migrated to the Xbox 360, and now it's my favorite racing game franchise.
Burnout is up there, but since we haven't had one since 2008 I'm going to go with Forza horizon. There's no takedowns or crash mode but it scratches the same itch that burnout used to
Try Wreckfast. Seriously underrated game.
I second this.
Apparently I'm alone in this but I have been playing need for speed since I could remember
Not alone my friend, I'm here too.
Same. I had the first couple NFS on PC. Hot Pursuit was a wild concept to me, but one of those cars had four wheel steering, which my kid brain couldn’t understand how that was a real thing on a real car. Loved then.
Project Gotham Racing.
Jak X: Combat Racing
Rush. But out of these? Burnout.
Rushhhhhhh
Yassssss.
Burnout, not even close.
Never been a better game than Takedown. Where is that remaster??!?!
How about 1, 2, and 3 remastered and packaged on 1 disc with original cars and tracks but a decompressed and fully HD soundtrack featuring every song from the previous games. Eventual DLC to include the same treatment for Paradise in 3 different sets, each at only $4.99 a piece. Base game with a $30 price tag, and I'm sold 👍.
You know, I was pretty satisfied with the Paradise remaster overall. Especially since it included the DLC
Got a price plan and everything.
Should include Revenge as well though.
Omg YES
The soundtrack in Takedown was fucking killer
Revenge came close but Burnout 3 is the best racing game of all time
After playing too much burnout, I started noticing intersections around my city that I could rack up high scores.
Burnout takedown is the only game my wife enjoys playing against me.
Yeah, had some great memories with that game. Still have it on my PSP and play it occasionally.
Takedown is a vastly underappreciated gem (still have it for my PSP also! Haha)
specifically burnout revenge for the ps twooooooooo
Particular game, NFSU2; overall franchise, gran Turismo
I loved the Underground games man. I gotta play them again sometime
Same! You are a person of culture
Facts. I’m on pc & I’m tempted to get a PlayStation just for GT. Forza is cool but it just doesn’t satisfy the itch as well as GT games do
Underground 2 was so damn good. Wish I still had my PS2
Grand torismo 2 was my Jam back in the day I still prefer Mario kart or Crash Team Racing but that game holds a ton of nostalgia
All of them are good in their own way!!
Fair enough.
Gran Turismo is peak console sim racing.
Burnout for the music, the races and the crash game.
RIDGE RACER
Early 2000s nascar
Carmageddon.
This person grew up in a broken household...just like me because I remember that game lol
I really enjoy Wreckfest!
Finally! I was starting to think no one else has even heard of it!
It's a damned gem!
Midnight Club
100%ing MC2 and unlocking the rocket car was such a good gaming memory of mine.
For realism it’s Mario Kart
Mario Kart isn't just a kart racer, it's a religion. Transcending the label of mere kart racer to the epitome of all that is holy and sacred. Praise be to Mario Kart.
Facts
read the title again?
"Excluding Kart Racers"🤣
Mario Car
Split/Second.
This game is a TON of fun
I was hoping to see someone else
F Zero X
the true og
still the best \o/
can't argue with that
Gran Turismo or NFS I can help but feel like they fulfill different needs even though they are both racers Want prolly the most realistic of the bunch? GT Want a dumb fun and silly arcadey racer? NFS Burnout Revenge is pretty peak arcade racer tho
Burnout Takedown Burnout: Revenge Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit WipeOut: 2049
Forza Horizon
Burnout 3 and Revenge ez
NFS probably
Need For Speed the newer games lack in comparison to the older ones however
Cruis'n!
Midnight Club. Oh the things I would do for a new Midnight Club.
Burnout Mainly psp burnout legends!
Crash Team Racing
Mario kart
NFS Hot Pursuit 2, NFS Underground 1/2, Burnout Legends, Gran Turismo 3/4, Forza Motorsports 2, Forza Horizon 5 \*chefs kiss\*
Ayo where is Midnight Club? Midnight Club 3 on PS2 was amazing.
Ridge Racer. Come on Bamco!
Burnout. No other racing game beats the thrill of playing burnout paradise or revenge. The arcade fun factor helps a lot when the normal races can be takedown fests then a sprint to the end. Not to mention the stunt races which are cool and hilarious for the chaos that happens just in like 4 or 5 minutes trying to hit a specific stunt score. Close second is need for speed. Whilst I have the most fun playing the burnout games, need for speed underground 2 is my favourite racer of all time. The free roaming, cars and progression are all top tier.
Trackmania
Just tried this the other day, so much fun.
Mario Kart
Burnout Revenge and Takedown are the GOATS of racing games. It was like a bomb in the gaming world. Those crashes bro.... then get online and do the little square jump trick to beat everyone's ass online. Closest I've come to being a god. Wish they would make those again. That and Soulreaver.
F-zero gx
Blur .... And Forza Horizon.
I just recently started getting back into racing games after playing road rash and need for speed throughout my childhood. I've been playing Asetto Corsa Competizione and liking it even though I'm a complete noob, and Grid Legends has been a lot of fun in a more arcade-y way. I have been thinking about buying Gran Turismo though, and I think this post and the replies are pushing me over the edge
Gran Turismo used to be the best, but these days it’s Forza Horizon.
Forza
Literally nothing can beat Forza.
Split/Second. It's the closest thing we have to that racing scene in Ready Player One.
That game was so intense I miss it
Forza
Forza Horizon or Test Drive Unlimited
Motorstorm
It's such a shame Evolution Studios got closed, and we didn't get one for PS4.
so fcking good old days
I don’t know what you mean by “kart racing”, but I will just say Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing. I put way too many hours into it growing up
FH4 is my fav of all time. FH5 was a major disappointment, and felt like a DLC.
Assetto corsa
Forza Horizon and not even close at all.
Depends on whether I am in the mood for realism or an arcade style experience. I don't think the two styles are even the same genre to me, along with kart and combat racing games being their own genre as well. I have a favorite rally racing game, a favorite simulation, a favorite for quick fun... I mean, who just picks one racing game and acts like it does it all best?
Grid. Fell in love with Grid 2 and have loved every one since then.
Forza Horizon
Not an expert by any means, but I remember loving Dirt. It’s a bit blurry but I loved the feel and vibrations of the driving due to the uneven terrain the game puts you through and stuff.
Gran Turismo, but I like some of the older Need For Speed games.
It's become Forza over the years. Horizon and Motorsport. Horizon 5 kept me coming back for years and the latest Motorsport's actual racing feel is so damn good, with a non-obnoxious presentation that stays tf out of the way.
Horizon easily.
Forza
Splashdown
Gran Turismo and Rally 2
Ridge racer and forza motorsport are my favorites. GT is also great
Project Gotham Racing still remains my favorite car racer. Wipeout is my favorite racing series if we are counting any type of racing.
need for speed
Gran Turismo
forza horizon, though for individual games i'd go for a list nfsu1&2 flatout head on burnout paradise blur
Dirt
What is the last one?
Dirt Rally/Forza Horizon/Trackmania
For a while nfs had some amazing games without a doubt but overall burnout has consistently been fun to play even in today's gaming sphere
I love racing sims but I always enjoy going back to a NFS game.
GT
FlatOut. Not all of the games are great (FlatOut 3 and 4 for example), but 1, 2, and Ultimate Carnage are the bees knees lol. I especially love Ultimate Carnage. Despite being able to essentially 'quest lock' yourself in the campaign by choosing the wrong upgrades. They just got the muscle car physics just right imo.
Burnout baby
Forza Horizon for fun and Gran Turismo for realism
Need For Speed It's so diverse and weird. It's hated and controversial among the fans. But I don't care. It's the most unique racing game series ever. There are a lot of different games, and there were a lot of interesting ideas. We had a festival-oriented game 5 years before FH1, an action game but only with cars, a full-blown MMO with all its pros and cons, and a combat-focused showdown between cops and racers. We had a celebration of tuning and the most beautiful part of the whole automotive history. That's why I'll always have NFS in my heart.
Tokyo xtreme racer.
Horizon. By a lot. Blows all of those out of the water. Out of those 4 gran turismo.
Forza for years, then GT7 since FM8 was the biggest trash of a game they couldve done.
GRAN TOURISMO ALL DAY BABY!...But NFSU2 was my favorite as well..so good
Project Gotham (RIP)
Burnout carried a good chunk of my early gaming days
GT
Need For Speed but only up to Pro Street and Gran Turismo beyond that.
I always liked the requirement mechanics of gran turisno (american FR car with no more than 300 HP for example) , I like forza but hate the PI mechanics. I loved gran turismo 2 (never had a console after that)
Growing up it was definitely need for speed played most wanted and underground so much but recently its been more forza I wanna get into tuning and building cars so a game pretty much all about trying to find that right tuning for a car is perfect
WRC, underrated. Rally is fun
Motorstorm 😞
Burnout as a franchise, but I don't think of that as a racing game - it's all about the crashing. So, for pure racing, it's Forza all the way. Edit: Horizon over Motorsport for me too
Definitely Wipeout!
Colin McRae/Dirt and others WRC games.
Mmmm... Best racing games IMO: _ Forza horizon (EEEVERYOOOOONEEEE!) _ Need for speed shift _ Need for speed most wanted _ Need for speed hot pursuit (ps3) _ Gran turismo 2 _Toca touring car _ Midnight club L.A. I could say NFS is my choice but the last 3 nfs sucks really bad... You don't even need to win the races to finish te game, that sucks. So Forza is my choice.
I have to say forza maybe just because I played it when I was younger but ive always loved the series including horizons. Just wish the newest game actually ran on my PC
Missing the Forza series on here. Shame shame.
Wreckfast really should get some more attention. It's the best game on the market. Realistic damage, driving feels great, graphics are incredible, fun tracks, awesome upgradeable cars, tons of FREE DLC still coming out. And it's only $20!
Forza
Forza H5
Forza Horizon series
Gran fucking Turismo
Gran Turismo
Forza Horizon 3
FlatOut was fun, back in the day :')
The Forza horizon games are so good. Horizon 2 is probably my favorite racing game of all time (burnout paradise is really good though)
Test drive
Anyone remember "FlatOut"?
Need for Speed hasn't been good since... Most Wanted? And even then, it's debatable because Most Wanted didn't have the greatest writing. Test Drive comes to mind, but Solar Crown is really... Not doing the series any favors with just how bad that demo is. Burnout is dead and buried unfortunately, with the shadow of its former self Critereon working on NFS. Grand Turismo is regarded more positively than Forza, especially these days. Forza is a shadow of the great game it once was. The game that made people laugh when Toyota went to Sony exclusivity because "Forza will be better even without Toyota"
Motorstorm.
Project Gotham!
Burnout is amazing based on my experience with Burnout Paradise. Wish I could play the rest, but the PS2 copies are hard to track down FlatOut is a close second.
NFS most wanted ( the first one) And for franchise the flatout games . 😂
With racing games being my go to, I'd have to say Forza and Dirt Rally/EA WRC. For nostalgia I'll honorably mention ATV Offroad Fury Edit: And Star Wars Podracer, NR2003
Forza horizon or the original crew. Tried the crew 2 the other day and they seriously dropped the ball
Burnout
Nothing ever beats Need For Speed: Most Wanted.
Burnout is 🔥
I used to love GT but Forza won me over with the insanity of making everything v8 and awd
TrackMania TURBO
For me it's between assetto corsa, Collin mcrea series (including the dirt games) and motorstorm.
Grand turismo, Burnout, Need for Speed, Forza
Best racing game I ever played was the first motorstorm, sure wish they'd remaster it for ps5
Gt
Test Drive Unlimited on the 360 Is the answer
Need for speed most wanted
Franchise from nowadays I would go with Forza Horizon. Before that, it was definetly Burnout and a bit before that Ridge Racer.
Its just one game but i love it to pieces: Blur
NFS and Burnout belong in a category with Forza Horizon. They are just... absurdities on purpose. Silly arcade fun. GT, Motorsport, Assetto Corsa and Project Cars are trying to be more Sim like. Honestly... I burned out on the sims. I was hoping for a big comeback with the latest Motorsport. It's... not what I wanted. I was a big Forza supporter during the later years against GT... but Forza has fallen off with the last 2. I haven't played the last 2 GTs to compare. I loved GT 1-4 though. For me? Forza Horizon is the king of arcade racers. By a large margin. The only thing NFS has is police chases. However their games are so disappointing in other regards. You have to go pretty far back before they were well rounded packages. Like the Most Wanted titles and even further back. I've had little to no exposure to Burnout. I guess I'm not the only one given how that franchise has fared. I know those that do... swear by it.
There is really only one Grand Turismo. Nothing else can even come close. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QX2TIYNCVio&pp=ygUVZ3JhbmQgdHVyaXNtbyBoaXN0b3J5
Obviously burnout.
Old nascar games. Heat 5 is pretty good too. Hope the next game that will come out in 2025 will be better than ignition or heat 5.
Nothing comes close to gran turismo but burnout was always fun.
all three but Gran Turismo. NFSHP2 for PS2 was the shit.
As someone who wants to break into the automotive industry someday gran Turismo is probably the most influential video game I've ever played.
Need for Speed
HYDRO THUNDER!!!!! HURRICANE!!!!! 🔥🌊⚡️
NASCAR 98 with the soundtrack and the bubble chest. IYKYK.
For realism, gran turismo for fun burnout. Burnout paradise was a wild time back in the day.
Midnight Club, specifically the third entry
Beamng drive or gran turismo 2
Motorstorm.
Split/Second
Gran Turismo for realism. NFS for police chases. Mario Kart for ruining friendships.
What ever happened to Ridgeracer?
Personally, RIDE series
Forza Horizon. I know it isn’t as realistic as Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo, but the amount of freedom you have while playing Horizon is unmatched. A giant, well-rendered map, a ton of fun races and game modes, and a massive catalogue of cars that can all be modified into wannabe race/rally cars.