When it comes to racing games, there are some big names that people tend to immediately drift to. There’s no shortage of great examples that span a multitude of styles - from Mario Kart, to Gran Turismo, to the open-world epic Forza Horizon.
Yet, looming under the shadow of these greats exists a whole slew of racers that have flown under the radar for most gamers. These are games that, despite their quality and enjoyment, have been somewhat left in the dust in favor of hype-laden heavy hitters.
So let’s strap ourselves in as we take a look at the ten best and most underrated racers that you likely haven’t heard of.
10 Redout
While series like F-Zero and Wipeout tend to hog the limelight when it comes to flashy futuristic racers, this 2016 romp has quietly driven onto the scene. This project by 34BigThings is reminiscent of the Captain Falcon franchise, with its futuristic themes, super-fast speeds, and anti-gravity mechanics.
At the same time, Redout proves depth with its slew of customizable ships, active/passive powerups, and intricate courses. To further flesh out the content, an extra seven racing complexes has been added via DLC. Its courses are rife with ramps, loops, teleports, and underwater portions, keeping you on the edge of your seat.
You’ve also got the inclusion of online and split-screen multiplayer, and even some epic boss showdowns.
9 Super Indie Karts
Only the most diehard of indie fans and retro game enthusiasts have likely heard of this neat little project from One Legged Seagull; a racer that’s modeled off the classic Super Mario Kart. This delightful racer was spurred to completion thanks to a 2014 KickStarter, and was released in Early Acces on Steam in May 2015. It was finally released in all its full, multiplayer glory in 2018.
This game truly feels like Nintendo’s early 90’s classic if it existed in the indie gaming universe, with its charming Mode 7-esque graphics, colorful maps, and a slew of items. You’ve got a ton of characters to choose from too - including Bart from the tower-defense action romp Aegis Defenders and Teslagrad’s Teslakid.
8 Fast RMX
Aside from some early adopter Switch owners looking for another launch title to supplement Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there aren’t many who know of this hidden gem. It’s a shame, as Fast RMX really does fill that void left by the lack of an F-Zero game on Switch in many respects.
Shir’en Multimedia’s futuristic racer contains much of those recognizable F-Zero thrills, speed, and tight mechanics throughout. Not only is there plenty of fun content thanks to its 36 courses and 15 unlockable vehicles, but the visuals are impressive too. The game can run at a sleek, smooth 1080p at 60FPS in docked mode.
It also contains unique concepts that keep it from feeling like an F-Zero clone, with its premise of matching up your booster colors with the boosts on the track to go faster.
7 Speed Freaks
When it comes to kart racers, people usually point to Mario Kart above all others, or even lesser-appreciated gems like Crash Nitro Kart. Yet, PlayStation was home to another delightful arcade racer that wasn’t centered around these iconic mascots. The game in question is 1999’s Speed Freaks, aka Speed Punks in the US.
This racer features a myriad of enjoyable, vibrant courses, a cast of cute characters, and satisfying items to bust out. If you can get past the somewhat tricky controls, Speed Freaks makes for a fun MK alternative.
6 Split/Second
With a concept somewhat reminiscent of The Running Man or Syfy’s Blood Drive, Black Rock Studio’s Split/Second has you partaking in a reality TV show which features an array of broadcasted events. These usually include racing and wreaking havoc on your surroundings by using “power plays.”
Split/Second floors it in terms of its speed and destruction-laced insanity, making it a thrilling multiplayer romp for 360, PS3, and the OnLive cloud gaming service. The game plays like a Michael Bay version of Mario Kart, with a healthy dose of explosions and arcade-racing chaos.
5 Rumble Racing
Ironically coming from one of the biggest studios in EA, this little-known racer tended to get lost in the PS2’s super crowded lineup, getting overshadowed by Gran Turismo and others. Like our previous entry, this title brings a somewhat edgier, grittier sensibility to the Mario Kart formula, and mixes in Tony Hawk-like stunts for good measure.
With its array of winding tracks, co-op gameplay, and its focus on items and tricks, there’s a ton of edge-of-your-seat insanity to be had with this ‘01 game.
4 GRIP: Combat Racing
Hold on to your hats, because this current-gen racer is quite the wild ride. It not only looks the part with some dazzling, crisp, and smooth visuals, but Grip is rife with thrilling gameplay. The Canadian studio Caged Element unleashed this title in 2018, thanks in part to a Kickstarter campaign which had begun over 3 years prior.
This title is basically a spiritual successor to the similarly lesser-known Rollcage. Visuals notwithstanding, it definitely feels similar, with its insane speeds, unique lowriding cars, and wall-riding physics.
3 Horizon Case Turbo
Remember those charmingly simple NES-style racers like 1987’s Rad Racer? Well, it’s unlikely you do, but regardless - Aquiris Game Studio’s Horizon Chase Turbo will give younger gamers a taste of what such games felt like back in the day.
While it maintains that retro vibe with its cruder, stiffer mechanics and flatter graphics, the Brazilian studio laces it with a modern polish and speed, offering a nice blend of old and new. The game revolves around goals and mechanics that make it unique. It’s largely about weaving through opponents in close-quarters and nabbing enough fuel to keep going.
With its plethora of unlockable cars and vibrant pseudo-3D maps, there’s no shortage of content to get lost in with Horizon Chase.
2 Hydro Thunder Hurricane
Given that both the original Hydro Thunder and Wave Race: Blue Storm are now far in the rearview mirror, a sort of spiritual successor would seem appropriate. Thankfully, Vector Unit’s XBLA game Hydro Thunder Hurricane largely recaptures that feel.
This slickened sequel of the ‘99 title from Midway contains that same exciting gameplay while adding some modern-day polish that washes away most of the blocky crudeness of the Dreamcast game. Crashing into the water at 160 mph while flying off ramps has never been more enjoyable.
1 Blur
Given that this couldn’t even crack a couple million sales following its 2010 launch, Blur is a criminally overlooked arcade racer for the 360 and PS3. This was largely the edgier, more chaotic HD gaming take on Mario Kart Wii at the time. Its focus on multiplayer showdowns and sabotaging items is certainly reminiscent of Nintendo’s kart racer.
Yet, Bizzare Creations laces this with a sleeker, more realistic presentation that made at least a few Project Gotham Racing, Gran Turismo, and Need for Speed fans take notice. Between the range of campaign events and multiplayer options - split-screen and online battles - Blur offers tons of fun content to engage in.
NEXT: 10 Best Kart Racers Of All time (Other Than Mario Kart)
