5 Best Retro Racing Games Of All Time, Ranked

Racing games have been a fixture in the industry since hit arcade games from 1975 like "Indy 800" and "Hi-Way." That distinction carried on not just in the arcade scene, but virtually every major home gaming platform. As 3D games grew more ubiquitous in the '90s, it was racing games that helped popularize the format. Simply put, racing games have been an industry staple since its earliest days and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

This time around, we're looking at classic racing games that stand among the best before the modern era. From chaotic kart racers to more realistic experiences, these games shaped the genre as we know it today. For the purposes of this article, we're considering games released before the year 2000 as retro titles. These are the five best retro racing games of all time ranked, each providing high-octane fun in their own way.

One of the internal debates between N64 fans is if "Mario Kart 64" or "Diddy Kong Racing" is better, at least in regard to racing games for the console. The latter was developed by Rare in 1997, with Diddy Kong helping his friend Timber the Tiger when his island home is invaded by the villainous Wizpig. The story mode has Diddy and his buddies racing on different tracks throughout the island, culminating in races against the boss of each domain. The game also allows for up to four-person multiplayer, both in racing and its special challenge modes.

"Diddy Kong Racing" boasts an impressive selection of tracks, more vehicle options than just the standard karts, and more activities beyond racing, time trials, and battle mode. The game also has a larger roster of racers, including the introduction of Banjo and Conker, with the latter considerably more family-friendly than usual. What puts it slightly below "Mario Kart 64" is the prior N64 game's more varied and memorable track design. A must-own for any N64 owner, "Diddy Kong Racing" exemplified the qualities of Rare's longstanding partnership with Nintendo at the time.

Sega had a number of racing game series in the '90s, including "Sega Rally" and "Virtua Racing," but the standout is "Daytona USA." The 1994 arcade game received an upgraded port for the Sega Saturn and PC with "Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition" in 1996. This version offers two additional circuits to choose from, as well as a wider selection of cars. The game has also had its presentation and gameplay mechanics noticeably improved, making this the definitive iteration of the title.

The big thing that "Championship Circuit Edition" brings to the table compared to the home version of its predecessor is an optimized multiplayer. This, along with the added features, tracks, and vehicles, elevates the experience further. The game was followed by a 1998 sequel, "Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge," though this didn't receive a home platform port. One of the best racing games on the Saturn, "Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition" is a 32-bit classic.

One of the more prolific racing game series that started in the '90s is "Need for Speed," which began in 1994. The last title in the franchise released that decade was 1999's "Need for Speed: High Stakes," released for the PlayStation and PC. The most feature-rich entry in the series at the time, the game allows players to repair and upgrade their cars while also introducing damage mechanics. The game also expanded hot pursuit mode involving police trying to intercept illegal street racers, offering more options for players to engage in these chases.

Over 25 years later, "High Stakes" is still one of the best "Need for Speed" games of all time. It's important to note that running the game on an optimized PC rather than its PlayStation version makes a world of difference. With that in mind, the sheer amount of options, modes, and vehicles available to players compared to preceding titles is incredible. A major step forward for the "Need for Speed" series, "High Stakes" is one of the franchise's most realistic and ambitious installments.

Among the standout titles from the Nintendo 64's first year on the market was "Mario Kart 64," the sophomore entry in Nintendo's marquee racing franchise. The 1996 game established the core tenets of the series, settling on the power-ups and frenetic action that fans know and love today. The game features 16 tracks across four cups and four courses specifically for the game's battle mode. These track designs are largely immaculate, with gamers still discovering "Mario Kart 64" shortcuts decades after its release.

"Mario Kart 64" isn't just one of the N64's strongest early titles, but one of the best Nintendo 64 games of all time. While "Super Mario Kart" on the Super Nintendo set the template, the N64 title makes the experience more accessible than its markedly more difficult predecessor. The game also takes advantage of the N64 hardware, particularly in allowing for four-person multiplayer, both in racing and vehicular combat. As "Mario Kart" continues to forge its future, "Mario Kart 64" remains a touchstone the series looks back to.

When it comes to racing game royalty, there's no topping "Gran Turismo," which started on the PlayStation in 1997. Regarded as a near-perfect game on Metacritic, this classic was followed up by "Gran Turismo 2" in 1999. The sequel wisely hews closely to the gameplay and presentation of its predecessor with minor quality of life improvements and subtle refinements. Where the 1999 title really excels is in its sheer increase in scope, boasting over 600 cars and 27 tracks compared to the original's 140 cars and 11 tracks.

"Gran Turismo" is one of the best racing game franchises of any generation and "Gran Turismo 2" closes out its presence on the PS1 in style. The game excels at delivering a verisimilitude in professional racing, including on rally tracks, but stays accessible for more casual players. The sequel is an all-around superior experience, quite literally going bigger and better in terms of scale. When it comes to quality racing games released before 2000, it doesn't get better than "Gran Turismo 2."