Cars are a popular subject to make movies about, but what about video games? Believe it or not, racing and sports car themes video games have been in the spotlight for a few years now. 

Driving and racing video games are as close to driving as possible without actually driving. With big names such as Forza and Burnout, it would be surprising if you haven’t played at least one racing game. 

With the turn of the decade that passed, what are the best car video games that came out each year of the decade?

2010 – Modnation Racers

Release Date: May 19, 2010

Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: PS3, PSP

This car racing video game allows you to customize and create your own character, vehicle, and track to race your friends or other AI characters with. It has a similarity to LittleBigPlanet in that aspect but focuses on a character named “Tagger” or “Tag” and has a large theme of racing. 

While some believed that this game was a little bit of a knock-off to LittleBigPlanet style gaming, it took the spot as the number one racing video game of 2010 easily. It played on the LittleBigPlanet feel and grabbed the attention of the fans of that franchise in order to grab a client base. 

2011 – WRC 2: FIA World Rally Championship

Release Date: October 14, 2011

Publishers: Black Bean Games

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: PC, PS3, Xbox360

This is the official driving game of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. In 2011, this was a very big event, and when the game came out with the official sponsorship, it was a huge hit with the racing video game community. 

This driving car video game has 90 stages which take place in 15 different locations, and has different modes in both single and multi-player options. 

This game is even able to handle a 16 player online co-op game. This is impressive for a game that came out in 2011. Which is why it won top spot on this list.

2012 – Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Release Date: October 30, 2010

Publishers: Electronic Arts

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: Android, PC, Xbox360, PS3, Wii U, iOS

The continuation of the Need for Speed franchise, which takes on the gameplay from the previous Most Wanted, version of the series. This is an open-world concept video game that has police integrated into certain portions of the game. 

This also has a new, fun style of a level called “Ambush”, which starts you off surrounded by police, and you must evade them at all costs. This takes normal video game police chases to a new level. 

Not only was this game fun to play, but it was also a part of the large “Need for Speed” franchise, which is very popular in the racing video games world. With the new, innovative modes in addition to an all-around better open-world concept, this game was known to get the top spot for 2012 from the beginning of its existence. 

2013 – LittleBigPlanet Karting

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: PS3

This is a spin-off of the LittleBigPlanet series. This game is focused on the characters of the original game, with a new racing style. 

This racing game has a large emphasis on non-traditional modes, such as Battle Mode, Waypoint Racing, Treasure Hunt, Score Attacks, and other modes not normally found in other games such as this. 

This game was an innovation for all of the people who enjoyed LittleBigPlanet, and it gave them an “expansion” of sorts that they could continue on with. Since the original game and franchise was such a big hit, this game was all but guaranteed to be at the top spot for 2013!

2014 – Mario Kart 8

Release Date: May 29, 2014

Publishers: Nintendo

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: Nintendo Switch, Wii U

The continuation of the Mario Kart series, this 8th installation has a few updates that have caught some eyes. Some of these new features include anti-gravity racing, new characters, and new items. 

They expanded their award system, which allows players 32 different tracks to play on, and be awarded up to 8 different cups. 

Mario Kart is HUGE with the younger generations, so it is obvious that there would have been one on this list for best of the decade. With all of their new additions incorporated with the old gaming style, this was a hit then, and still is a hit now.

2015 – Forza Motorsports 6

Release Date: September 15, 2015

Publishers: Xbox Game Studios

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: Xbox One, PC

Forza is a big name when it comes to racing video games, so the title had to be able to hold up to the other big league racing titles. This title rose to the occasion and gave a game that won top racing game of 2015.

Forza Motorsport 6 has more than 450 cars to choose from, 27 tracks to race against AI and other people, and a free version for PC called Forze motorsport 6: Apex. It also features a new story mode which provides over 70 hours of extra gameplay.

2016 – Assetto Corsa

Release Date: April 22, 2016

Publishers: KUNOS-Simulazioni Srl, 505 Games, Game Source Entertainment

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: PS4, Xbox One, PC

This video game tried to reimagine a racing and driving simulation video game, and achieved all it set out to do. Their ability to incorporate physics and tire simulatioins into their video game made it a more realistic and fun experience for gamers. 

They even recreated race tracks using laser scanning technology, which is a huge step up from attempting to create a race track from memory or from the creative brain. 

With how this game revolutionized the racing experience, it earned top spot for the year 2016. 

2017 – Gran Turismo Sport

Release Date: October 17, 2017

Publishers: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: PS4

This is the 13th game in the Gran Turismo series, so it has a lot to live up to in regards to how good it is as a video game. Originally, the game started out with only 168 cars, with 29 tracks to race on. However, with updated, the numbr is now 324 cars with 82 race tracks.

This game has single and multiplayer, and gives a fun twist with the players ability to choose day or night before playing the race, and their Sport Mode option. This option is a challenge that allows up to 3 daily races, which reset weekly. 

With that, we award Gran Turismo Sport the best racing game of 2017.

2018 – Onrush

Release Date: May 17, 2018

Publishers: Codemasters, Deep Silver, Koch Media

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: Xbox One, PS4

While this game is technically a racing game, the developers prefer the term “Arcade Style Vehicular Combat Game”. This is due to the objective of the game not only being to win the race, but to also have as many of your team members on the road at the end. 

This car crash video game has 12 players teaming up on 2 teams of 6. Using stunts and boosts, you will be able to knock the opposing team around and take them out of the competition. With many different mods that you can play this game in, it is a world of fun.

2019 – Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled

Release Date: June 20, 2019

Publishers: Activision

Modes: Single and Multi-player

Console Compatibility: PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

A continuation of the Crash Bandicoot franchise that focuses on high-speed racing with nitro boost. This game includes all of the content that the original Crash Team Racing has, but with some added features, such as online multiplayer and added customizations. 

You can also access the “classic” mode, which is the original Crash Team Racing style of gameplay, on top of the new, Nitro-Fueled style of gameplay. 

This franchise has been around for years, and it is no wonder that they have scooped up the title of best car game in 2019. With titles like Mario Kart catching attention in previous years, it shows the kind of racing games that people like, and they played on that perfectly. 

Remember, video games are much different than the real world. Car driving in real life like you would in a video game is not good for you, the people around you, or your car. Safety comes first when driving, and making sure your vehicle stays on the road, are the main goals.

Real cars break down, flip, get damage, and stop working. While this isn’t something that video games portray correctly, it is something that you should keep in mind when thinking about your car.

Make sure that you invest in a DriveSmart Extended Auto Warranty, so that your car can be protected when you find yourself forgetting your not in a video game. If your car has a breakdown while you are driving because of the fast speeds, we have roadside assistance to help!

Driving fast and recklessly can cause some damage to your vehicle, if you don’t get into an accident before the damage is found. While you try your best to remember your not in a video game when driving, let DriveSmart handle any wear and tear the vehicle can have. 

Blog by Brooke Lazar