Highlights
- Racing games don't have to be limited to cars - there are exciting options like dirt bike racing in the Trials Evolution series.
- Road Rash offers a thrilling motorcycle racing experience with a twist - players can use weapons to take out their opponents and clear their path to victory.
Racing games have always been dominated by four-wheeled vehicles. But the thrill of speed and leaving the opposition in the dust is not just relegated to cars or karts: developers have dabbled with other modes of transportation and made exciting arcade racing games out of them that capture the same fast-paced action for speed junkies.
From machines that can slice through the surf, zoom through routes across futuristic urban landscapes, to streaking through canyons, ravines, and other precarious racetracks, these are the best racing games that do not use traditional cars and still provide the same rush of getting to the finish line first:
8 Trials Evolution series
The Trials Evolution games balance the more arcade-y side of dirt bike racing with real-life physics when it comes to controlling said dirt bikes. Courses range from traditional dirt mounds of varying sizes to more and more outlandish tracks that have ramps that lead to insane jumps and even loop around to even more obstacles.
Players have to speed up their bikes to clear gaps, complete loops, and get through the stages. In some modes, bonus points are given if they perform tricks, but they have to be aware of using the momentum of their bikes to execute their tricks and land them safely to continue their race.
7 Road Rash series
For those who fancy racing traditional motorcycles but also want a fast-paced, win-at-all-cost game, then the Road Rash titles are just the games to scratch that itch. This classic Sega game lets players control a motorcycle racer whose goal is to get to the finish line first by any means necessary.
This means taking out the other riders with punches, kicks, and other weapons to throw them off their bikes whenever they are in striking range. However, they can also do the same to the player: hitting opposing riders at the right moment is essential since players should also mind the oncoming traffic, road hazards, and the police who can arrest players they catch up to.
6 Lego 2K Drive
Lego 2K Drive is a fun and family-friendly racing game that can be played with kids. Though players drive a car, it is made up of Lego bricks, so it still counts as a non-traditional vehicle. The players’ Lego vehicles transform into a range of different vehicles during a race, depending on what terrain they are traversing. For example, going off-road will result in the vehicle transforming into an ATV or an off-road truck, or jumping towards a body of water will transform the vehicle into a speedboat.
The game’s controls are easy to understand and the various power-ups littered across the track make for a dynamic, competitive, and bonkers race.
5 Jet Moto series
The PlayStation has its fair share of racing titles, and back in the 90s, one of its earlier games was Jet Moto. Players are treated to a thrilling racing game that saw them control fast hoverbikes that can traverse any terrain due to their speed.
Each track has its own gimmick, from swamps littered with natural debris, and snow-covered mountains, to sunny beach routes with broken bridges, players have to navigate and find the best way to get to the finish line thrillingly. Jet Moto has garnered popularity since its release, as was part of the PlayStation Greatest Hits in 1998 and spawned two sequels.
4 Wave Race 64
Players during the 90s who revel in water sports should have come across the Wave Race game for the Nintendo 64. The game revolves around personal watercraft or jet skis that race around various bodies of water, avoiding obstacles and utilizing ramps to gain the advantage.
One unique mechanic Wave Race 64 has is the buoy system: buoys are placed across the racetrack and are colored red and yellow. Players have to cross red buoys on the right side, and the yellow buoys on the left side. Doing so correctly will increase the player’s speed: failing to pass through the buoys correctly results in the loss of the speed boost.
3 WipEout series
Considered to be one of the PlayStation’s best action-oriented racing games, the WipEout titles introduced anti-gravity ships that are used to race with at break-neck speeds in futuristic racecourses. Adding to the fun is the pulsating electronic dance music from well-known and upcoming electronic acts to further connote how in-your-face the tempo of each race is.
WipEout’s controls are tight and there is a learning curve since players have to maneuver their ships in tight spaces. Power-ups and boost pads are also littered across the tracks: the former is used for offense or defense, while the latter gives the ships some needed juice to gain distance and be that much closer to the finish line.
2 F-Zero series
The F-Zero franchise is one of Nintendo’s beloved games and where Captain Falcon hails from. This series is known for pushing the limits of the Super Famicom back in 1990: for its time, it was considered to be one of the fastest and most difficult racing games due in large part to its demand of its players to have quick reaction times.
Players choose from a roster of racers who pilot F-Zero machines of varying stats across numerous tracks at fearless speeds. Racetracks range in difficulty in terms of hazards, power-ups, and shortcut locations: it is up to players to memorize where and when to take shortcuts or when to unleash their power-ups to gain the advantage over the competition.
1 Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
Pod racing was a fan favorite from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. The scenes of young Anakin racing through his pod racer were truly memorable as they captured how much fun and exciting the world of Star Wars could be: this led to developers creating Star Wars Episode 1: Racer.
Players get to pick from a slew of amazingly-designed pod racers and pilots from ThePhantom Menace movie such as Anakin Skywalker, Dud Bolt, Bozzie Baranta, and Sebulba. Each pod racer can be upgraded and customized for better handling or speed as they zoom about numerous racetracks across iconic planets like Tatooine, Malastare, and Mon Gazza.