Racing games have long been a staple in the world of arcade gaming, offering players the thrill of high-speed competition and the challenge of mastering intricate tracks. While most racing games cater to casual players, with accessible controls and forgiving gameplay mechanics, there are some titles that take difficulty to another level. These games push players to their limits, demanding precision, skill, and split-second decision-making.
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Though not as widespread as car racing games, these motorcycle racers provide players with plenty of thrills.
Some of the racing games published by Sony take this approach, each offering a unique blend of challenge and adrenaline-fueled excitement. Even kart racing games and combat-focused racing games, such as CTR: Crash Team Racing and Jak X Combat Racing, challenge players to adopt a different playstyle with each race.
5 CTR: Crash Team Racing
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.04/5
If players are looking for a fun racing game that combines challenging gameplay with colorful characters and chaotic action, they should look no further than Crash Team Racing. Developed by Naughty Dog, CTR is a kart racing game that pits players against each other in a series of fast-paced races filled with power-ups, obstacles, and plenty of mayhem. At first glance, it may appear to just be a lighthearted romp through the world of Crash Bandicoot, but beneath its colorful exterior lies a game that is deceptively challenging. The tracks in Crash Team Racing are filled with tight turns, tricky shortcuts, and hazardous obstacles that require precision driving and split-second decision-making to navigate successfully.
But what truly sets it apart from other kart racers is its emphasis on skill-based gameplay. Unlike other games in the kart-racing genre where victory is often determined by luck or random chance, Crash Team Racing rewards players who are able to master its complex drifting mechanics, perfect their timing on jumps, and strategically use power-ups to gain an advantage over their opponents. The nitrous boost is central to winning in this game: players who know how to activate it can time their jumps and drifts so that they have the boost almost throughout the whole race. The remake that was released in 2019 is a faithful recreation of the game and adds more tracks, playable characters, and karts.
4 Jak X: Combat Racing
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.14/5
Jak X: Combat Racing combines high-speed racing with intense vehicular combat, creating an experience that is as fun as it is chaotic. At its core, Jak X is a fast-paced arcade racer that puts players behind the wheel of a variety of fighter cars. Each vehicle offers its own unique handling and performance characteristics.
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Much like Crash Team Racing, which was also built by Naughty Dog, Jak X has a boost and drift physics system. If players can learn how to perfect that, they're pretty much assured to be faster than almost everyone else on the track. But Jak X adds some depth to the gameplay with its combat. Throughout each race, players will need to navigate tracks while fending off attacks from rivals. From homing missiles to explosive mines, there's no shortage of weapons at the disposal of the player, and using them effectively requires precise timing and quick thinking.
3 Gran Turismo Sport
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.15/5
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Gran Turismo Sport came after a four-year hiatus, bringing relief to fans in the long-running series. Developed by Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo has always set new standards for racing simulators with its ultra-realistic physics engine, advanced AI opponents, and demanding track designs.
However, GT Sport is one of the more casual simulator racing experiences in the series, providing a breath of fresh air to fans who were not looking forward to a title that was too challenging. The car handling is noticeably less punishing than Gran Turismo 6. It truly focuses on the 'sport' part of its name, so the showroom of cars featured in the game reflects that. Although the selection of vehicles is admittedly limited, and car modification isn't as varied as the other entries in the series, online racing was still competitive enough to be a great experience for a new player. The game also received a ton of support in the years post-release, and although it launched without a lot of content, fans were pretty happy with the bare-bones 'race' focus that Polyphony promised with this game.
2 Driveclub
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.5/5
- Released: 7th October 2014
- Developer: Evolution Studios
- Platforms: PlayStation 4
Driveclub is a racing game that was infamous for being in a state of absolute mess at launch, and eventually, it was taken off the Playstation store in 2019. There are still many fans who swear by this game today. Thanks in part to its rain physics and light engine, it still gets praise for being one of the prettiest racing games ever made, even ten years after release.
For people who are used to other arcade racers, like Burnout or Need For Speed, Driveclub can be very difficult to master. Controlling cars is vastly different, and players should be more careful around the bends, not to mention braking a lot more than usual. There is a slight advantage to drifting, though, so it won't be too hard for new players to get used to the game. The AI opponents are notorious for excessively rubberbanding especially right after overtaking them, but over the course of the race, this problem usually resolves itself. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of Driveclub is its dynamic weather system, which can change from clear skies to pouring rain in an instant, affecting visibility and traction.
1 Gran Turismo 7
GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.57/5
Gran Turismo has long been synonymous with realistic racing simulation, and Gran Turismo 7 is no exception. One of the key factors that contribute to GT7's difficulty is its demanding AI. Unlike other racing games where AI opponents may follow predictable patterns, the AI drivers in GT7 are programmed to mimic the behavior of real-life racers. They'll aggressively defend their positions, exploit mistakes, and test the player at every turn. This means that even the smallest error can result in disaster.
In addition to its challenging AI, GT7 also features a wide variety of tracks that demand mastery of different driving techniques. From tight city streets to high-speed ovals, each track presents its own set of challenges that require precision and skill to overcome. With a vast roster of cars to choose from, each with its own unique handling characteristics, mastering GT7's diverse lineup of vehicles is no easy feat. But perhaps the biggest challenge of all in GT7 is the game's legendary endurance races. These epic contests demand not only speed and skill but also stamina and concentration. With races that last for either 30 minutes or 1 hour, endurance events in GT7 are the ultimate test of a racer's ability, separating the amateurs from the true champions.
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