If you were to ask anyone to list as many games as they could in thirty seconds, there would probably be a racing game in there. Whether it’s family-friendly instalments like Mario Kart, or more grounded in reality options like Forza, racing games are everywhere.
But what is it about these games that keeps bringing people back for more? Compared to other genres of games, like role-playing or adventure titles, there is little variety or uniqueness that racing games can bring. Of course, there can be a huge amount of variety when it comes to track design, or even the cars themselves, but beyond that, racing games provide the same concept over and over again, and yet we eat it up every time. In this article, we’ll explore three of the main reasons that racing-themed games are so popular.
Number One: The Pull of Themed Games
Themed games in general always tend to attract large audiences. One only has to look to the highly popular world of online casinos to see this. The themed slots that are contained within the casinos on this non Gamstop casinos guide are one of the most successful gambling games the platforms have to offer.
The reasoning for this comes from themed games' ability to appeal to natural human enjoyments. Our hobbies and interests quite often fall into quite wide categories. For example, if you like fishing, then underwater-themed games and slot machines are certain to appeal to you. If you’re a history buff, then the Ancient Egypt-themed games are naturally going to pique your interest.
With slot machines, these games can also be themed around jewels and riches, helping to entice the player with the wealth they could win if they use the machine. When this same strategy is applied to racing games, we see why they are so successful. Racing is a huge sport with millions of fans worldwide, and by creating games surrounded by this theme, game developers are fulfilling a promise to deliver a game which directly speaks to their fans' interests.
Number Two: Seamless Multiplayer Compatibility
Another reason racing games are so popular comes from the fact that they seamlessly and naturally integrate multiplayer. Racing in real life is a competitive sport, and that sense of competition and excitement has been translated seamlessly to the gaming world.
When this is combined with the simplicity of the games, most of which have little lore behind them and extremely simple controls, racing games then become the perfect option for friend groups that want to spend time with each other while engaging in a game.
Games that allow for friends to play together always tend to be popular, as they turn what is often accused of being a solitary hobby into an excellent way to relax and unwind with the people you care about.
Number Three: Free-to-Play Options
There are more racing games out there than any person could count. Although the most famous, most technologically advanced, and, arguably, the most fun, are often only available on consoles or PCs, there are a wide variety of simpler free-to-play mobile and online options out there.
Because of this, many people are introduced to racing games at no charge to themself. However, once they have tried the simpler free options, they are so much more likely to want to explore all that racing games have to offer, and then move on to the paid and advanced titles.
Conclusion
It is currently estimated that racing games have over 160 million regular players. When we consider that the total number of gamers across the world is 1.1 billion, this is an extremely large figure. Games that have a racing theme appeal to people from all kinds of backgrounds and of all age groups. The games are just versatile enough that every addition can bring something new, yet universal enough that every gaming fan will know exactly what they are getting into before they download.