2021 hasn't got off to the best start for racing games. Both Need for Speed and Gran Turismo 7 have been delayed until 2022.
However, it's far from all doom and gloom, as there are so many great racing games that may have flown under your radar. Sit back, relax and let us show you five of the racing games' genres best hidden gems!
Hotshot Racing
A great pure arcade racer is always fun and Hotshot Racing is definitely that. Its colourful yet simple graphics, retro fonts and OTT gameplay are reminiscent of the arcade machines we sunk our 20p coins into in the 90s.
Checkpoint challenge, cops v robbers and the ever-reliable race modes are all enthralling. Hotshot Racing is complete with Mario Kart-style powerups too, just to spice the action up even more.
The gameplay is what makes this title special, it's so enticing. Bigger isn't always better and sometimes the simpler games are the most fun. Hotshot Racing is definitely a game you need to try out.
Wreckfest
There's no better way to say it; we absolutely love Wreckfest!
There have been a lot of games that have tried to perfect the melee that is demolition derby, but none have done so better than Wreckfest.
Wreckfest is much more than that though, as the racing is the most bonkers thing we've ever seen. What other game allows you the freedom to race against fifteen other sofas on a dirt figure of eight track?
Wreckfest is superbly put together too and thanks to a recent update, is now available in 60 fps 4K on Series X. If you're looking for a fun time, Wreckfest is your answer, you'll be laughing out loud at the scenes on your screen.
And with the game now being available on Xbox game pass, it's even more accessible than before!
Trackmania
We've waxed lyrical about Trackmania for some time now and it's still one of the best indie titles out there. Trackmania's addictively frustrating gameplay is what draws us in and keeps us playing "one more race".
This is without doubt one of the best arcade titles out there at the moment. With regular updates and tournaments from the developers too, even serious sim racers can enjoy Trackmania.
Words cannot do this game justice; you have to experience Trackmania to fully appreciate it.
Burnout Paradise
While this isn't a new game by any stretch of the imagination, it is an extremely fun one. Burnout Paradise was originally released in 2008 and is to date the most recent Burnout game.
To mark its ten-year anniversary in 2018, a remastered version was made available for PS4 and Xbox One. If you've never played a Burnout game before, you're definitely missing out, as they're some of the best racing games ever made.
The world of Paradise City is excellently crafted, it's beautiful and has a variety of environments to explore. Paradise City is also full of events and areas like stunt jumps to take part in.
Multiplayer is a lot of fun too, as exploring the world with your friends is always an experience.
Now we just need a Burnout 3 remaster...
Driver: San Francisco
Another classic of the Xbox 360/PS3 era is Driver: San Francisco. We've recently covered what made the Driver series so special and San Francisco is the most recent entry to its main series.
After the events of Driver 3, you play as a detective who is attempting to recapture an escaped convict. What’s different about this chase, is that it all takes place in a dream world, as the protagonist is in a coma.
This gave the developers more creative freedom and “shift” allowed you to jump into any car going around San Fran in an instant to catch the fugitive you’re looking for.
Featuring fully licenced cars for the first time and boasting enthralling gameplay, this is arguably the best the series had to offer throughout its run.
It's very cheesy at times, but the gameplay is always fun, and we believe it's as good now as it was in 2011. It'd be great to get a remaster of this title on next-gen, especially as this year marks its ten-year anniversary.