Racing games have seen a steady decline in the current landscape. I do not remember any recent racing game that has revolutionized the industry or sparked player interest once more.
However, I remember when racing video games were in their prime. During the early 2000s, Need For Speed and Forza were both in their infancy, yet they were creating some of their best games.
The current state of racing games is nothing but following the same old boring formula we have followed for many years. We do see a few innovations here and there but currently racing games feel more like broken racing sims, with no proper character progression or story.
- Racing games dominated the early 2000s with Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, and Forza.
- Repetitive gameplay, competition from open-world games, and lack of innovation led to a decline.
- Sim racing thrives with hyper-realistic experiences for dedicated players and pros.
- Unique concepts like Mad Max’s setting and Driver’s car-switching mechanic offer a path forward.
- Racing games need innovation to break free from the loop and regain popularity.
In recent years, the genre has faced challenges, raising the question: can racing games recapture their former glory?
Golden Age of Racing
Most players agree that the early 2000s was a golden time for racing video games. Franchises like Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, and Forza Motorsport dominated the market, offering unique experiences. I remember playing quite a few of these titles and having fun.
My favorite series had to be the NFS Underground series. The Underground had a unique aesthetic in line with the neon-infested underground racing scene in Fast and Furious movies. The game featured solid progression so every race felt like a step up from the last one. I had to complete a certain amount of vehicle upgrades to win certain races.
This was fun as all you had to do was race, upgrade your car, and race again. Your progression was tied in with directly how much you played. Then you also had titles like Gran Turismo which wanted to focus more on realistic racing as a sport. This led them to create one of the most realistic racing sims, where you can tweak even the tiniest details to fit your playstyle.
This era also saw the birth of Xbox exclusive, Forza Horizon series. In my opinion, Forza Horizon 3 and NFS Underground 2 have to be some of the best racing games ever created. Forza just pushed the Xbox hardware, to render some of the most realistic environments and cars, so you can find yourself immersed.
This era also saw a constant stream of innovation. Open-world exploration became a defining feature with games like Midnight Club: Los Angeles and Test Drive Unlimited, allowing players to carve their paths across sprawling virtual cities. Online multiplayer modes exploded in popularity, letting players test their skills against friends and rivals across the globe.
However, this popularity was short-lived as recent years have seen a decrease in player demand for racing games.
The Current Landscape
Today, racing games occupy a more niche space within the gaming industry. While there are still dedicated fans and successful franchises, the genre’s mainstream appeal has arguably waned. I could see a few major reasons behind this decline. First of all, the racing game fatigue may have taken over players.
There are only so many racing games players can play without getting bored. Moreover, these games stick to their original formula and do not push the boundaries anymore. I mean I honestly do not know the difference between the last two Forza Horizon games. They feel like the same game with a different number.
I do think that our current games are getting just bigger and better. Open-world titles like Grand Theft Auto offer a wider range of activities beyond just racing. Players can explore vast landscapes, engage in missions, and lose themselves in a more immersive world. Racing games, on the other hand, can feel comparatively limited.
However, this has also led to Sim Racing gaining popularity. This is one of those niches that other games just can’t get rid of. So we now get in-depth racing games, where you can connect your racing rig and feel as if you are driving on a real track.
These racing sims are so incredibly immersive that Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has admitted to dreaming of playing the game while behind the wheel of his actual car. Therefore, it is not all bad for racing games, they have just been developed as games for very specific people.
The Uncertain Future of Racing
The future of racing games depends on their ability to embrace innovation and attract new players. This doesn’t just mean faster cars and prettier tracks. Games need to push boundaries and offer unique experiences that go beyond traditional racing. A great example is the underrated 2015 Mad Max game.
While not strictly a racing game, it allows players to customize and race vehicles in a thrilling post-apocalyptic world. This unique setting injects excitement and offers a fresh take on the driving experience.
Innovation can come in many forms. Driver: San Francisco demonstrates this perfectly with its mind-bending car-switching mechanic. This innovative feature lets players choose any car in the open world and instantly “shift” their character into it. This creates incredible gameplay moments, making escape and capture missions feel refreshingly strategic and dynamic.
By embracing creativity and innovation, racing games can reclaim their place as a leading genre. The roar of the engines may have softened in recent years, but with innovation and a focus on player experience, racing games can cross the finish line and recapture their former glory.
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An enthusiastic writer who loves art and gaming, you can find Maaz casually spending his day either behind the keyboard or the canvas. Maaz holds a major in Electronics and has over 5 years of experience working as a freelance blog and content writer. He loves to talk about all things gaming and help other gamers through his guides. He’s an expert when it comes to Diablo 4, Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Starfield and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Maaz mostly plays games on PC, you can check out his library on Steam attached below:
