Gaming
Games
These are the 10 best racing games of 2017, as voted by you
The results are in, and these are the top 10 racing games of the year.
2017 has been an absolutely epic year when it comes to racing games, with gamers being treated to everything from the incredible realism of F1 2017 to the addictive simplicity and fun of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Some games inevitably proved more popular than others, however, and now your votes for the 10 best racing games of the last 12 months are in, we can share which racing games you think are the best. Here’s the rundown.
10. WipEout Omega Collection
Coming in at tenth place with 1.3 percent of the vote, WipEout Omega Collection ditches the realism of most of the other games here in favour of all-out fun, recreating the blistering high-speed action and excitement of the original 1995 PlayStation game. There’s loads of tracks, loads of different racers you can choose from and 4K, HDR visuals, making WipEout Omega Collection a game that’s truly worth playing, even decades on from the original game’s release.
9. Gear.Club
Lining up on the grid
© Eden Games
Every platform should have a smash hit racing title – the PS4 has Gran Turismo, the Xbox One has Forza, and now Nintendo’s Switch now has Gear.Club. It may have started life as “just” a mobile game, but technology has come a long way with Gear.Club offering stunning visuals and gameplay that can mix it with the best, not to mention old school multiplayer action. That balance has helped Gear.Club to ninth place and 2.3 percent of the vote.
8. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has proved a success
© Nintendo
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may be as far as it’s possible to get from the realism of Codemasters’ racing simulations released this year, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the return of the plucky plumber and his mates on the Nintendo Switch proves every bit as addictive as the Wii U original and even among far more hardcore racing options here it puts up a good fight, taking 3.8 percent of the votes before losing speed on a banana and being overtaken by...
7. Need For Speed Payback
Feel the Need For Speed
© Electronic Arts
Need For Speed Payback ushered in a new style of racing for NFS games, replacing hyper-focused car culture with missions and a blockbuster storyline. There’s still plenty of cool cars, racing and the ability to explore a massive open world, but now there’s a reason to do things as well, and the extra variety has helped Need For Speed Payback to secure a deserved seventh place with 5.6 percent of the vote.
6. WRC 7
WRC 7: The official game of the World Rally Championship
© Kylotonn
DiRT 4 may have been dominating the headlines when it came to rally sims in 2017, but rally fans have also been well served by the release of WRC 7, the official game of the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship. Developers Kylotonn paid particular attention to making WRC 7 a more intense driving experience, as well as ensuring cars are more realistic than before, and the challenging environments have evidently paid dividends, with WRC 7 taking a handy 9.7 percent of the vote.
5. Forza Motorsport 7
Tune your Porsche into a winning machine
© Microsoft / Turn 10 Studios
Forza has long been a smash hit for petrolheads, delivering a big-budget racing experience than not many games can match. Forza Motorsport 7 takes things up a gear, packing in graphics, weather conditions and dynamics that are spookily close to the real thing, especially on the supercharged Xbox One X. Add in loads of little details, such as the removal of an onscreen steering wheel for those wanting to race with their own, real-life wheels without seeing a digital version as well, and it’s easy to see why Forza Motorsport 7 managed to win an impressive 10.5 percent of the vote.
4. Gran Turismo Sport
Gran Turismo Sport
© PlayStation EU
Edging out one of its biggest rivals for fourth place, Gran Turismo Sport managed to win 14.4 percent of your votes, an impressive feat considering it’s not available on Xbox One or PC. It’s one of those games that we’ve been waiting years for, and with new racing modes, better graphics and more realistic handling, the inclusion of some jaw-dropping cars and better attention to detail than ever before – not to mention a heavy focus on online play – it’s no surprise that Gran Turismo Sport is one of the most popular games of 2017.
3. DiRT 4
Dirt 4 provides the drama of head-to-head racing
© Codemasters
Codemasters may have strayed slightly from the beaten track with the tough, realistic and adrenaline-pumping DiRT Rally, but DiRT 4 is a return to form for those wanting fast-paced racing that doesn’t require the driving skills of Sébastien Loeb and premonition of his co-driver all at once. DiRT 4 provides a less challenging Gamer mode alongside the more realistic Simulation mode, making it more welcoming and appealing to newcomers. It’s obviously the right choice, as DiRT 4 is one of the most popular games here, taking 14.7 percent of the vote.
2. Project CARS 2
Don’t try this at home!
© Slightly Mad Studios
With beautifully rendered graphics and the ability to build up a jaw-dropping garage full of eclectic dream cars, it’s easy to see why Project CARS 2 came so close to taking the top spot, with a huge 17.5 percent of the vote. Aside from lifelike handling, it’s a must-have game for petrolheads due to some of the most iconic cars ever seen, including the Porsche 962C and Ferrari F40 LM, while the choice of cars that are even crazier – like the jaw-dropping Mazda MX-5 Radbul – means you’ll never be left wanting for a challenge.
1. F1 2017
The Yas Marina Circuit looks great in F1 2017
© Codemasters
F1 2016 was one of the most popular racing games last year, but the latest version of Codemasters’ hit racing sim has taken pole position, with F1 2017 adding better graphics and the latest liveries, classic F1 cars, AI that’s more fun and challenging to play against and more features than ever before. Judging from your votes, with 20.1 percent of you putting F1 2017 top of the list, the new additions have turned Codemasters’ F1 racer into the best racing game of the year. If you could only add one racing game to your Christmas wishlist, this is the one to go for, and we know it’ll keep F1 and racing fanatics entertained well into 2018. Congratulations, Codemasters: F1 2017 is the Red Bull readers’ best racing game of the year, 2017.
