Buzz
Games for speed enthusiasts who love adrenaline.
The street racing genre has always attracted a lot of attention from gamers. The feeling of speeding through brightly lit streets, dodging other cars, and trying to outrun pursuing police cars creates excitement and drama for gamers every second. For those who want to prove themselves, here are the top 10 outstanding street racing games of all time.
Need For Speed: Most Wanted
The Need for Speed series has achieved numerous milestones over its 25-year journey, with perhaps none more illustrious than Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Even today, it remains the benchmark for comparison with its sequels.
Returning to an era when EA's developers were at the peak of their racing game creation, it's no surprise that Need For Speed: Most Wanted is easily hailed as a masterpiece in the street racing genre. It's an open-world game with plenty of car customization features, blending arcade-style driving with realism. Additionally, let's not forget the police chase element, adding spice to your racing experience.
Burnout 3: Takedown
It's been 18 years since Criterion introduced Burnout 3: Takedown, and even after all this time, the gaming industry hasn't found a worthy successor to this street racing gem. Burnout 3 maintains its intense pace, chaotic crashes, and exhilarating experience, just as it did when it first hit shelves in 2004. In other words, it remains the pinnacle of the Burnout series, standing out with its captivating graphics, precise racing mechanics, ingeniously crafted Crash Mode, and an energetic soundtrack, making Takedown shine amidst the gaming landscape of the early 2000s.
Just hearing the engine roar when shifting gears is enough to get you pumped. And don't even get me started on Road Rage mode. Playing this mode lets you ram into other cars freely to take them down, rather than just aiming for the lead position. This is what cemented Burnout 3's reputation. Many games have tried to emulate its success, but few have succeeded like this one. While titles like Burnout Revenge and Burnout Paradise have also gained fame, Burnout 3: Takedown still reigns supreme, recognized by many as one of the greatest street racing games of all time.
Need For Speed Heat
To be fair, there are still many open-world racing games and other entries in the Need For Speed series that surpass Need For Speed Heat. However, due to its eye-catching graphics and engaging gameplay, Need For Speed Heat has received plenty of positive feedback from players, which is why I've included it in this list.
The game's storyline might not leave you in awe, as you can explore most of the city of Palm in around 20 hours. However, this section offers various exciting activities for you to experience. For instance, there's a story mode from the perspective of the police, neon signs that can be smashed, or speed traps to set up, and more. Need For Speed Heat also allows you to switch between day and night environments, each offering a different experience for players.
Need For Speed: Underground
The first installment in the Underground series immediately won over gamers' hearts. In an era where street racing became prevalent in various art forms, Need for Speed: Underground emerged as a sensational game. This entry also introduced the use of N2O for speed boosts during races, adding to the excitement for drivers.
It's hard to argue that Need for Speed: Underground wasn't one of the most visually stunning street racing games of the early 2000s. The light reflections creating vibrant patches on water puddles on the race track were incredibly captivating. It's no wonder EA hired an Oscar-winning lighting effects expert to consult on the graphics and lighting for the game. Additionally, the explosion effects, sparks flying, and firecrackers bursting across the streets upon collisions were beautifully executed, coupled with the game's physics allowing for visually appealing collision chains.
Need For Speed: Underground 2
Following its predecessor, the second installment opens up a world for gamers to explore freely, along with extensive car customization features. You can add neon lights underneath, install a powerful sound system in the rear, plaster decals from front to back - basically, there's everything you need for customization. It's no wonder this is considered one of the finest entries in the Need for Speed series as a whole and the street racing genre in particular.
The open world in the game is richly detailed, with a vast map and countless thrilling races happening continuously within it. The blend of traditional circuit races and free-roaming area-to-area races will surely keep you engaged without a dull moment. There are also many other race modes waiting for you to explore. Moreover, the game is lightweight, playable on almost any system.
As per GVN360
