Racing games are a dime a dozen in the gaming industry, but there are a handful that truly elevate the genre to new heights. These racing games achieve their greatness thanks to several elements working together like a well-oiled machine. From tight and intuitive controls to outstanding vehicle or customization options, the best racing games will deliver the complete package for fans.
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One aspect that is just as important is the level design or racetrack. Iconic racing levels will forever be etched in your heart and will often be the image that pops up in your mind when talking about a specific racing game. What makes a racing level iconic? A perfect combination of visuals, track design, and catchy music is a good start, and these racing levels certainly hit those marks.
8Trial Mountain – Gran Turismo
A staple in almost allGran Turismogames, with the exception of Gran Turismo Sport, Trial Mountain is one of the first racetracks that you will think about when talking about the Gran Turismo series. With four kilometers of long, winding road set in a picturesque mountainous area based on the Sierra Nevada, it is easy to see why it is included in all mainline Grant Turismo entries.
The Trial Mountain also offers a pretty good challenge to your driving skills, with numerous blind turns that make it hard to blast through at top speed. Simply put, the Trial Mountain is a fairly easy circuit to memorize but a difficult one to truly master.
7Fuji Speedway – Pole Position
A classic racetrack from a popular arcade racing game from the 1980s, a whole generation of racing game fans knows this circuit like the back of their hand. Pole Position was the first racing game to include an exact copy of a real-world racetrack, which in this case is the Fuji Speedway located in the foothills of Mount Fuji in Japan.
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Despite the limited pixel graphics, Pole Position did a pretty decent job of re-creating the Fuji Speedway circuit. You will even catch a glimpse of snow-capped Mount Fuji as you run laps around this iconic racetrack.
The Fuji Speedway is also featured in Gran Turismo 4 to 7.
6Circuit De Monaco – Project CARS 3
As one of the most prestigious racing circuits in the world, it is a no-brainer for the Circuit De Monaco to also be recreated within the digital realm of video games. As a racing venue, the Circuit De Monaco is one of the more unique that you will encounter.
Set in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, racing through the Circuit De Monaco will require absolute focus to ace. Not only will you navigate through the twisting roads, but there are also elevation shifts that will require efficient and precise brakes.
As a racing circuit, Circuit De Monaco is an excellent test for your driving skills, and along with the picturesque landmarks of the district of Monte Carlo, it makes for one visually stunning and memorable circuit. Circuit De Monaco is also featured in other racing games, such as Gran Turismo.
5Papu’s Pyramid – Crash Team Racing
Sony’s answer to Nintendo’sMario Kartseries,Crash Team Racing, is a solid and fun racing game in its own right. It even has an iconic level called Papu’s Pyramid. Crash Bandicoot is known for its unforgiving platforming, and Crash Team Racing also delivers the same level of strictness and difficulty.
Papu’s Pyramid is littered with sharp 90-degree turns and lots of ramps. Memorization is the key to finishing first here and taking full advantage of all three shortcuts is essential.
Whenever Crash Team Racing is in the discussion, you can bet Papu’s Pyramid will trigger a lot of frustratingly fun memories.
4Big Blue – F-Zero GX
Mario Kart has Rainbow Road, Crash Team Racing has Papu’s Pyramid, and another fan-favorite racing game isF-Zero, which has two iconic levels to its name: Mute City and Big Blue. It is a toss-up between those two levels, to be honest, but Big Blue might just get that slight nod.
Big Blue has an amazing blend of level design and music. It features a long looping and twisting racetrack, a stunning location, submerged tunnels, and, of course, a vast blue ocean, which gives it its moniker.
Big Blue’s theme also received a remix forMario Kart 8, and the stage itself is available inSuper Smash Bros.
3Dinosaur Canyon- Daytona USA
Daytona USA gets the unique distinction of being the racing game with one of the catchiest theme songs of all time. A classicarcade racing gamebeloved by a generation of gamers, Daytona USA also has one of the most iconic racing circuits in gaming – the vibrant blue skies, magnificent canyons, windmills, and colorful vehicles zooming through its banked turns. Good times.
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Dinosaur Canyon delivers the right blend of a challenge as well, and its long turns are a perfect complement to Daytona USA’s arcade drifting style. With a beautiful sunny forecast and rocking music, Dinosaur Canyon just makes you feel good.
2Grand Valley Speedway – Gran Turismo
Quite possibly the racing level that all racing game fans know by heart, Grand Valley Speedway is a fictional racetrack from the Gran Turismo series. This signature circuit is present in pretty much 99 percent of all Gran Turismo games. It also received an updated design forGran Turismo 7under the new name of Grand Valley Highway 1, but every GT fan calls it by its original moniker.
This level has it all; it eases you in at the start with relatively simple turns but cranks up the difficulty later on with sharp hairpin curves that will keep you on your toes. There is also a notorious double apex turn that requires precision driving skills.
Once you’ve conquered those curves, the Grand Valley Speedway will reward you with a satisfying straight line to the finish line, where you may put the pedal to the metal.
One of the most recognizable racing levels in video games is, not surprisingly, from one of the industry’s most iconic franchises. The Rainbow Road from Super Mario Kart is a visually striking racing level that has become its signature circuit.
Do not let the whimsical design of this racetrack fool you; the Rainbow Road is notorious for beingthe most challenging racetrackin the Super Mario Kart series, and that distinction is well-earned. While the kaleidoscopic eye candy is amazing, the moment the race starts, that multicolored track will be to your detriment, as you will find the twists and turns even more dizzying.
Add to the fact that there are no barriers, and falling into the abyss is expected. As brutal as this racetrack is, it also holds one of the riskiest and most rewarding shortcuts in any racing game. All of these elements combined make Rainbow Road one of the best racing levels of all time.
