“Need for Speed Most Wanted 2005 is the best racing game in the world”, is common folklore among the hardcore fans of the racing genre. However few but certain games give the same “butterflies in the stomach” feeling that NFS MW 2005 fans have been craving ever since it was released. Here’s the list of 9 racing games that are as exciting & entertaining as Need for Speed Most Wanted 2005.
Racing Games that are exciting like NFS Most Wanted 2005
1. Split/Second
Split/Second is a 2010 racing game. You get to race your way through a self-destructing world with fires & blasts happening in a very “Michael Bay” directed action movie style. This world will constantly unleash chaos on you – missiles being fired at you & massive metallic objects collapsing on you when you are just trying to win a race.
The Dystopian AI visual elements look as cool as Jarvis from Iron Man. The intense countdown-style background music playing in the background & the helicopter whirring sounds will keep you enthralled till the moment you reach that finish line. Now talking about the visuals, your eyes will require a separate massage therapy after witnessing these many beautiful visual elements that the game throws at you all at once. It’s a wild racing game that has the soul of an arcade style racing game.
2. Trackmania United Forever
In Trackmania United Forever, you get to race cars on a wide variety of insanely innovative tracks. The game offers a lot of hybrid concept cars which practically have no speed limits – you can speed as much as you can handle without getting thrown off the challenging air-suspended tracks. The tracks also have speed boost sections that make the race even more exciting. Despite the unreal speeds, the car handles exceptionally well. The satisfying engine revving background noise & the massive jumps in the air will be a delightful experience for hardcore fans of the car racing genre.
3. Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise is a 2008 racing game. The flaming nitrous oxide meter, and the sparks coming out visual effects while grazing other cars at furiously high speeds or when the bumper is rubbing against the road – add to the insanely stunning aesthetics of the game environment. The breathtaking aggressive drifts, taking down cars and getting your car squashed with tires coming out hysterically – all of these elements of the game will provide you with an adrenaline rush.
Crashing into cars deliberately & driving recklessly with sparks coming out from every side of the car has never looked sexier in a racing game.
4. NFS Hot Pursuit
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit is a 2010 racing game that provides you with a massive variety of gorgeous & realistic-looking cars to choose from. The stunning blue burst of NOS from the exhaust & the smoking tires during drifts are cool visuals to look at. The slow-motion shots of the car crashing & rolling after the takedown add a cinematic element to the game.
The daytime reflections on the car body & the car headlights shine plus the NOS burst during the night – these visual effects are like icing on the already stunning cake i.e. Hot Pursuit. Apart from the great graphics, the game gives you a great choice i.e. to be both the racer & the police. Using weapons like spike strips, turbo, jammer and emps during a race with police also engaged – makes a deadly & almost primal experience where either you hunt or get hunted. Hot Pursuit is the perfect mix of breathtaking visuals & a heart poundingly exciting gameplay, it is the complete package. You’ll fall in love with this game for sure.
5. Blur
Blur is a 2010 racing game. You get to shoot cars with laser beams, have super speed boosts and repair the car damage during the race. The game weirdly feels like an alien shooter game with next-gen graphics but in a good & exciting manner. The excessively lit neon-colored theme, over-the-top supernatural elements, a blurry boost of speed with neon visuals and the arcade-style gameplay – all these elements add up together to create a weirdly satisfying gaming experience. If you’re an explorer at heart & aren’t afraid of trying new things – then you must give this game a try & you will be pleasantly surprised by how absurd yet entertaining this game is.
6. NFS Underground 2
The illegal street racing theme, the hot girls that appear during animated cutscenes & transitions, the laidback visuals, the therapeutic long drives and a lot of drifting fun – Need for Speed Underground 2 carries a very strong Fast & Furious vibe. Despite being a racing game, Need for Speed Underground 2 has a very calming effect on its players, you just want to teleport inside the game and explore the beautiful city in that old-school sports car.
Need for Speed Underground 2 has gained cult game status among the racing game genre fans. If you’re craving some 2000’s nostalgia, then you must play Underground 2.
7. Flatout 4: Total Insanity
Flatout 4: Total Insanity is a 2017 racing game. The game has an old-world rustic charm to it, thanks to its countryside landscapes. You get to race in a post-apocalyptic looking environment – it seems dystopian like the world of Mad Max movies. Jeeps, old Victorian vehicles & odd-looking cars that erupt blue flames of Nitrous Oxide – it is the most insanely eccentric combination of car tuning that you will ever witness in any racing game. Just drifting with these weird-looking vehicles in stunning desolate environments is a lot of fun.
Splashing water while driving on watery surfaces & leaving a trail of dust as you move blazing fast through the desert – these two visual effects look simply mindblowing in the game. If you wanna try something new, then Flatout 4: Total Insanity is a great option.
8. Dirt 4
Dirt 4 is a 2017 racing game. Exploring the haunting beauty of forests at night, driving on seriously muddy countryside roads, feeling calm in the serene snow-covered racing tracks, racing through the shadow-covered track of a dense jungle with tall trees, carefully navigating through the wet muddy roads that look surprisingly aesthetic – you get to experience these stunning visual worlds while driving a stick.
It’s honestly not everyone’s cup of tea but if you are an admirer of nature’s beauty & want to have a no-nonsense, purist driving experience with no background music – then Dirt 4 could be your jam. Also, if you are on a dirt racing YouTube marathon, then you must give this adrenaline-pumping game a try.
9. Trackmania Turbo
Trackmania Turbo is a 2016 racing game. If you’re tired of getting slammed onto corners while trying to drift in video games like Forza Horizon 5, then Trackmania Turbo is the cure to your frustration. You get to experience drifting, jumping, and racing through spirals at unfathomable speeds. Trackmania Turbo carries the same simplistic charm of Trackmania United Forever but is more enjoyable, thanks to its super vibrant visuals. If you want to experience some pure arcade racing fun in a visually impressive environment, then Trackmania Turbo is your ticket to fun.
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