RELATED: Open-World Games That Are Too Massive (& That Are Too Small)
For those looking to revisit some of the street racing genre’s greatest ever releases, we’ve decided to list the best street racing games of all time, along with helpful information such as their release date and available platforms.
Updated April 29, 2022, by Jack Pursey: Although it may seem like a distant memory now - with simulation-style and open-world racing games dominating the genre - street racers were once the standout racing sub-genre. Street racers aren’t known for their realism but were beloved in the mid-2000s for the arcade-style fun that made them a joy to play with friends.
With so few street racing games releasing today, fans of the sub-genre often have to look back instead of forward for their next street racing game to play. So, to give players an idea of what to play next, we’ve updated this list to add a few more of the best street racing games of all time.
18 Need For Speed Payback
Release Date: 10 November 2017 Available Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Main Story Completion Time: 18. 5 hours Best Feature: The welcome return of an offline single-player mode
2017’s Need for Speed Payback was developed by Ghost Games (now known as EA Gothenburg) with additional work from British studio Lucid Games.
Need for Speed Payback was the twenty-third entry in the long-running Need for Speed series and stood out with its gorgeous open-world, 24-hour day-night cycle and the welcome return of an offline single-player campaign. Payback was nominated for Best Racing Game at The Game Awards 2017 but lost out to Forza Motorsport 7.
17 The Fast And The Furious
Release Date: 26 September 2006 Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, PSP Main Story Completion Time: 5 hours Best Feature: The impressive collection of licensed vehicles
Street racing continues to be a significant influence in media today. The Fast and the Furious is the product of piqued interest in the outlawed form of racing. It is based on The Fast and the Furious movie series with an emphasis on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
The game features eight real-world dealerships. One can visit the Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, Mazda, and even a U.S. Naval Base dealership. The purpose of the latter is for cars that are imported by stationed soldiers.
16 Street Racing Syndicate
Release Date: 31 August 2004 Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, PC, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Xbox Main Story Completion Time: 11. 5 hours Best Feature: The true-to-life approach to illegal street racing gameplay
Street Racing Syndicate takes players into the illegal underground world of street racing. The game let players modify their ride to turn it into a hot vehicle ready for drag and circuit races and captured the essence of street racing, perhaps better than any other game.
Street Racing Syndicate took players to a variety of US cities such as Miami and Los Angeles and featured 50 licensed cars.
15 Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Release Date: 17 September 2007 Available Platforms: PC, PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Main Story Completion Time: 15. 5 hours Best Feature: The vast range of customizability options
Developed by the suitably named Juice Games, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights was initially released in 2007 on the PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and Xbox 360, before coming to the similar-sounding group of PC, PSP, and PS3 later the same year.
Juiced 2 didn’t turn many heads at the time of its release, predominantly because the visuals certainly weren’t up to scratch to other 2007 releases like Forza Motorsport 2,Bioshock, or Halo 3; but the game is certainly worth checking out today for the incredible array of customization options alone.
14 Burnout Dominator
Release Date: 6 March 2007 Available Platforms: PSP, PlayStation 2 Main Story Completion Time: 12. 5 hours Best Feature: The return of Burnouts, which rewards players who successfully drain an entire boost meter without stopping
Burnout Dominator differentiates itself from every other game in the iconic street racing series for being the only entry not developed by Criterion Games, as they were busy working on Burnout Paradise (more on that game later).
RELATED: Most Realistic Racing Games Ever
Development duties for Burnout Dominator were handed to EA UK, who didn’t try to reinvent the wheel and played it safe by keeping the game’s core gameplay very similar to previous entries in the series. EA UK did delight fans by bringing back an old feature, though, as “Burnouts” makes a grand return.
13 Burnout Legends
Release Date: 13 September 2005 Available Platforms: PSP, Nintendo DS Main Story Completion Time: 7. 5 hours Best Feature: It takes the best tracks, gameplay modes, and cars from the first three Burnout games and puts them in a handheld package for people to play on the go
It’s worth pointing out straight away that the PSP version of Burnout Legends is the best one to revisit. This is reflected in the game’s Metascores, as the PSP iteration scored an impressive 86 with a user score of 8.5, which eclipsed the Nintendo DS version’s disappointing Metascore of just 38.
Burnout Legends is essentially a re-packaged collection of the first three Burnout games, with tracks, gameplay modes, and cars from the trilogy appearing in the handheld game.
12 Burnout 2: Point Of Impact
Release Date: 30 September 2002 Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox Main Story Completion Time: 12 hours Best Feature: The inclusion of the ridiculously over-the-top Crash mode
The second entry into the Burnout franchise was released in 2002 and greatly improved upon its lackluster predecessor by not only fine-tuning the core driving mechanics but also by significantly fleshing out the amount of content available.
Among the most notable changes was the addition of the “Crash” mode, which is now synonymous with the Burnout series. Although the mode may initially seem like nonsensical arcade fun, it actually offers fairly in-depth puzzle gameplay that requires both great driving skills and well-thought strategy.
11 Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Remix
Release Date: 11 April 2005 Available Platforms: PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, Xbox Main Story Completion Time: 20. 5 hours Best Feature: The visuals, which may not look like much today, but would turn heads and capture attention in 2005
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition was released in 2005 by Grand Theft Auto creator Rockstar. As would be expected from the iconic development and publishing team, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition offers players the chance to explore a US-inspired open world.
RELATED: Great Sports Games That Offer Fun Over Realism
DUB Edition Remix was released one year after the original game hit stores. The enhanced game implemented numerous new features, including new vehicles, new races, and the welcome return of Tokyo city.
10 Burnout Paradise
Release Date: 22 January 2008 Available Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Main Story Completion Time: 13 hours Best Feature: The open-world, which would go on to influence not only the racing genre but the gaming industry as a whole
The penultimate release into the critically acclaimed Burnout series, Burnout Paradise offered an enormous open world for its time, which is today recognized as being influential in the prominent rise of open-world games.
Along with an impressive Xbox 360 Metascore of 88, Burnout Paradise was awarded Best Driving Game at the Spike TV Video Game Awards. The game received the remaster treatment in 2018, giving Burnout Paradise some of the best visuals in street racing history.
9 Burnout Revenge
Release Date: 13 September 2005 Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 Main Story Completion Time: 17 hours Best Feature: The inclusion of Traffic Attack, which offered quintessential Burnout fun in a new context
Burnout Takedown was released in 2005, making it the fifth entry into the franchise. Criterion Games didn’t try to re-invent the wheel with Takedown, as they opted to keep the gameplay very similar to the series’ most esteemed title, Burnout 3: Takedown.
The game did implement a few changes to differentiate it from its predecessor, however, including Vertical Takedowns and the new game mode Traffic Attack, which tasked players with earning money through Checking (hitting) traffic.
8 The Crew 2
Release Date: 31 May 2018 Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia Main Story Completion Time: 19 hours Best Feature: The wide range of vehicle types available for players to drive
Developer Ivory Tower had a vision of a street racing game, unlike any other.
RELATED: Ranked: The Fastest Cars In Grand Theft Auto V
The game struggled to impress on release but is continually being updated and is finally reaching its high potential. The Crew 2 contains one of the largest open worlds for racing video games and a beefy collection of licensed vehicles.
7 Need For Speed (2015)
Release Date: 3 November 2015 Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One Main Story Completion Time: 15. 5 hours Best Feature: The wonderfully atmospheric open-world
Need for Speed (2015) was one of the most realistic racing games when it was released. The open world of Ventura Bay is a sprawling area with an urban vibe. Race head-to-head with other players online and trick out your vehicle.
We would have placed Need for Speed (2015) higher if it had more customization and refined driving mechanics. That won’t stop many from becoming a racing icons in Need for Speed (2015).
6 Midnight Club 2
Release Date: 9 April 2003 Available Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation 3 Main Story Completion Time: 12. 5 hours Best Feature: The vast range of cities and locations for players to visit
The sequel to Midnight Club: Street Racing is in a different league than its predecessor. Midnight Club 2 features an online multiplayer mode.
The game even lets players race on a motorcycle as they visit locations like Paris, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. Midnight Club II is one of the few street racing games that reinforce that there are no rules.
5 Need For Speed: Underground
Release Date: 9 April 2003 Available Platforms: PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation 3 Main Story Completion Time: 13. 5 hours Best Feature: The soundtrack, which is an enjoyably nostalgic blast from the past to listen to today
The first installment in the Underground series was an instant classic. In an era when street racing was becoming popularized in media, Need for Speed: Underground was the definitive underground racing game.
RELATED: Racing Games With The Best Vehicle Customization
This reboot was a commercial success for accurately capturing street racing. It featured a variety of import cars, which differed from previous Need for Speeds’ exotics. The use of nitrous oxide in races was a game-changer.
4 Need For Speed Heat
Release Date: 17 October 2019 Available Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Main Story Completion Time: 13 hours Best Feature: It’s the most visually and technically impressive game on this list
Need for Speed Heat might be the most advanced street racing game from a technical standpoint, yet it isn’t groundbreaking.
For those looking for an all-around decent street racing game with breathtaking graphics, Need for Speed Heat is a perfect choice. The game has a blend of daylight and nighttime racing that mixes well with the underground racing scene. With an extensive lineup of vehicles, this game is a must-play for street racing enthusiasts.
3 Burnout 3: Takedown
Release Date: 8 September 2004 Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 Main Story Completion Time: 14 hours Best Feature: The crash mechanics, which may seem like just a gimmick, but actually add an interesting layer of strategy to the gameplay
The act of crashing into other vehicles mid-race has been the basis of contention between players. While some players feel that crashing into other cars is cheating, others agree it makes the game more enjoyable. Burnout 3: Takedown took this senseless act and made it the game’s primary focus—the result was a highly entertaining game that few could’ve predicted.
Crashes are emphasized tenfold, leading to some of the wildest collisions you could imagine. This street racing game indeed took crashes to a whole new level.
2 Need For Speed: Most Wanted
Release Date: 30 October 2012 Available Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Android, iOS, Wii U Main Story Completion Time: 10 hours Best Feature: The police chases, which offer hours and hours of entertainment, particularly due to their unpredictability
Back when the developers at Electronic Arts were peaking in the racing scene, Need for Speed: Most Wanted was a street racing masterpiece. This open-world game had a great deal of car customization, and the driving mechanics was the right blend of arcadey and realistic driving.
The game was widely available on most platforms such as the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Android, iOS, and more. Heavily inspired by Need for Speed: Underground, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is relevant so many years later.
1 Need For Speed: Underground 2
Release Date: 9 November 2004 Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, PSP, PC, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Java Main Story Completion Time: 20 hours Best Feature: The excellent open-world design, which was ahead of its time in 2004
The sequel to Need for Speed: Underground answered back with a fully explorable open world and more vehicle customization than we’ve ever seen. Add a neon glow under your car, add a hefty speaker set to the trunk, or give your vehicle a body kit; the sky is the limit.
It contains a memorable soundtrack, a robust lineup of cars, and more. We wouldn’t be surprised if Need for Speed: Underground 2 received a remake. Tricking out your stock car before you hit the road as a street racing prodigy gives this game immense replay value.
MORE: Best Kart Racers You Can Play On PC
