Top 10 driving games of all time

We’d all love to own a limited edition Lamborghini or smoke the rear tyres off an Ariel Atom, but the majority of us live in a thing called reality. The closest many will get to driving their automotive heroes will be virtually, and as a result, video games have become the ultimate way to explore that fantasy for petrolheads.

Over the decades there have been some real classics, but here are our top 10 driving games of all time.

Sega Rally Championship

It’s the rally classic that ate all of your pocket money as a kid… Sega Rally Championship is an icon of arcades all over the country, with many still retaining the original of 1994. Sure, by today’s photorealistic standards of next-gen consoles its pixelated graphics date it, but you can’t beat the thrill of adjusting the seat before slamming through the gears in a Lancia Delta.

Gran Turismo 4

There are newer GT games, there are also potentially more loved GT games like Gran Turismo 2, but no title moved things on like Gran Turismo 4. Utilising the then-new PlayStation 2, GT4 introduced an incredible physics engine that immediately made this the ultimate driving simulator of its day.

Factor in impressive graphics, not to mention a lengthy roster of cars, and you have a definitive game for an entire generation.

Forza Motorsport 2

PlayStation loyalists will always celebrate Gran Turismo – rightly so – but the titan of driving simulations got some real competition when Forza Motorsport 2 arrived on Xbox 360. This game took driving physics to the next level, and its extensive range of car modifications really added something.

The ability to create unique liveries and sell them in an online auction house is something that Gran Turismo could only copy in later incarnations.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and spiteful turtle shells are still blue. Mario Kart 8 brings together everything that was good and great about this much-loved series, adds some modern-day polish, and sets up shop on the latest Nintendo console.

This remains the most approachable, yet competitive, driving game out there. ‘Here we go!’

Forza Horizon 4

While the Forza Motorsport series focused on realism, the Horizon games were a much more approachable entry point for players. Based around a music festival, this arcade-style game allowed players to embrace car culture while exploring vast open worlds. Horizon 4 was a particular highlight with its changeable seasons and British setting.

Will Forza Horizon 5 live up to the reputation of its predecessor?

Colin McRae Rally 2.0

Colin McRae was the star of WRC thanks to his boisterous driving style, so it is no surprise that he lent his name to a rally sim. McRae Rally 2.0 featured an impressive roster of cars and stages set around the world.

In many respects, this was the Sega Rally of the PS1 generation.

WRC II Extreme

A full version of this article was first published on YesAuto UK.