Most Iconic Racing Video Games

Remember your unforgettable moments in front of a screen that cemented your love for cars? Yep, we’re talking about racing games we all have spent countless hours playing as kids. If you’re one of the late '80s or '90s kids, video games must have highly influenced your enthusiastic stance toward cars today. From the neverending pursuit of getting the in-game licenses in Gran Turismo to wild escapes from the Five-O in Need for Speed, racing games created the strongest memories when we were kids.

Here is a short list of racing video games from the 1990s and 2000s that provided some of our most thrilling, exciting, and even educational moments.

Sega Rally (1994)

Released in 1994 for arcades and then came into our living rooms a year later, Sega Rally was the first title that brought rally racing to life like never before. It became an instant classic for its innovative terrain mechanics: Each surface type—gravel, tarmac, and mud—had unique effects on your car’s handling.

The classic “Game Over, Yeah!” tune cemented Sega Rally’s place in racing games history, and the title set the benchmark for future rally simulations and arcades.

Gran Turismo (1997)

Gran Turismo turned racing games into a true simulation experience for the first time. The daddy of all GTs was released in 1997 for the original PlayStation, and it was legendary in every sense of the word. It offered an unprecedented level of realism, primarily thanks to the physics-based handling of cars. GranTurismo boasted 140 licensed cars to choose from. You had to earn licenses and complete a wide variety of races, all while staring at stunningly realistic graphics (for the time, at least).

The best bit about the GT series is that each installment is more than just a game—it is more like a deep dive into car culture in general. GranTurismo games transform casual racing gamers into full-blown petrolheads.

Midtown Madness (1999)

Midtown Madness broke away from classic circuit racing and gave players the freedom to explore an open-world map while driving. The setting is Chicago in 1999, and the choices are limitless, from a yellow Volkswagen New Beetle to a school bus! You could race through the streets in a Ford Mustang or break havoc with supercars of the noughties; it was the perfect mix of fun and mayhem.

With its open-world gameplay, realistic city map, and unique online gaming experience, Midtown Madness became an instant hit and is now a cult classic in the world of gaming.

Need for Speed Underground (2003)

What racing video games did for car culture with Need for Speed Underground was exactly what Hollywood did for car culture with Fast & Furious. The street racing culture was mainstream back in the early 2000s. Need for Speed franchise brought street racing into our living rooms with the Underground, and put us right in the driver’s seat.

With its neon-lit streets, fully customized tuner cars, and high-energy soundtrack, Need for Speed Underground quickly became a phenomenon. You could customize your in-game car with crazy paint jobs, vinyl decals, body kits, and underglow lighting before hitting the road for intense drag races and other challenges. The game redefined what racing games could be, and Underground became a timeless classic for us petrolheads.

Forza Motorsport (2005)

Entering the racing video game scene in 2005, Forza Motorsport is to Xbox what Gran Turismo is to PlayStation. Though not as informative as the GT series, Forza combines a vast array of licensed cars, stunning graphics, and realistic driving physics. What made it truly special was how the game balanced accessibility and depth.

It was a blast for both the casual racing gamer with its driving aids and the hardcore driving enthusiast with its precision and realism. With its online multiplayer modes and endless car customization options, Forza became a strong competitor to GranTurismo and earned its place as one of the most respected racing game titles.