Racing games that still hold up

Mario Kart 8 2014 i Why it still holds upVaried track design, with assists so that players of every level can share a race, still makes it work today.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted 2005 i Why it still holds upPursuits that keep escalating, and a Blacklist to climb, are the reason to play it now.

Need for Speed: Underground 2 2004 i Why it still holds upAn open city to drive between races, and tuning deep enough to include a dyno, still give it a shape of its own today.

Crash Team Racing 1999 i Why it still holds upHandling built around drift and boost timing still gives every lap something to get right today.

Need for Speed: Underground 2003 i Why it still holds upWith tuning unlocked through story races and Style Points earned by drifting and shortcuts, the garage and the road still feed each other today.

Gran Turismo 4 2004 i Why it still holds upOver 700 cars, dozens of driving missions and a crew chief mode that speeds the race up still give you many ways to spend a race today.

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! 2003 i Why it still holds upPosition weighted items keep races close, and the pairing system gives many combinations today.

Mario Kart 64 1996 i Why it still holds upFour player split screen in Versus and Battle on one console, with items and drift boosts keeping races open, still makes it easy to start a match today.

Burnout 3: Takedown 2004 i Why it still holds upAggression that pays for speed still makes every race a risk worth taking today.

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec 2001 i Why it still holds upA progression of races, license tests and championships tied to unlocking cars still gives a career a clear path today.

Mario Kart DS 2005 i Why it still holds upOn a handheld today you have plenty to do, with courses from earlier games and a Mission mode beside the Grand Prix.

Super Mario Kart 1992 i Why it still holds upItems and power slides still make every lap a mix of speed and risk today, and the two player modes give you a reason to bring a friend.

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 1998 i Why it still holds upTwo ways of taking a corner, and cars earned race by race, still give a short championship a reason to be run again today.

Gran Turismo 5 2010 i Why it still holds upEven now, physics that ask you to load the outside wheel before turning in make every corner something to learn.

Gran Turismo 1997 i Why it still holds upA progression of licenses, credits and tuning, on top of physics built first, still blends arcade and simulation racing today.

Forza Motorsport 4 2011 i Why it still holds upThere are still many ways to drive the same circuit, with a garage of that size.

Action Fighter 1986 i Why it still holds upThe course is still new each time, with a change of vehicle from level to level.

Gran Turismo 2 1999 i Why it still holds upNearly 650 cars and 27 tracks, from road courses to rally stages, still give a career of licenses and trophies a long road to follow today.

Test Drive 1987 i Why it still holds upA single road with traffic and police to dodge, and a choice of supercars to try, still gives each run its own line to drive today.

Micro Machines V3 1997 i Why it still holds upRacing toys around a house, with up to eight friends at a time, still makes it a game for a crowd.

Mario Kart 7 2011 i Why it still holds upGliding and underwater parts make the choice of kart parts matter on every track, which gives you reason to keep racing today.

Colin McRae Rally 2.0 2000 i Why it still holds upRacing real rally cars through special stages still makes each stage a fight against the clock.

The Duel: Test Drive II 1989 i Why it still holds upRacing exotic cars against the clock or a rival is easy to share, and it still is.

Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed 2000 i Why it still holds upEvery car still has a place in a timeline, from racing a single marque through the decades.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift 2008 i Why it still holds upEach route is still a choice, between terrain you can plow through and water that cools your engine.

Stunts 1990 Also known as 4D Sports Driving i Why it still holds upThe laps still have endless variety, with a track editor that lets you build your own loops.

Colin McRae Rally 1998 i Why it still holds upEach difficulty still has its own feel, with cars from different eras unlocked as you improve.

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament 1994 i Why it still holds upRacing toy cars through a bathroom is still a good time with friends.

Grand Prix 2 1996 i Why it still holds upDriving aids you can strip away one by one let a race weekend grow as hard as you like today.

Lotus III: The Ultimate Challenge 1992 i Why it still holds upA racer that lets you build your own courses is still a good reason to drive on.

Gran Turismo 6 2013 i Why it still holds upSo many cars and tracks, raced at any hour, still give it plenty to drive today.

Forza Motorsport 2005 i Why it still holds upTuning that reaches down to gear ratios and damage that changes handling still make every race a question of setup today.

Project Gotham Racing 3 2005 i Why it still holds upThere is still a second goal on every lap, since style counts as well as speed.