| 1 | [[quoteright:256:[[VideoGame/PolePosition https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/pole_position_prepare_to_race.png]]]] |
| 2 | |
| 3 | ->''"3, 2, 1, '''GO!'''"'' |
| 4 | -->–- Race start countdown, various racing games |
| 5 | A subcategory of {{Sports Game}}s. You are on a course or given a course to take and your goal is to get from point A to point B as fast as you can, usually before your opponents do. Sometimes you're just the car, and you never even see the driver, sometimes you drive nothing at all. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Most racing games are {{Driving Game}}s and when it comes to driving they sit on a line between "arcade" and "simulation". Toward the arcade end, brakes are nearly unnecessary; toward the simulation end, brakes are the only thing saving you from skidding head-on into the wall and cars are as close as can be made to their RealLife analogues. Simulation-style racing games are generally "no contact" affairs, just as in real life. Most games based on real-life motorsport, such as the UsefulNotes/FormulaOne series, involve driving around a track with set rules of noninterference with your competitors. Most arcade racers are "full contact" racing, where you are encouraged to shove your opponents into barriers or blast them out of the way with power ups. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | If the game has real cars in it, the names and likenesses are licensed from the manufacturer(s). Generally, the terms of the license require that the cars be invulnerable unless the developer is willing to pay a much higher price for the license, as auto manufacturers don't want people to think their cars [[TheAllegedCar get damaged easily.]] This just happens to promote the idea that dangerous driving has no consequences, but hey, at least our car looks good. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | A single racing game could become a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover involving real-life car manufacturers if their cars are licensed by them. Of course, it's inevitable when it happens. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Of course, the car drivers themselves are [[InVehicleInvulnerability even less vulnerable and you rarely see them die in a car crash]]. Even games where you are not driving cars can still fall neatly into arcade or simulation, though the further they go towards simulation in this case, the less they will play like a {{driving game}}. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Expect NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom, as you're supposed to race the other vehicles, not explore - this makes it much easier for the programmers. This is why when drive-anywhere racing games like ''VideoGame/MidtownMadness'' came out in the 1990's it was such a surprise to players. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | An inordinate number of racing games feature a [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard Cheating Bastard]]. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | A [[SuperTrope Super Genre]] to MascotRacer. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | See also, RacingMinigame |
| 22 | |
| 23 | !!Common Elements of Racing Games include: |
| 24 | |
| 25 | * TheBigRace: Inevitable for any racing game with a plot. |
| 26 | * CarFu: There's nothing stopping a player from just ramming their vehicle into the competition. If the car is using weapons instead, then that's already getting into VehicularCombat and WeaponizedCar territory. |
| 27 | * CompetitiveBalance: Vehicles are usually divided in three general archetypes: light and slow, but with good acceleration and handling (the equivalent of a FragileSpeedster), heavy and fast, but nearly unsteerable (the equivalent of a MightyGlacier), and, finally, the [[JackOfAllStats balanced one]]. |
| 28 | * DrivesLikeCrazy: Less-skilled players are prone to this. |
| 29 | * EveryCarIsAPinto: Good luck finding any racing game where the vehicles don't end up exploding when damaged enough. |
| 30 | * InVehicleInvulnerability: Unless their vehicle outright explodes, the driver character will never really take any damage from crashes or impacts. |
| 31 | * LevelMapDisplay: During a race, the corner of the screen will often feature a mini-map of the course, if only to facilitate navigation for the player. |
| 32 | * MarathonLevel: A specific racetrack is likely to be way longer than the others. This can be compensated by having shorter tracks require more laps to complete, but it's not a guarantee. |
| 33 | * NitroBoost: A PowerUp that consists of a temporary boost of speed. |
| 34 | * RubberBandAI: If the CPU falls too behind the player or vice-versa, it will [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard sneakily speed up]] or slow down just enough to keep things as competitive as possible. |
| 35 | * ShowsDamage: Games with destructible vehicles often show the gradual, escalating damage it receives until the point they're outright destroyed. |
| 36 | * SinglePlayerGauntlet: Usually called "Grand Prix" or "Cup", games with multiple playable racers will often face off against each other in a series of tracks. |
| 37 | * TimeTrial: A mode that allows the player to compete against the clock instead of other racers. |
| 38 | ** RacingGhost: The ability to challenge a visualization of a previous record, represented as a transparent apparition of the record's keeper. |
| 39 | * WackyRacing: Again, depending on player skill, even a race in a more realistic game can end up in a chaotic mess. |
| 40 | * WorldTour: If racetracks take place in numerous RealLife locations from around the world. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | !!Driving Racers: |
| 43 | [[index]] |
| 44 | * ''VideoGame/NineteenEightyX'' |
| 45 | * ''VideoGame/AmericanRacing'' |
| 46 | * ''VideoGame/AngryBirdsGo'' |
| 47 | * ''VideoGame/{{Asphalt}}'' |
| 48 | * ''VideoGame/ATVOffroadFury'' |
| 49 | * ''VideoGame/BattleCars'' |
| 50 | * ''VideoGame/BattleGear'' |
| 51 | * ''VideoGame/BeetleAdventureRacing'' |
| 52 | * ''VideoGame/BigMuthaTruckers'' |
| 53 | * ''VideoGame/BigRigsOverTheRoadRacing'' |
| 54 | * ''VideoGame/BloodborneKart'' |
| 55 | * ''VideoGame/Blur2010'' |
| 56 | * ''VideoGame/{{Burnout}}'' |
| 57 | ** ''VideoGame/BurnoutParadise'' |
| 58 | * ''VideoGame/CaliforniaSpeed'' |
| 59 | * ''VideoGame/{{Carmageddon}}'' |
| 60 | * ''VideoGame/CarsRaceORama'' |
| 61 | * ''VideoGame/CartoonNetworkRacing'' |
| 62 | * ''VideoGame/ChoroQ'' |
| 63 | * ''VideoGame/ColinMcRaeRally'' |
| 64 | ** ''VideoGame/DiRT'' |
| 65 | * ''VideoGame/{{Crashday}}'' |
| 66 | * ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' |
| 67 | ** ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacing'' |
| 68 | *** ''VideoGame/CrashTeamRacingNitroFueled'' |
| 69 | ** ''VideoGame/CrashNitroKart'' |
| 70 | ** ''VideoGame/CrashTagTeamRacing'' |
| 71 | * ''VideoGame/{{The Crew|2014}}'' |
| 72 | ** ''VideoGame/TheCrew2'' |
| 73 | ** ''VideoGame/TheCrewMotorfest'' |
| 74 | * ''VideoGame/CroMagRally'' |
| 75 | * ''[[VideoGame/{{Cruisn}} Cruis'n]]'' |
| 76 | * ''VideoGame/DaytonaUSA'' |
| 77 | * ''VideoGame/DeathRally'' |
| 78 | ** ''VideoGame/DeathRally2011'' |
| 79 | * ''VideoGame/DiddyKongRacing'' |
| 80 | * ''VideoGame/DirtDash'' |
| 81 | * ''VideoGame/DisneySpeedstorm'' |
| 82 | * ''VideoGame/{{Distance}}'' |
| 83 | * ''VideoGame/{{Driveclub}}'' |
| 84 | * ''VideoGame/DrivingEmotionTypeS'' |
| 85 | * ''VideoGame/EnduroRacer'' |
| 86 | * ''VideoGame/EnthusiaProfessionalRacing'' |
| 87 | * [[/index]]''VideoGame/FZero''[[index]] |
| 88 | ** ''VideoGame/FZero1990'' |
| 89 | ** ''VideoGame/FZeroX'' |
| 90 | ** ''VideoGame/FZeroMaximumVelocity'' |
| 91 | ** ''VideoGame/FZeroGX'' |
| 92 | ** ''VideoGame/FZeroGPLegend'' |
| 93 | ** ''VideoGame/FZeroClimax'' |
| 94 | ** ''VideoGame/FZero99'' |
| 95 | * ''VideoGame/FastAndFuriousCrossroads'' |
| 96 | * ''VideoGame/{{FAST}}'' |
| 97 | * ''VideoGame/FatalRacing'' (known in the United States as ''Whiplash'') |
| 98 | * ''VideoGame/{{FlatOut}}'' |
| 99 | * ''VideoGame/FordRacing'' |
| 100 | * ''VideoGame/FormulaRacing'' |
| 101 | * ''VideoGame/{{Forza}}'' (divided between the track-focused ''Forza Motorsport'' series and the open world-focused ''Forza Horizon'' series) |
| 102 | * ''VideoGame/{{Fuel}}'' |
| 103 | * ''VideoGame/FullAuto'' |
| 104 | * ''VideoGame/GeneRally'' |
| 105 | * ''VideoGame/GensouSkydrift'' |
| 106 | * ''VideoGame/GranTrak10'' |
| 107 | * ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'' |
| 108 | * ''VideoGame/{{Gravel}}'' |
| 109 | * ''VideoGame/GSurfers'' |
| 110 | * ''VideoGame/GrandPrixCircuit'' |
| 111 | * ''VideoGame/GrandPrixLegends'' |
| 112 | * ''VideoGame/{{GRiD}}'' |
| 113 | ** ''VideoGame/GRIDLegends'' |
| 114 | * ''VideoGame/GTLegends'' |
| 115 | * ''VideoGame/HangOn '' |
| 116 | * ''VideoGame/HardDrivin'' |
| 117 | * ''VideoGame/HarleyDavidsonRaceAcrossAmerica'' |
| 118 | * ''VideoGame/HillClimbRacing2'' |
| 119 | * ''VideoGame/HorizonChase'' |
| 120 | * ''VideoGame/IRacing '' |
| 121 | * ''VideoGame/IndyCarRacingII'' |
| 122 | * ''VideoGame/InitialDArcadeStage'' |
| 123 | * ''VideoGame/JakX'' |
| 124 | * ''VideoGame/JetIonGP'' |
| 125 | * ''VideoGame/JetMoto'' |
| 126 | * ''VideoGame/{{Juiced}}'' |
| 127 | * ''VideoGame/KartRider'' |
| 128 | * ''VideoGame/KatsRun'' |
| 129 | * ''VideoGame/KickButtowskiMellowbrookMegaRace'' |
| 130 | * ''VideoGame/KonamiKrazyRacers'' |
| 131 | * ''VideoGame/LEGORacers'' |
| 132 | * ''VideoGame/LEGOStuntRally'' |
| 133 | * ''VideoGame/LiveForSpeed'' |
| 134 | * ''VideoGame/LooneyTunesRacing'' |
| 135 | * ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' |
| 136 | ** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'' |
| 137 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKart64'' |
| 138 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKartSuperCircuit'' |
| 139 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash'' |
| 140 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKartArcadeGP'' |
| 141 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKartDS'' |
| 142 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKartWii'' |
| 143 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' |
| 144 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'' |
| 145 | ** ''VideoGame/MarioKartTour'' |
| 146 | * ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleAndChase'' |
| 147 | * ''VideoGame/MegaRace'' |
| 148 | * ''VideoGame/MickeysSpeedwayUSA'' |
| 149 | * ''VideoGame/MicroMachines'' |
| 150 | * ''VideoGame/MidnightClub'' |
| 151 | * ''VideoGame/MidtownMadness'' |
| 152 | * ''VideoGame/MonsterTruckMadness'' |
| 153 | * ''VideoGame/MotocrossGo'' |
| 154 | * ''VideoGame/MotocrossMadness'' |
| 155 | * ''VideoGame/ModNationRacers'' |
| 156 | * ''VideoGame/MonacoGP'' |
| 157 | * ''VideoGame/MotorStorm'' |
| 158 | * ''VideoGame/MotorToonGrandPrix'' |
| 159 | * ''VideoGame/MuppetRaceMania'' |
| 160 | * ''VideoGame/MXVsATV'' |
| 161 | * ''VideoGame/NeedForMadness'' |
| 162 | * ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' |
| 163 | ** ''VideoGame/TheNeedForSpeed'' |
| 164 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedII'' |
| 165 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHotPursuit'' series |
| 166 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHighStakes'' |
| 167 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedPorscheUnleashed'' |
| 168 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUnderground'' series |
| 169 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted'' (2005) |
| 170 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedCarbon'' |
| 171 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedProStreet'' |
| 172 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUndercover'' |
| 173 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedShift'' series |
| 174 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedNitro'' |
| 175 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedWorld'' |
| 176 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedTheRun'' |
| 177 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted2012'' |
| 178 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedRivals'' |
| 179 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed2015'' |
| 180 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedPayback'' |
| 181 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedHeat'' |
| 182 | ** ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedUnbound'' |
| 183 | * ''VideoGame/NitronicRush'' |
| 184 | * ''VideoGame/OutRun'' |
| 185 | * ''VideoGame/OvertakeTheEliteChallenge'' |
| 186 | * ''VideoGame/PacManWorldRally'' |
| 187 | * ''VideoGame/PlanetOfDeath'' |
| 188 | * ''VideoGame/PolePosition'' |
| 189 | * ''VideoGame/PolyPolySpeedDaisakusen'' |
| 190 | * ''VideoGame/PowerDrift'' |
| 191 | * ''VideoGame/PowerRangersZeoBattleRacers'' |
| 192 | * ''VideoGame/ProjectCARS'' |
| 193 | * ''VideoGame/ProjectGothamRacing'' |
| 194 | * ''VideoGame/QuantumRedshift'' |
| 195 | * ''VideoGame/RacerFreeCarSimulation'' |
| 196 | * ''VideoGame/RacingLagoon'' |
| 197 | * ''VideoGame/RadMobile'' |
| 198 | * ''VideoGame/RadRacer'' |
| 199 | * ''VideoGame/RallyTrophy'' |
| 200 | * ''VideoGame/RCProAm'' |
| 201 | * ''VideoGame/ReVolt'' |
| 202 | * ''VideoGame/RealRacing'' |
| 203 | * ''VideoGame/RFactor'' |
| 204 | * ''VideoGame/RidgeRacer'' |
| 205 | * ''VideoGame/RiffRacer'' |
| 206 | * ''VideoGame/RichardBurnsRally'' |
| 207 | * ''VideoGame/RoadFighter'' |
| 208 | * ''VideoGame/RockNRollRacing'' |
| 209 | * ''VideoGame/{{Rollcage}}'' |
| 210 | * ''VideoGame/SanFranciscoRush'' |
| 211 | * ''[[VideoGame/SebastienLoebRallyEVO Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO]]'' |
| 212 | * ''VideoGame/SegaRally'' |
| 213 | * ''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]'' and ''Sonic & All-Stars Racing: Transformed'' |
| 214 | * ''VideoGame/ShrekSmashNCrashRacing'' |
| 215 | * ''VideoGame/{{Sideswiped}}'' |
| 216 | * ''VideoGame/SkunnyKart'' |
| 217 | * ''VideoGame/Slipstream5000'' |
| 218 | * ''VideoGame/SonicDrift'' |
| 219 | * ''VideoGame/SonicR'' |
| 220 | * ''VideoGame/SonicRoboBlast2Kart'' |
| 221 | * ''VideoGame/SouthParkRally'' |
| 222 | * ''VideoGame/SpeedKills'' |
| 223 | * ''VideoGame/{{Splashdown}}'' |
| 224 | * ''VideoGame/SplitSecond2010'' |
| 225 | * ''VideoGame/StreetLegal'' |
| 226 | * ''VideoGame/StreetRod'' |
| 227 | * ''VideoGame/StuntRaceFX'' |
| 228 | * ''Super Sprint'' and ''Championship Sprint'' |
| 229 | * ''VideoGame/SuperIndieKarts'' |
| 230 | * ''VideoGame/SuperTuxKart'' |
| 231 | * ''VideoGame/TeamSonicRacing'' |
| 232 | * ''VideoGame/TestDrive'' |
| 233 | ** ''VideoGame/TestDriveUnlimited'' |
| 234 | * ''VideoGame/ThrillDrive'' |
| 235 | * ''VideoGame/TOCARaceDriver'' |
| 236 | * ''VideoGame/{{TORCS}}'' / ''Speed Dreams'' |
| 237 | * ''VideoGame/TokyoXtremeRacer'' |
| 238 | * ''VideoGame/TopGear'' |
| 239 | * VideoGame/{{Trackmania}} |
| 240 | * ''VideoGame/TreadMarks'' |
| 241 | * ''VideoGame/{{Turbo}}'' |
| 242 | * ''VideoGame/UphillRush'' |
| 243 | * ''VideoGame/VRally'' |
| 244 | * ''VideoGame/ViperRacing'' |
| 245 | * ''VideoGame/VirtuaRacing'' |
| 246 | * ''VideoGame/WackyRaces2000'' |
| 247 | * ''VideoGame/WackyWheels'' |
| 248 | * ''VideoGame/WaltDisneyWorldQuestMagicalRacingTour'' |
| 249 | * ''VideoGame/WanganMidnight'' |
| 250 | * ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}}'' |
| 251 | * ''VideoGame/{{WRC}}'' |
| 252 | * ''VideoGame/{{Wreckfest}}'' |
| 253 | * ''VideoGame/XCarExperimentalRacing'' |
| 254 | [[/index]] |
| 255 | |
| 256 | !!Other Racers |
| 257 | [[index]] |
| 258 | * ''VideoGame/TenEightySnowboarding'' |
| 259 | * ''Aero Gauge'' |
| 260 | * ''VideoGame/BallisticNG'' |
| 261 | * ''VideoGame/BanjoPilot'' |
| 262 | * ''VideoGame/BattleRacingStars'' |
| 263 | * ''VideoGame/ChocoboRacing'' |
| 264 | * ''VideoGame/CoolBoarders'' |
| 265 | * ''VideoGame/CrazyFrogRacer'' |
| 266 | * ''VideoGame/{{Cyclomaniacs}}'' |
| 267 | * ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongBarrelBlast'' |
| 268 | * ''VideoGame/EVRRace'' |
| 269 | * ''VideoGame/{{Excite}}'' |
| 270 | * ''VideoGame/ExtremeG'' |
| 271 | * ''VideoGame/FormulaFusion'' |
| 272 | * ''VideoGame/FreakyFlyers'' |
| 273 | * ''VideoGame/FreejackOnline'' |
| 274 | * ''VideoGame/{{H2Overdrive}}'' |
| 275 | * ''Heracles Chariot Racing'' |
| 276 | * ''VideoGame/HydroThunder'' |
| 277 | ** ''VideoGame/HydroThunderHurricane'' |
| 278 | * ''VideoGame/IggysReckinBalls'' |
| 279 | * ''VideoGame/JoeDanger'' |
| 280 | * ''Videogame/KirbyAirRide'' |
| 281 | * ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamBuffet'' |
| 282 | * ''[[VideoGame/ArtStyle Light Trax]]'' |
| 283 | * ''VideoGame/MachRider'' |
| 284 | * ''VideoGame/ModNationRacers'' |
| 285 | * ''VideoGame/MonsterRacers'' |
| 286 | * ''Mountain Bike Rally'' |
| 287 | * ''VideoGame/TheNextPenelope'' |
| 288 | * ''VideoGame/PocketCardJockey'' |
| 289 | * ''VideoGame/PokemonDash'' |
| 290 | * ''Polaris Snowcross 2001'' |
| 291 | * ''VideoGame/{{Redout}}'' |
| 292 | * ''VideoGame/RoadRash'' |
| 293 | * ''VideoGame/RunningWild'' |
| 294 | * ''VideoGame/{{Skitchin}}''' |
| 295 | * ''VideoGame/SnowboardKids'' |
| 296 | * ''VideoGame/SonicForcesSpeedBattle'' |
| 297 | * ''VideoGame/SonicR'' |
| 298 | * ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' |
| 299 | ** ''VideoGame/SonicRidersZeroGravity'' |
| 300 | ** ''VideoGame/SonicFreeRiders'' |
| 301 | * ''VideoGame/SonicRivals'' |
| 302 | * ''VideoGame/SpeedPowerGunbike'' |
| 303 | * ''VideoGame/SpeedRunners'' |
| 304 | * ''VideoGame/SprintVector'' |
| 305 | * ''VideoGame/{{SSX}}'' |
| 306 | * ''VideoGame/StarWarsEpisodeIRacer'' |
| 307 | * ''Star Wars Super Bombad Racing'' |
| 308 | * ''VideoGame/SuperMadChamp'' |
| 309 | * ''VideoGame/TrackAndField'' |
| 310 | * ''VideoGame/{{Uniracers}}'' |
| 311 | * ''VideoGame/WaveRace'' |
| 312 | * ''{{VideoGame/Wipeout}}'' series |
| 313 | * ''VideoGame/XtremeExpress |
| 314 | * ''VideoGame/YuGiOh5DsWheelieBreakers'' |
| 315 | * ''VideoGame/ZooRace'' |
| 316 | [[/index]] |
| 317 | ---- |
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