From the old days of Ridge Racer to big series such as Forza, and Need for Speed, racing
has always been a big part of gaming.
Some feature combat, others test your reflexes, and some just want to find your inner creativity.
And now, the next wave of great racing experiences has arrived.
Here's our top 10 most anticipated racing games coming in 2015 / 2016.
No. 10: Trackmania Turbo � December 1 2015 / PS4, XB1, PC
Regarded as one of the most fun and unique racing series for causal gamers, Trackmania
has lived primarily on Steam and in the PC community.
That changes with Trackmania Turbo, Ubisoft's latest game with 200 new tracks and the same
fast racing experience focusing on crazy corkscrews and stunts.
Players can also play through computer-generated tracks instantly that give racers a new track,
or along with three friends in multiplayer.
Virtual reality integration has also been reported.
Set to be the first Trackmania game released with console versions since 2009, Trackmania
Turbo will be available December 1st, 2015 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
No. 9: Calibre 10 Racing.
TBA / PC, XB1 The global economy has collapsed, leaving
combat racing as the only televised sport in this futuristic offering from Bongfish.
It's considered a successor to the 2010 arcade title Harm's Way, which finished as a finalist
in Dorito's �Unlock Xbox� game design competition.
Four teams of two battle to finish first, with weapons such as missiles and machine
guns changing how you play every lap.
Each team features a driver and a shooter.
Drivers race their way towards the finish line in concept cars developed by real-world
artists as they avoid each other and enemy fire.
Shooters operate remote-controlled turrets featuring missiles, snipers, Gatling guns,
and more to take out the competition.
Cooperative play promises to be a new experience as both first-person shooting and racing are
both taking center stage.
Early access gaming was made available on Steam in 2014, allowing players a chance to
try the game and provide feedback in the development process.
The full release will come to Xbox One in late 2015.
No. 8: Road Redemption.
TBA / PC, XB1, PS4, Wii U Road Redemption got off the ground thanks
to a Kickstarter campaign by DarkSeas Games, and over four thousand people backed it.
Fans of the old-school Road Rash games will be pleased to know Road Redemption is considered
a successor to the motorcycle combat sport franchise.
You start by picking your rider and bike, then work your way through the campaign filled
with races or objectives such as beating up a certain number of racers before the finish
line.
There are also bombs, guns, and other ranged weapons to liven things up.
Tracks are procedurally-generated to give players a new driving experience on every
track.
The big challenge is there is no respawning throughout the campaign.
Instead, if you can't keep your health high enough and you die, your permanent upgrades
carry over to your next play through.
Road Redemption already featured an early-access version on Steam, and aims to release for
Xbox One, Playstation 4, Wii U, and possible previous generation consoles in late 2015.
No. 7: Distance.
TBA / PC, PS4 Another successful Kickstarter project, Refract
Studios is aiming to build on their successful Nitronic Rush game with Distance.
Players can explore an open-world concept with color and textures that make you think
of a Tron movie, working their way through different races with the goal of survival.
Your car can twist and jump, almost like it is parkouring it's way around.
It can even fly and race upside down, giving races a very fast feel while the track bends
and twists through the city.
It also features multiplayer, online racing, and multiple other game types such as Reverse
Tag, where you try to stay 'it' as long as possible.
On top of that, Distance provides users with a level editor to allow the creation and sharing
of new tracks from other players, and the final version will have Steam support.
The game's full version will be for PC and Playstation 4 and the release is still to
be announced.
No. 6: Wreckfest / TBA / PC BugBear Entertainment, creator of FlatOut,
brings location-based damage to the forefront in Wreckfest, which was originally titled
�Next Car Game.� When you hit a wall or another car, you take damage on your car in
the exact spot you were hit and your car will react accordingly, providing a stark reality
check.
Players will race on tarmac and dirt alike, and will have the gamut of races and demolition
derbies you could want.
Gamers have so far been impressed with the realistic physics while driving, making it
important for you to take those turns correctly or suffer the consequences.
You'll be able to buy and sell cars, and perform research which gamers are hoping may provide
a way to unlock new parts.
BugBear has stated they hope to provide 24-player multiplayer in the final version coming to
PC.
Release date is still to be announced.
No. 5: Fast Racing Neo.
TBA 2015 / Wii U Racers may feel a bit of an F-Zero tug when
first looking at Fast Racing Neo, with sleek futuristic vehicles competing in separate
four-race series.
The arcade style of the game brings boost orbs and changing weather schemes into the
picture as you try to win each cup with the most points.
Unique features include a color-changing mechanism that applies to boost pads.
If you feature the wrong color, a boost pad will instead slow you down, but sport the
right look and you'll zoom straight ahead.
The game also boasts 60 frames per second at 720p, making it possibly the best-looking
racing game on Wii U in a while.
Fast Racing Neo is currently slated for release on the Wii U's eShop, and is set to come out
in late 2015.
No. 4: Dirt Rally.
TBA 2015 / PC If it's rally racing that oils your engine,
then Codemasters' Dirt Rally is up your street.
It's the fifth entry in the Dirt rally racing franchise, but this one comes with a full
partnership from the FIA World Rallycross Championship secured in July 2015.
Early access players on Steam have given the game very high reviews.
The game features a wide array of vehicles to choose from, with cars from different decades
to more modern rally vehicles.
Reports suggest the game will have 36 real-world stages on official Rallycross tracks that
you can drive in different weather situations.
While many tracks do focus on traditional dirt layouts, there are some hill climbs and
a full tarmac experience.
There's a single player career mode, and online multiplayer will offer players the chance
to create their own leagues in addition to competing against ghost times.
As for the gameplay, it is targeted towards hardcore rally racers.
If you can't drive the car right, then you don't stand a chance.
A few standard car assists will help, but don't expect your car to brake or steer for
you like some other games.
This is intended to be a full racing simulation.
A full launch is scheduled for December 2015 on Pc, but is subject to change depending
on development.
There is potential for a later console release, but it is not currently planned.
No. 3: The Crew: Wild Run.
November 17 / PC, PS4, XB1 Wild Run is an expansion to Ivory Tower and
Ubisoft's 2014 title The Crew.
The open world environment and 20 hour campaign remain intact, as well as the ability to form
street gangs with friends.
But the expansion brings plenty of new toys to this racing universe.
Motorcycles can be used for off roading or in the streets.
Dragsters will test player timing to get off the starting line without going airborne.
Monster trucks will do what monster trucks do by destroying everything while pulling
flips and other tricks.
And the all-new Drift Spec will allow drivers the chance to customize cars for drift racing.
Each new type comes with a new graphics update that will cover the entire game, not just
the expansion.
The biggest addition may be The Summit, which Ubisoft says will focus on gatherings thousands
of drivers and mechanics.
With different locations and crowds, you'll have new tests to conquer as long as you keep
avoiding trouble with the police.
Drift races, monster truck rallies, and more race types breathe more variety into The Crew
for gamers everywhere.
Wild Run is set to drop November 17 for all major platforms.
No. 2: Forza Motorsport 6.
70 hours of content.
450 cars.
67 different makes.
A continuing relationship with the BBC's �Top Gear.� Forza Motorspot 6 demands your attention.
Racing personalities will comment on your success as you drive through a very large
campaign.
Showcase Events will put you in the seat of some old-school racers, while some other races
will include up to 24 competitors.
Players will have the option of choosing how the AI drives, picking between the old one
or a new, more consistent type.
26 tracks will be available, including 10 new ones and a few updated versions of old
Forza maps.
You'll also have the rain to deal with, as it now causes you to skid or hydroplane if
you fail to adjust your driving.
Games Radar reported that the developers of Turn 10 Studios even visited the tracks themselves
to find out where puddles appeared to try and get the most accurate layout possible.
You'll also be able to play with any car you want at the beginning, a start change from
Forza 5 that had you unlock cars with tokens.
And in ForzaVista mode, you can get a very close look at each one of them.
Forza 6 comes out in North America September 15 exclusively on Xbox One.
No. 1: Need for Speed.
November 3 / PC, PS4, XB1 The king stays the king with the 23rd installment
of the game that brought the racing genre to new heights.
In Need for Speed, they've ditched any subtitle because it almost represents a reboot complete
with an open-world concept.
There is an expansive story that uses live-action footage to move things along.
Players can choose to build reputation with five different icons, from speed icon Magnus
Walker to outlaw icon Shinichi Morohoshi.
You build reputation with each depending on how you play, from driving in a crew and how
often you tick off the cops.
Customization, from the car's look to how it drives with detail such as tire traction
and suspension stiffness, is back to give you the chance to really create your preferred
driving experience.
The look of the game is also upgraded, as EA employs Frostbite to make cars look almost
hyper-real.
An online connection is required to drive around the streets of Need for Speed's Ventura
Bay, and fans of the latest Underground entry may see a few familiar aspects.
But the king lives on, even when producing a series reboot.
Need for Speed is out November 3 on all major platforms.
There are a high variety of racing games coming out soon.
Some people prefer the arcade style racers while others want the true simulation experience.
What are your favorite games form this list?
Or did we miss any big ones?
Let us know in the comments.
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