10. F-Zero

F-Zero gameplay

F-Zero is a SNES classic. I remember playing this for hours as a kid, joyously taking in the simplistic yet colourful graphics and the sci-fi futuristic soundtrack. One thing about this game has stuck with me all these years later, and that is the sound design, particularly the noise that the various vehicles make as you turn corners and collect boosts. The sound effects really help to sell the illusion of the sci-fi theme and give the vehicles a real sense of speed. Luckily, thanks to emulators, you no longer need to wrestle with a tiny SNES controller to play this game today.

9. Earn to Die 2

Earn to Die 2 gameplay

Earn to Die 2 departs from the familiar desert setting of the original game and ventures into the overrun and decrepit urban environment. In this 2D racing game your goal is to get from one end of the track to the other. Sound easy enough? Well, add in hordes of zombies and physical obstacles and the task very quickly becomes more difficult. The mechanics are simplistic yet addictive, and there are 10 different vehicles to unlock, all with their own unique upgrades.

8. Ultimate Racing 2D

Ultimate Racing 2D gameplay

Despite its simplistic appearance, this game is surprisingly substantial, with hundreds of cars, more than 30 different racing classes, and around 45 tracks. Gamers can race around 2D tracks in go-karts, formula 1 cars, monster trucks and much more. The career mode is also surprisingly robust, with tons of progression and customization options. What I love about Ultimate Racing 2D is that every car behaves slightly differently so you always feel like you’re being challenged, and the game never gets stagnant.

7. Joe Danger

Joe Danger gameplay

I find the premise of this game very appealing. You play as legendary stuntman Joe Danger, whose death defying and daredevil stunts have earned him a reputation as one of the most legendary stuntmen alive. Equipped with Joe’s famous motorbike, you’ll be put through the gamut, jumping over flaming obstacles, doing loop-de-loops, and flying over dangerous gaps. The visuals and the mechanics of this game all seem incredibly polished, and although the career mode can get a little repetitive, it’s long enough and varied enough to be satisfying.

6. Grand Prix Story 2

Grand Prix Story 2 gameplay

Grand Prix Story takes a different approach to the racing game genre. Instead of actually racing cars around the track yourself, you play as a manager, creating your own team and managing everything from sponsors to the types of cars your team drives. Imagine Football Manager mixed with F1 2021, add in some retro-style pixelated graphics, and what you get is Grand Prix Story 2. I love this charming little game. It’s my go-to when I fancy a more hands-off racing experience.

5. Hill Climb Racing 2

Hill Climb Racing 2 gameplay

Created by Fingersoft, Hill Climb Racing 1 was a fun and chaotic 2D racer. This sequel follows in the footsteps of its predecessor while adding a number of significant changes to content and mechanics. Hill Climb Racing 2 feels generally much smoother than the first one, with cars that feel weighty and balanced, and there’s also much more customization on offer here, with a huge selection of cars all having unique upgrades. An added bonus is the character customization, which is surprisingly extensive, offering up a handful of quirky outfits for you to collect.

4. Circuit Superstars

Circuit Superstars gameplay

Circuit Superstars isn’t strictly a 2D racing game. The game features 3D modelled cars and highly detailed tracks, but the camera perspective is top-down, which gives it the impression of being 2D. For that reason, I’d say that this game is somewhere between 2D and 3D (2.5D maybe…?). This is a high-quality game, with really solid mechanics and great attention to detail. I particularly love how rubber marks form on the track over the course of the race, showing the line that most cars have followed. It’s a minor detail, but something that really demonstrates that this game is a polished product.

3. Rude Racers: 2D Combat Racing

Rude Racers: 2D Combat Racing gameplay

This fast and furious 2D racing game features entertaining gameplay that is accessible yet always challenging. The combat mechanics are fun, and the driving mechanics are simple and balanced. To me, this game recalls classic road combat games like Road Rash, and personally I’m all for it! This particular subgenre of racing game really gets the adrenaline pumping, and you’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat giving it your absolute everything just to survive to the end of the race.

2. Roadclub: League Racing

Roadclub: League Racing gameplay

The developers of this game claim that it was developed in a custom 3D engine to provide realistic handling mechanics. Now while I usually urge people to take what developers say with a pinch of salt, the handling mechanics of the cars in this game certainly do feel top-notch. The game features a season-based career mode, where you attempt to ascend the league racing ranks until you reach the reigning roadclub master and battle it out with him in a tense 1v1 race. You can also collect upgrades and new cars as you go along to give you an edge over the competition.

1. 80’s Overdrive

80's Overdrive gameplay

I could speak and speak about this game all day, but the name and the gameplay tell you all you really need to know about this game. It’s a beautifully crafted 2D racing game that’s designed to take you back in time to the 8- and 16-bit era. The game features two game modes, 6 retro supercars, and even comes bundled with a track editor, so you can create and race on your own custom-made circuits.

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[Top 10] Best 2D Racing Games Right Now