Top 5 Racing Games of 2010

If you’re a fan of racing games, you can’t be too disappointed with what 2010 has had (and still has) to offer. We’ve had three great arcade racing games so far this year, and the coming months will see the release of two eagerly anticipated games at the simulation end of the spectrum. Together they make up our top five racing games of 2010 (in no particular order).

Modnation Racers
LittleBigPlanet meets Mario Kart in this combat kart racing game for all ages. Part of Sony’s ‘Play Create Share’ range, Modnation gives you almost limitless customization options, allowing you to design your own driver and kart. You can even use the powerful track creator to build your own tracks. And all your creations can be shared with the world. At the core is the game’s extremely accessible arcade style gameplay, and with 4-player split-screen support, it’s a great pick-up-and-play game.

Gameplay style: Arcade
Developer/Publisher: United Front Games/Sony
Platforms: PS3 (Rs 2,499), PSP (Rs 1,499)
Release date: Out now
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Blur**
Blur is the first game from Bizarre Creations, the studio behind the famed PGR series, since being acquired by publishing powerhouse Activision, and it’s quite a departure from their previous efforts. Like Modnation Racers, this is also a combat racing game with lots of weapons and power-ups to use, but Blur features real world cars and gameplay that is slightly more challenging without being too difficult. It’s also got a deep online multi-player mode, complete with levelling up, perks, and unlocks, and support for up 20 players. If you prefer your multi-player action offline, Blur also features a four-player split-screen option.

Gameplay style: Arcade
Developer/Publisher: Bizarre Creations/Activision
Platforms: PS3 (Rs 3,499), Xbox 360 and PC versions not sold in India
Release date: Out now

Split/Second: Velocity
From the makers of over-the-top ATV racer Pure, Split/Second is a very different take on combat racing. Rather than using weapons and pick-ups, its unique powerplay system lets you destroy parts of the environment on and around the track to impede your opponents, often to devastating effect. Fiery air-dropped barrels, exploding gas stations, and crash-landing airplanes are just some of the tools of destruction at the player’s disposal, and this makes for an even more intense experience when played against human opponents. Designed as a reality show, Split/Second features accessible gameplay and an array of fictional cars to let you tear through its 11 environments.

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Gameplay style: Arcade
Developer/Publisher: Blackrock Studios/Disney Interactive
Platforms: PS3 (Rs 2,499), Xbox 360 (Rs 2,499), PC (Rs 999)
Release date: Out now

F1 2010
It’s been almost four years since we’ve had a Formula 1 game (not counting last year’s Wii and PSP releases). Since then, publishing rights have moved from Sony to the racing game specialists at Codemasters. This means that F1 games will be returning to the PC after many years, and to an Xbox console for the very first time. While there will be various assists to aid inexperienced players, Codies have insisted that F1 2010 will be a true simulation. With a career mode that permeates every facet of an F1 driver’s career, stunning weather effects, and all the drivers, teams and circuits from the current F1 calendar, it looks like the long wait will be well worth it.

Gameplay style: Simulation
Developer/Publisher: Codemasters/Codemasters
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC (prices TBA)
Release date: 24th September

Gran Turismo 5
Gran Turismo is a name synonymous with the PlayStation brand, and over three years after hitting shelves, the PS3 will finally get its first full Gran Turismo game this November. Gran Turismo 5 overwhelms with its laundry list of features. Over 1,000 cars with accurate damage modeling, day and night racing, dynamic weather, 3D support, NASCAR and WRC licenses, and a track editor are just some of the many features that will be packed into the GT5 disc. All of this, of course, will be built around a sound simulation driving experience that is the hallmark of the Gran Turismo series.

Gameplay style: Simulation
Developer/Publisher: Polyphony Digital/Sony
Platforms: PS3 (price TBA)
Release date: 3rd November

While there are still a couple of great racing games to look forward to in 2010, things are already shaping up well for next year. DiRT 3, MotorStorm Apocalypse, and Test Drive Unlimited 2 are already scheduled for 2011, and you can be sure that there will be more games that are yet to be announced. It’s a very good time to be a racing game fan.