Car Racing Games

Not all of us can aspire to be successful professional auto racers in the real world. But thanks to the invention and ever-increasing sophistication of computer technology, we can all pretend to be one through any of the numerous car racing games created for the PC and other gaming platforms. It should be no surprise that auto racing games are some of the most widespread and popular genres of computer and video games ever invented.

There are as many types of racing video games out there as there are different kinds of auto races — if not more. There are games with a first-person and third-person perspective, and ones in which you can switch between the two; there are Formula One simulation games, rally games, Grand Prix championship simulators, vintage car racing games… you name it.

Perhaps the most famous racing computer game series ever produced is the Need For Speed series, going all the way back to the original Need for Speed in 1994. There are thirteen different games within the Need For Speed (NFS) franchise; the latest, Need for Speed: Shift, was released in the Fall of 2009.

Car racing games can generally be categorized as either racing simulations or arcade racing games. The former are more complex, with an emphasis on realism, whereas arcade racers are more focused on being fast-paced and fun at the expense of game realism.

Just like in the real world of auto racing, there are many fans of racing video games, and there are even online championships organized by the most avid and dedicated players. For more information and resources on online car racing and other car racing games, you can start at sites like F1Gamers.com, which focuses on Formula One racing, or Live for Speed, an online race simulator and resource for auto racing enthusiasts.