Racing is a passion for many enthusiasts, from Formula 1 to NASCAR and beyond. It will come as no surprise to these same enthusiasts that there have been numerous gaming experiences to satisfy their racing itch when it arises.

Not all racing games provide a true race-winning experience. Some will not even complete the race. However, those that meet all of a racing fan's expectations will be remembered as among the best in the genre. These racing games have left their mark on the genre in one way or another.

Wreckfest

Crashing into your opponent is generally discouraged.Wreckfest, on the other hand, requires you to do exactly that in order to win. Wreckfest, developed by the same team that created the first two titles in the FlatOut series, has only one goal: to survive the chaos that every demolition derby race inevitably brings.

Wreckfest allows for unlimited modding options. No two mods will ever be the same, and you can destroy almost any vehicle you want, from a school bus to the famous Mystery Machine.

iRacing

iRacing is a one-of-a-kind game in the genre, but it has also left an indelible impression in a variety of ways. Several racing drivers have admitted to using this game to prepare for upcoming races on real-world tracks that have been accurately recreated in iRacing. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, NASCAR stars raced on iRacing while staying at home. iRacing also helped revive the North Wilkesboro Speedway.

On its own, iRacing may not be the most accessible game for some racing enthusiasts. This takes into account the subscription model and the strong emphasis on simulating real-world racing. The offline modes still leave something to be desired. However, if you're willing to take the plunge, iRacing could become your new favorite in the genre.

NASCAR Racing: 2003 Season

Aside from iRacing, the NASCAR series has lost direction in recent years. Multiple developers have attempted and failed to match the gaming peak that many NASCAR fans believe occurred in the mid-2000s. Papyrus and Sierra's final collaboration is, like iRacing, a game that NASCAR fans always return to. Real-world drivers have also used the game to practice for upcoming races at tracks, similar to how iRacing does.

The game begins with the 2003 roster of teams and drivers, but that is not what draws you in when you can obtain a (extremely rare) copy of the game. For the past two decades, modder communities have returned to this title repeatedly to create new cars and tracks to keep the game fresh. With NASCAR Racing 2003, there are truly infinite ways to tailor the experience to your specific needs.

NASCAR 2005 Chase for the Cup

NASCAR 2005, which was released a year after Papyrus, is still highly regarded by NASCAR fans. Chase for the Cup, which features all 43 cars and 36 races from NASCAR's top series in 2004, would be a fantastic throwback for NASCAR fans looking to reminisce about the sport's much-lauded mid-2000s era.

Chase for the Cup shines the brightest in its career mode. After forming your own team, you're thrown into the deep end and must work your way up from the bottom of NASCAR's ranks beginning with the 2004 season. To win the Nextel Cup championship, advance from the Modified Series to the then-Nextel Cup series.

F1 2013

This game was released during the 2013 Formula One season, and many Formula One fans consider it to be the best the series has to offer. Take on the 11 teams on the 2013 grid as you navigate the varied circuits from Australia's Albert Park to Brazil's Interlagos, either as one of the 22 drivers or by entering the career mode to begin your journey into Formula 1.

The F1 Classics mode deserves special attention. The late Murray Walker guides you through the mode, which features five cars and ten drivers from the 1980s decade (an additional six cars and 12 from the 1990s if you purchase the Classic Edition), as well as appropriate background filters and broadcast packages for the races. F1 2013's Classics Mode also included classic tracks, as part of a larger feature that has yet to return to the series.

Driver: San Francisco

This 2011 release of the Driver series features one of the strangest plots seen in gaming, let alone a racing game. As you take on the role of Detective John Tanner, he falls into a coma while pursuing an escaped convict after the previous game. Despite this, Tanner continues his search for the convict while completely immersed in a dream version of San Francisco.

The gameplay in Driver's California-based entry includes a Shift feature, which allows Tanner to move from car to car without failing the current mission while he tries to figure out where Charles Jericho, the convict who got him into this mess, is and what he is planning. Over 140 real cars are also available for you to drive, with a physics system that will test you until you find your groove.

Daytona USA

If you've seen an arcade cabinet, you've probably seen Daytona USA in it. Sega's now three-decade-old arcade title has been remade geometry dash and re-released numerous times. However, no such re-release has taken place since the Xbox 360 port in 2011.

Climb aboard the Hornet and complete three tracks before your time limit runs out, or run fast laps to keep racing to the top of the podium. Link up with up to seven other players, either through seven other arcade cabinets or through online play for the more modern ports of this all-time racing classic, to compete on the three tracks and win.