The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

There are loads of awesome racing games out there but there are also some that are pretty disappointing. We asked you to nominate the worst racing games you’ve played, and there were some fascinating and controversial responses…
The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

1. Need for Speed

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

No, we don’t mean the whole franchise. There have been some pretty sweet NFS games. We mean the 2015 release of that name, which featured frequently in the comments of the original community post.

Here’s what Raregliscor1 had to say about it:

“Oh, NFS 2015 by far. Lacklustre customisation at the beginning, with some cars getting such minimal cosmetic upgrades. Also, it had the absolute worst driving physics ever. Grip builds equal immense understeer, drift builds equals you going into the wall every five minutes when you try drifting because the game doesn’t like you drifting. And a middle build just has both but slightly less. The map was extremely boring in comparison to previous NFS games like Most Wanted 2012 and Hot Pursuit.”

2. Asphalt 8: Airborne

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

Sure, Asphalt 8 is a mobile game for iOS and Android, so we can’t expect console-like quality. But other racing games prove you can still get it right for these kind of devices.

Here’s Александр Ригов explaining the suggestion:

“I can’t name any bad simulator racing games, but Asphalt 8 is probably the worst so-called ‘racing game’ ever created, because it’s basically just a stupid runner.”

3. Forza Horizon 2

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

Perhaps a controversial choice for some, but Forza Horizon 2 can’t be everyone’s cup of tea despite getting quite high reviews at the time of its release. But, cutting some of the cars and map areas wasn’t well received by quite a few gamers.

Let’s hear why Johan Karlsson chose FH2, specifically the Xbox 360 version:

“I understand that they can’t make the graphics look as good as on the Xbox One, but they also decided to cut several cars and areas of the map. You also got much smaller rewards for completing races or levelling up.”

4. Need for Speed: The Run

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

Recent Need for Speed games aren’t having the best of times on this list, are they? But, they’re here for a reason. 2011’s The Run proved to be pretty disappointing, as CTzen Harambe (you’re alive?) explains:

“Seriously, the main campaign (race from LA to New York City) can be finished in two hours and there is no content after that.”

5. Forza Motorsport 5

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

FM5 was seen as a disappointment to some when it was released for Xbox One, especially when compared to previous games from the franchise. Timmy Tam talks us through his suggestion:

“It lost so much compared to previous Motorsport games, especially FM4. FM4 had 500 cars at launch while FM5 only had 200, the track list is also small with the fan’s favourite Fujimi and Maple Valley gone, and the physics is by far the worst in any Forza game ever.

“It’s twitchy, unpredictable for almost any cars, and when you oversteer, it is impossible to correct it, hence making it extremely hard to drift. FM5 was not something you would expect out of one of the best racing game franchise, it gives me the sense that the game is incomplete.

“Maybe Turn 10 didn’t have enough time as this is the first Forza on Xbox One, but I still think that they could have done it better. And for that, I think FM5 is the worst racing game I’ve ever played because it was such a huge disappointment.”

6. Need for Speed: No Limits

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

Yep, another NFS title. They really disappointed some people, didn’t they? No Limits was released in 2015, but not for consoles. It’s for iOS and Android devices and people weren’t happy with how it was presented in the app stores and how it actually was in reality.

Let The Stig’s Indian Cousin tell us why:

“They put pictures in the app store like the console version but in reality, it looks the worst. Plus, the races are so short.”

7. Project Cars

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

I really like Project Cars. Sure, there are a few things that annoy me about it, but isn’t that the case with all games? Anyway, a few of you really aren’t fans and that’s fair enough. Here’s Fahim Kazi’s reasoning for suggesting it:

“Picked it up and thought it can’t be as bad as everyone is saying. It sucks, it feels like it’s still in beta.”

8. Test Drive Unlimited

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

The ninth game in the Test Drive franchise but it wasn’t well received by a fair few people. It finds its way to this list through a number of suggestions, here’s Kevin Ferraine explaining why he picked it:

“It’s good for the buying house thing, but the worst at driving experience. The physics are awful, going 100mph on a bend with a Maserati MC12 is just like cornering with a Dodge Hellcat. Lose control in a Enzo at 30mph and you will end up with a huge crash. Even Paganis feel so bad. Try the mountain race and you will lose easily. The game is great for fulfilling dreams, but worst at gaming experience and people’s sanity And the other thing is, no BMWs were available in the game.”

9. The Crew

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

The Crew was released in 2014 for PC, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It received mixed reviews on release and it appears some of you weren’t fans of the game. Sam Payne kept his reasoning short and simple:

“The Crew is awful. Terrible driving makes you feel like cars are on water.”

10. Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing

The 10 Worst Racing Games You Have Ever Played

Having been panned by critics and gaming reviews, it’s no surprise someone suggested Big Rigs for this list. The PC game was released in 2003. You basically have to race a big rig to safely deliver illegal cargo. It was not good. Citi Rat explains:

“Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing. I honestly have no words for this game. It’s horrid, utterly horrid.”

User suggestions have been edited for clarity. Check out the original community post here and let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Comments

Anonymous

Thanks Jack For Mentioning Me U Da Real MVP

01/01/2017 - 11:38 |
0 | 0
Apex Predator

What about DiRT Showdown. That almost killed the franchise

01/01/2017 - 11:48 |
44 | 2

Really? Is it that bad?

01/01/2017 - 13:16 |
0 | 0

I liked it tbh. Yes, it should have been released under the Flatout banner rather than DiRT, but I enjoyed it a lot, considering I paid only 3€ for it.

01/01/2017 - 15:00 |
12 | 0

I didn’t think it was a bad game at all, quite fun as an arcade racer. Though I would say it didn’t deserve to be a standalone game because of the lack of content. It felt more like a silly DLC for Dirt 3, which originally i thought it was going to be.

01/01/2017 - 20:09 |
14 | 2

People need to learn about the term ‘Spin off’

01/02/2017 - 18:11 |
2 | 4

No it didn’t, it is a spinoff and it’s a really good racing game

01/03/2017 - 08:17 |
2 | 0
Sheran Islam

Need for Speed 2015 is not bad. If u cant tune the car right then i have nothing to say. Sure the map is quite lame but u have to understand the copyrights for the customization.

01/01/2017 - 11:52 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing is the only racing game where you can:

-Enter warpspeed in REVERSE
-Drive THROUGH ALL buildings
-Go UNDER THE ROAD while racing

01/01/2017 - 11:54 |
142 | 0
🎺🎺thank mr skeltal

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Pretty sure you can do the third one in every NFS game.

01/01/2017 - 14:59 |
34 | 0
Thecrazyman

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I did the 3rd one in the “Cars” game on the PS2 more times than I can remember.

01/01/2017 - 15:47 |
8 | 0
Dylan Sandoval

While I see your points and acknowledge them, NFS 2015 isn’t the worst ive played. Neither is NFS The Run, The Crew, or Horizon 2. Need for speed 2015 is a step in the right direction. The physics are really not that great and the customization was great, for about 30% of the cars. I still quite enjoyed it and knew they were at least trying to get it right. Nfs the run was a great experience with story mode that i think no other game has ever done the same. Racing games that is. They wanted a game where it felt like a movie and i think they did an awesome job. While the story was short i still think it has been one of my favorites. The Crew was a very revolutionary game with its map size and its gameplay. The cars handling certainly can feel awkward at first but after the updates and now with the graphics improvement and all it is a fairly solid game. Its unique and fun. Horizon 2 on the 360, well you really cant expect much from a console from 2006. They didnt even advertise it for the 360 at all. If anything they really didnt meed to release it on the 360. You can’t say its a bad game. The rest of the games i have not played except for Asphalt 8. Horrible “racing” game even for mobile i can definitely agree on that. The car prices are insane and they give so little for the races. Multiplayer is god awful with all the hackers and people who pay to win. Asphalt 7 was way better because you had to buy the game. Need for speed no limits is ruined with micro transactions like all other mobile games. Ive had the game for more than a year now and im varely at level 56 and Its hard to upgrade the cars which also take forever. The special events are designed to eat up your gold and force you to buy gold to win and upgrade cars. The graphics are nothing like they advertise and the races are way too short and repetitive. The customization is probably the only good thing about the game but that doesnt Balance it out.

01/01/2017 - 12:04 |
0 | 0

“Customisation was great, for about 30% of the cars.” Therefore. Customisation was pretty poor.

01/01/2017 - 15:58 |
2 | 0
RyanSilva

I agree on all, except NFS The Run, sure it’s short but it’s awesome all the way. The graphics look amazing, the driving physics are great,you have a variety of maps to explore from snowy high-way to rocky mountains and farming fields, the experience is awesome, and you still have some challenges to do and unlock some pretty unique cars, after you finish the main story. I’ve played it twice and it’s great.

01/01/2017 - 12:04 |
0 | 0
LukeyWolf

Agree with Project Cars

01/01/2017 - 12:12 |
2 | 0
Benji Gahleitner

cough Need for Speed Rivals cough

01/01/2017 - 12:20 |
2 | 0
bruce (MUDD SQUAD)(mariner squad) (defender squad) (miata

In reply to by Benji Gahleitner

Agreed

01/01/2017 - 12:47 |
2 | 0

Need for Speed most wanted ( the poor try of criterion games in 2012) was a lot worse.

01/01/2017 - 13:04 |
2 | 2
welshtoast

cough cough F1 2015 cough

01/01/2017 - 12:25 |
0 | 0
Harry Hughes

While I like The Crew, it just has so many problems and the actual driving, although bad, isn’t even the worst. The campaign had such a cliché story that it became annoying and Ubisoft’s lack of effort in patching bugs and improving gameplay was terrible. The game came out in 2014 and I got it with Xbox GWG this year and could still perform the underwater glitch in about five places. The fact the game is online only is awful. If you don’t have internet the game becomes a £40 paperweight and finally, if you do invite people to a lobby with you, they spend the first 5 minutes in the ground trying to spawn.

01/01/2017 - 12:38 |
6 | 0

and the most anoying of all are the glitches that happened in a midle of a race and you have to reset your car to continue from a part in the race in a few races

01/02/2017 - 17:39 |
4 | 0

The crew could have been good if it had half decent physics and wasn’t published by ubishit. Granted, I got my moneys worth with over 300 hrs, but it did make me hate the game more than anything that came before it.

01/16/2017 - 01:35 |
0 | 0