My top ten video game vehicles

Video game vehicles have become a large part of the car community, with some games even introducing certain vehicles to the main stream. From first person shooters, to racing games, and even non-racing games with cars the list of amazing vehicles is huge. But what are the ten best video game vehicles?

Please be aware that while some vehicles on this list have been included in films, for the purposes of this list I am focusing on it’s inclusion in video games. Keep this in mind before saying anything about a certain entry on this list cough cough #6 cough.

#10. Police Cars (Any street racing game ever)

The only generic entry on this list, from grand theft auto to need for speed if you’re motoring (ahem, hooning) along and see one of these guys you know what happens next. Sirens and horns and chases abound in almost every game that features police cars. Even better are games that allow you to play as the police, bringing in gobs of tech and goodies at your disposal.

Even better-er (that’s a word now m’kay) are games that allow you to grief your friends in split screen and try to arrest them.

From NFSMW’s hectic escape across the bridge (it was hectic at the time) to pretty much any Grand Theft Auto chase, cop cars easily deserve a spot on the list of the top ten video game vehicles.

#9. The Druid Plow (Brutal Legend)

An interesting little vehicle from a gem of a game. This vehicle is essentially a classic hot-rod with nos. What’s not to love? You can add additional parts to increase it’s specs or rice the ever loving heck out of it. You can also summon it with a guitar solo, so that makes it a unique entry on the list.

While it handles like a drunk loaf of bread down a gravel road, it’s (fairly significant) role in the game and the fact that you can mod the car to your playstyle make it a shoe-in.

#8. Runner (Borderlands series)

The vehicle used during the game(s) as transportation, for the most part. The Runner not only fits the Borderlands aesthetic of a wasteland, it is a pretty cool vehicle. Not only is the Runner fast, it’s heavily armored, armed, and easy to drive. Obtaining one costs the player nothing, and a single ram can kill all but the strongest enemies in the game that aren’t in vehicles.

While not perfect in any sense, the overall ease of use and advantage it offers the player makes the runner an important entry on the list of the top ten vehicles.

#7. The Tank (Grand Theft Auto Series)

Every grand theft auto player has at one point in the game cruised down the streets in a tank. While not every entry allows you to just spawn a tank, most of (if not all of) the main entries in the series have a tank that allows to wreck all kinds of vehicular destruction across whatever city you’re in.

While facing the tank without cheats is rarely fun, activating the cheats and decimating everything is always a good way to unwind after a long day.

#6. 1973 Ford Falcon Xb Gt (Mad Max 2015 game)

disclaimer this car would be much higher if the game wasn’t so mediocre

Probably the most iconic movie muscle car this side of an orange charger or green mustang, the car shows up far too little in this game. After the ads showed Max cruising around the wastes and decimating everyone with his legen-wait for it-dary interceptor, we were given a generic 3rd person brawler. While there are many other cars in the game, that the legendary V8 interceptor has a fairly small role despite it’s iconic status is a little dismal. It’s relatively small role also is what slots it at 6 instead of higher. While you can re-create the interceptor during the course of the game, knowing it’s not the real deal tarnishes the deal by a fair amount.

Besides that, this car is simply amazing in it’s simplicity and staying power. Visually it’s a fairly simple creation with all the right cliches, black paint, a blower, and side exhaust. And yet it’s likely the most well known Aussie muscle car and one of the most well known Movie muscle cars. Likely bested only by The Duke of Hazzards orange Charger and Bullit’s green Mustang. That particular discussion is something movie-goers and car enthusiasts still argue about.

#5. R34 Skyline (Various early '00 video games)

Admittedly my first introduction to Godzilla was Gran Turismo 3:A spec and then Paul Walker’s Skyline in FF2. At the time, the R34 was a relatively (compared to now) unknown high performance car. Everyone who knew about them raved about their high performance and somewhat low price, while the Evo and Impreza fans at the time dismissed the R34’s AWD design as a copycat car with no staying power. What a strange time it was…

While the Skyline was fairly successful, it was nowhere near as successful as it was after the R34 came onto the scene in games like Gran Turismo, Need for Speed Underground, and Midnight club.

#4. Go-Kart (Mario Kart Series)

For gamers who weren’t good enough for Gran Turismo or their parents wouldn’t buy NFSU because of the schoolgirls in the ad, there was always Mario Kart Double Dash or 64. Even though Mario Kart is older than the other video game vehicles on the list they are as iconic as the plumber himself to car-guys. The distinct “Brrrrm” still makes me smirk today, and I still enjoy a round or two of Mario Kart, at least until someone gets a blue shell.

The only reason the go-kart isn’t higher on the list is because unlike the last three entries on the list, I’ve never wanted a replica of one.

disclaimer the primary reason the last three vehicles are the three highest on the list is because they not only made an impact on me, but because they are the only (exclusively) video game vehicles I’ve actually looked up actual replicas of.

#3. Sweet Tooth's Ice Cream Truck (Twisted Metal Series)

I didn’t play Twisted Metal until the hyper-dark Black entry, but I had seen Sweet Tooth’s ice cream truck at both car shows and video game posters. Not only did it combine several of my favorite things (Killer clowns, fire, guns, vehicles and video games) but the thing managed to turn one of the most milquetoast vehicles of all time into an awesome carriage of death.

Yaaaaaasssssss.

#2. Warthog (Halo series)

Easily the most iconic shooter vehicle, there are likely very few people my age who don’t know what the warthog is. From the first game when you drive it around the Halo, to trolling in multi-player, and even torturing siblings in splitscreen. At least until Halo 5…

#1. BMW M3 (Need for Speed series)

Easily topping my list is the iconic BMW M3 introduced in Need for Speed Most Wanted. The only car in the series to show up multiple times, usually as the fastest car in the game. For the purposes of this list I’m only counting the main console entries in the series, although it does appear in many hand held spin offs such as the GBA version of Most Wanted, and the PSP version dubbed Most Wanted 5-1-0.

It's first appearance in Need for Speed Most Wanted (2005)

It's second appearance in Carbon

It's appearance in Most Wanted (2012)

It's most recent appearance in NFS 2015

And a slightly altered IRL one

As this is a top ten list, and there are more than ten vehicles in video games, there were a few runner ups. Here are some vehicles I liked but not enough to make the list.

G-6155 (Spyhunter)

Rachel's 350Z (NFSU2)

Samantha/Junkman Civic (NFSU 1)

Technical (Borderlands 2)

Scout Cart (Half-Life series)

Okay fine, there’s one more video game car to make the list. It’s a real doozy too.

#0. Phil (Thumb Drift)

I dunno, I guess it’s a Miata one of the mods owns or something. I’ve never used it. But it’s the real best vehicle 4lyfe!