For those who enjoy heart-racing action, it is hard to deny a good racing game. These games may put skills to the test or it may be filled with luck-based results. Either way, there’s no way players won’t have fun playing these types of games. If there is a console that embraced racing games, it was the PlayStation 2.
There are tons of excellent games in its library, from Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec to Burnout 3: Takedown. But while there were plenty of instant racing classics on the console, there were quite a few that flew under-the-radar and weren’t as well-received by critics.
10 ATV Offroad Fury 3 (Metacritic Score: 78)
The ATV Offroad Fury games were some of the best vehicular titles on the PlayStation 2, with the first two installments being praised by critics all-around. However, there is an argument to be made that ATV Offroad Fury 3 is the best in the series despite not being rated as well.
The game isn’t too different from its predecessors, but it does have more ATVs to choose from and more championships to participate in. Plus, there are fun mini-games based on other sports where players can use their ATV in unique ways. It’s still the offroad free-roam gameplay players enjoy.
9 Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (71)
There have been some strange titles over the years, but LucasArts coming out with a very cartoony racing game based on the Star Wars universe is among the weirder things showing up on the PlayStation 2 console.
That said, Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing isn’t as bad as reviewers made it out to be. Sure, it’s seemingly a cheap kart racer that doesn’t introduce anything too innovative, but it doesn’t mess with the kart-racer formula players are used to. The courses and characters are also enough to convince any Star Wars or kart racing fan to give a try.
8 Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild (80)
Games with cars, bikes, and snowboards are commonplace, but what about jet skis? The Splashdown series focuses on this vehicle and it does so while implementing races around beautiful waterways. The sequel, Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild, didn’t have as strong of reception as its first game but had a lot more content.
There are more tracks in this version as well as more characters to choose from. There were also more modes, including career and arcade. Along with the outstanding visuals of racing in the water, the game is one of the best water-based racing games out there.
7 Shox (78)
For those looking for an under-the-radar street racing game for the PS2, Shox definitely fits that glove. By the folks at EA Sports BIG, the game takes on rally racing as players can pick from an assortment of brand-name cars to take the streets in.
One of the reasons the game is unique is that each course has three “Shox Zones.” If a player can go from one end of a zone to the other in a decent amount of time, they can win more money. The money can be used for car repairs and to bid on cars in auctions.
6 Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (56)
There are games that aren’t necessarily good but may still deserve a little more respect than they did. Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity is a sequel that has similar issues to its predecessor but overall is enjoyable for fans of the hedgehog and anti-gravity race styles.
The game defers from the original as it has a little bit more substance, such as more tracks and characters, plus a plot that is actually compelling. It has obvious control issues, but getting a grip on this can make riding around with Sonic and the gang a lot of fun.
5 Hot Wheels: World Race (55)
There are plenty of children, and some adults out there, who love collecting Hot Wheels. The brand isn’t as strong as it was back in the early 2000s, but those who enjoyed the sets may enjoy a video game based around these cars.
Hot Wheels: World Race is a licensed game based on the television series, and it was reviewed like one as well. The game was panned for not having a ton of depth and lacking innovative tracks. However, the game is the perfect nostalgia trip for people who love toy cars and old school arcade racing games.
4 Sled Storm (73)
SSX was a cult classic during the PS2 era, with both SSX Tricky and SSX 3 being among some of the best sports games of the decade. This series wasn’t the only EA Sports BIG creation to focus on snow sports, however.
The PS2 version of Sled Storm, a sequel to a PS1 game with the same name, has similar controls to the classic snowboarding series but uses sleds instead. This includes the classic races with players performing tricks to earn points as they go. The game is so much like SSX that Zoe and Psymon trade in their snowboards for sleds in a crossover.
3 Need For Speed: Carbon (74)
The Need For Speed series has a plethora of games that have been well-received, but there were a few that didn’t garner as much love. Need For Speed: Carbon, however, needed some more love from critics.
The game takes place in Palmont City, with players taking control of multiple street-race gangs. Carbon was panned for not being very innovative compared to its predecessors. Despite this, what makes Carbon special is the canyon duel races, the Nitros, and the excellent cutscenes that rival some of the Playstation 2’s best.
2 Downhill Domination (79)
If players are looking for speed, Downhill Domination has it. This fast-paced mountain bike game has players race against some of the best mountain bikers in the world in technical courses that are both demanding and satisfying to conquer.
Players start with six characters to choose from but can unlock more in single-player mode. Downhill Domination is difficult to control, but not in a way that makes the game unplayable. It adds to the challenge and the environment, which is also visually stunning for the era.
1 Crash Nitro Kart (69)
There is no denying that Crash Team Racing is by far the best Crash Bandicoot racing title, but its sequel, Crash Nitro Kart, deserves some love. One of the biggest criticisms is that it is too much like its previous installment and the boost system doesn’t make sense.
What this game does do well is create some rather fun courses while also implementing new rivals to face and a truly insane final course in the story mode. Crash Nitro Kart is not innovative, but it’s a good enough game to call itself the sequel to one of the best racing games ever made on a PlayStation console.
NEXT: 5 Reasons Why Crash Team Racing Is Better Than Mario Kart (& 5 Reasons Why It’s Worse)
