There is nothing like hitting the open road from the comfort of your living room. Racing video games allows gamers to travel at dangerous speeds and own cars that cost more than an average home. Every console generation we think that racing games have reached the pinnacle of their existence, but the developers continue to impress us. Here is our list of the best racing video games of 2012:
3. F1 2012: Codemaster's racer is based on the 2012 Formula One season, and is the sequel to F1 2010 and F1 2011. The game features a brilliant career mode and impressive graphics. The tutorial is a little long winded but is necessary for new play and will help you get better handle on the game. The game handles well enough with a standard controller, but it really excels when you have a racing wheel and it demands a use of skills and tactics from the player. The game is easily the best in the series.
2. Need For Speed Most Wanted: This isn't a sequel to the original Need For Speed: Most Wanted; instead it is a combination of Criterion's Burnout and previous Need for Speed games. The cops chase and annoy you but never are truly a nuisance. Another great thing is that you don't have to spend hours on to unlock more vehicles. But the game is more than just an arcade racer, but far from a racing simulation as it does not offer the comprehensive customizations of games like Forza or Gran Turismo. The reason the game doesn't top the list is because it is rather dull to play alone and can be repetitive at times.
1. Forza Horizon: Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios' Forza Horizon provided gamers with a fun and beautiful open world racing game. Car enthusiasts got to take their favorite cars out on the type of open roads that most video game racers lack. The game doesn't offer a open-road experience like Grand Theft Auto, does offer twisting trails in the Rocky Mountains and compact inner-city courses. It is a pleasant change from the usual driving experiences of Forza Motorsports' technical style. The best part of Forza Horizon is the downtime between events allowing you to drive around and explore the open roads of Colorado and find intriguing things to do. If there is one thing that bothers me about the game, it is the lack or realistic car damage.
