Top 10 Sci-Fi Racing Games

One of several sci-fi racing gems from the 90's on this list, “Rock n' Roll Racing” has you pick between one of several alien drivers, which then compete on an intergalactic racing circuit. While passing the finish line first is the main goal, players also have built-in car defense and weapon systems which can purchased and upgraded after acquiring on-track money bonuses and winning races. And as the name suggests all of this racing is done to a heart-thumping, kickass licensed soundtrack.

Combining everything great about the sci-fi racing genre, “Rollcage Stage II” has you zipping down an assortment of tracks while hitting speed boosts, deploying energy weapons, and even driving up walls. And unlike traditional racing games where crashing automatically means inflicting debilitating damage to your vehicle, “Rollcage II” allows you to blast past whole structures, causing maximum amounts of destruction and mayhem on the way. While this game has never yet received a true sequel, it is considered to be the spiritual precursor to the game “Firebugs” and may even see a reboot thanks to a couple dedicated programmers and several crowdfunders.

Also known as “XG3: Extreme G Racing”, this game has you cruising at breakneck speed with motorcycles, rather than cars, in a competitive racing tournament set in the twenty-third century. Like other entries on this list, this game balances traditionalracing with the use of up-gradable shield and weapon systems which gives the game added depth and excitement. Keeping with the futuristic theme tracks twist, loop, drop, and even go underwater in a variety of locales including the open ocean, a vibrant metropolis, and rural canyons. Plus, the motorcycles look kinda like the lightcycles from the movie “Tron”. Pretty cool, huh?

With a game play like something out of a Paul W. S. Anderson film, “Death Rally” has you load up your car with engine, tires, armor and a variety of weapon upgrades, all with intent of winning a competitive racingcircuit...and blowing up as many rival cars as possible. In addition to preparing your own vehicle before hitting the track, players can also bribe mechanics to sabotage enemy cars. Not just a forgotten racing game from yesteryear, “Death Rally” still has a popular following as it's received a full remake in 2011 for the iOS and later for the PC.

Another unorthodox racing game which uses hoverbikes instead of four-wheeled automobiles, players race across both land and water in this Playstation 1 classic. Rather than incorporate speed boost zones or weapons like other games in the genre, the “Jet Moto” series has a magnetic grapple system, wherein the player's hoverbike can be magnetized to 'slingshot' around strategically placed energy poles in order to make tight turns or clear great jumps. Be prepared to master this skill or risk being left in the dust...or falling off a cliff.

The most recently released entry on this list, “FAST” focuses exclusively on speed over power, as there's no vehicular combat; just a finish line to cross and your reflexes to get you there. Sequel to the “Fast Racing League” on the Wii, “FASTRacing NEO” has breathed new life into the once dead, futuristic racing genre. Focusing in on the genre's fundamentals, “FAST” omits any kind of story line, instead sporting absolutely gorgeous graphics and solid game play, albeit with a considerable difficulty curve.

While it initially looks like a traditional racing game, “San Francisco Rush 2049” differs from previous entries in the franchise in that the games cars are equipped with retractable glide wings with which the player can use to finely maneuver while jumping in the air. And unlike the arcade version, the Dreamcast and N64 ports include not only exclusive sound tracks but also a 'stunt wing' which allowed the player to pull of some sweet, skateboard game-inspired tricks while in mid-air in Stunt Mode.

While based off the rather infamous prequel film, “Racer” features one of the most uniquely designed science fiction vehicles to ever be featured in a video game: the chariot-inspired podracers. Easy to pick up and play, but difficult to master, “Racer” will have you competing on worlds from all over the Star Wars universe including Tatooine, Sullust, Malastare, and planets you’ve never even heard of. Having sold over three million copies upon release, “Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer” holds the honor of being the best selling sci-fi racing game of all time.

While we had considered one of its successors, “Wipeout 3”, we had to give the award to this mid-nineties gem due to its groundbreaking technological achievements, high critical reviews, and overall popularity. Referred to as “Wipeout XL” in North America, this game combines traditional racing mechanics with vehicular combat, as players compete to be the leading racer on a series of Formula 1-inspired futuristic tracks, all to the tune of some great trance music. Considered to not only be one of the best racing games of the fifth generation, “Wipeout 2097” is also among the greatest and most technically influentialracing games ever.

Before we slide into our first place pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Kinetica” (2001)
“Quantum Redshift” (2002)
“Galaxy 5000” (1991)
“Top Gear 3000” (1995)

Any enthusiast of racing games, or even just someone familiar with the Smash Bros. series, probably saw this one coming. Not only the most-well known of the sci-fi racers, “F-Zero GX” took everything about its precursor, “F-Zero X”, and made it even better with improved graphics, tightened controls, and increased challenge. However, “F-Zero GX” isn't for casual gamers as – keeping with the “F-Zero” tradition – this game is hard as hell. Competing with twenty-nine other pilots on heart-racing, white-knuckle inducing tracks, “F-Zero GX” will quickly have you honing your reflexes like no other game can or just throwing your controller across the room.

So, do you agree with our list? Which futuristic racing game had you playing at the edge of your seat? For more electrifying top tens be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.