Fans of racing games have been kept on their toes in 2023. The year has been marked by high expectations, some notable releases, and other releases that some may call disappointing.
The racing genre has witnessed a flood of new video game releases and all sorts of new gameplay. Forza Motorsport’s revival and WWC’s comeback were easily the most anticipated which got the whole community embroiled in discussions.
The year also saw the arrival of a new Forza Horizon rival and a surprising continuation of an arcade racing game that added more action and excitement to the racing genre But it wasn’t all fun and games.
Table of Contents
- The Peaks and Valleys of Racing Game Releases
- Celebrating the Best of Racing: 2023’s Standout Titles
- The Crew Motorfest: A Festive Foray into Racing
- Forza Motorsport: A Challenging Return to the Track
- EA Sports WRC: A Rallying Cry for Quality
- F1 23: A Course Correction for Formula Racing
- Disney Speedstorm: A Divisive Yet Promising Entry
- Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged: Keeping Arcade Racing Alive
- LEGO 2K Drive: A Whimsical World of Racing
- A Year of Passionate Racing
The Peaks and Valleys of Racing Game Releases
Racing and sports fans had plenty of new games to choose from this year but a fair amount of lagches affected the final product of these various games. The Forza Motorsport and F1 games in particular were heavily impacted as they contained game-breaking bugs and glitches.
As a result, many players were left disappointed as they were looking forward to the title. Similarly, fans have once again been reminded that game development can be highly unpredictable as the release for the game Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has also been pushed to 2024.
In the context of recent tumultuous events that rocked the nation, 2022 brought a number of achievements to its people as well. With a number of racing titles coming out throughout the year, I was particularly impressed by the visionary ideas embodied in the gameplay. Let us now take a look at the offerings that turned heads this year.
Celebrating the Best of Racing: 2023’s Standout Titles
The Crew Motorfest: A Festive Foray into Racing
The Crew Motorfest was able to differentiate itself from the other competitors by delivering a racing festival that is truly United Nations-level.
As we can see, this already places the game within a certain context- with its setting in Hawaii, players are likely to come across a varied array of regions to explore from beautiful beaches to lush rainforests to the volcanic slopes of Halekala and Mauna Kea mountains.
Motorfest was criticized by many for being an off-brand forza horizon however it was able to do wonders with its playlist, the range of vehicles and its overall world.
The ability to drive cars, sail boats and fly planes is a groundbreaking feature that shifts the way someone would expect to experience racing games.
Forza Motorsport: A Challenging Return to the Track
The biggest controversy surrounding this game series was Forza Motorsport’s break as the community expected this game to surpass everything.
It did have a bug-filled beginning but it was eventually vindicated as one of the top titles in racing genre. The game has gorgeous, lifelike graphics that deliver a true sense of speed, a diverse collection of vehicles, and impressive driving physics that help to enhance the racing experience.
Although the game is a multiplayer favorite thanks to its improved career mode and its multiplayer mode, there are many who would like to have more than a dozen career events to choose from.
EA Sports WRC: A Rallying Cry for Quality
Another game Why EA Sports WRC is synonymous with the term “controversial”? A lot had to do with the changes the developers made when this game was being generated, more so on PC.If we do forget about the early technical hitches the game had certainly been appreciated for the many challenging stages, various types of classic and modern day cars and the option to create your very own rally car.
With Codemasters taking over the series which they are known for it’s pedigree in racing games, they have truly elevated the series with the introduction of the European Central Rally and the switch to Unreal Engine 4.
F1 23: A Course Correction for Formula Racing
It was nice to hear that more than what F1 22 had to offer was F1 23 and future titles.
The development has shown a measurable change with regard to handling aiming towards a better and optimized driving experience.
It is good to see the introduction of F1 World, coupled with the other live service updates, for the more casual gamers and as a way to add challenges and depth to the game which is a good sign for the franchise.
Disney Speedstorm: A Divisive Yet Promising Entry
From the start, there were questions surrounding Disney Speedstorm for its split features such as some technical issues.
Then there was the rest of the game which is focused on racing where Disney Speedstorm has the upper hand with decent graphics, great tracks, and of course, the gameplay itself.
With Disney Speedstorm as a free game, here is an opportunity to play racing in the style of Disney movies.
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged: Keeping Arcade Racing Alive
As the history and future of arcade racing seem to remain intact, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged witnessed the release of one of the most explosive and fun arcade racing titles.
Such a title brings new environments, new vehicle types, new gameplay mechanics as well as the never before experienced thrill of being in an arcade racing game.
Because it is easy to understand and features high speed arcade racing, the game has been quite popular among people who enjoy quick entertainment, like turbojets in a racing world.
LEGO 2K Drive: A Whimsical World of Racing
In the end LEGO 2K Drive catered to a colourful audience of youngsters by bringing with it a racing experience suitable for all age brackets.
Aimed at young gamers, it presents new forms of gameplay that combine racing with the ideas of creativity and adventure within the spirited world of Bricklandia and LEGO 2K Drive. The in-game car creator as well as the story mode are light, yet entertaining additions that make the game a good starting point to understand the racing genre.
A Year of Passionate Racing
It was evident that 2023 was a rollercoaster ride for the simulation racing video game community. New and good new titles came out, each adding something different to the genre.
In spite of the struggle with a few technical difficulties and some disappointments, racing fans have plenty to hold on to as developers seem to be relentless in their effort to enhance the already exhilarating realm of virtual racing.
With the turn of the season comes the hope that the racing simulators to be rolled out in the coming year are able to set even more new benchmarks in the world of simulation racing.
