10 Of The Best Racers For The Nintendo Switch
In no hurry to produce a weekly list to compete with the big boys, I did say I’d be writing a ’10 of the best racers for the Nintendo Switch’ type of thing in the Cruis’n Blast review.
This list is personal, so you don’t have to agree with it, but if it points you in the direction of at least one title you’ve missed – great!
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Art of Rally
While this list is in no particular order, Art of Rally is currently my favourite driving game on the Nintendo Switch. It’s not your conventional racer, despite the minimalist appearance you might be accustomed to on the Switch.
As a rally game, you aren’t actively racing others but going for the best times in each of the gorgeous stages. Besides being an incredibly satisfying experience once you get a feel for the handling, Art of Rally also boasts some of the best cars to ever grace the sport – with plenty of liveries too, to tart up the experience.
Art of Rally on Nintendo Switch (US)
Inertial Drift
Since publishing my review, I saw quite a mixed response on this one from other folks – both reviewers and those who bought it on the day.
I still love Inertial Drift as this twin-stick racer is quite unique and feels great to play. This racer from PQube (who’ve had a nice flow of decent games of late) is a cocktail of Initial D and Ridge Racer.
Perhaps it hasn’t reached the same heights of either series, it still remains on a pedestal, and I reckon it deserves to be on this list.
Inertial Drift on Nintendo eShop (UK)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Does this need to be on the list? If you’re into racing games, you must own this, or at least should. It’s a staple of Nintendo since the SNES – we all have our favourites, and perhaps the original was mine with the good ol’ faithful Koopa Troopa or maybe Donkey Kong.
As it’s Nintendo’s own, you’ll be hard-pressed to get this in a sale, but as one of the first games I purchased some four years ago, it’s still one of the go-to games. If only it went on sale like Mario Vs Rabbits, and we’d all have a copy.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo eShop (US)
Asphalt 9: Legends
I referred to this as those with small penis syndrome as the cars on offer compensate for any man wishing to extend his manhood. Old stereotypes aside, for a free-to-play, this is excellent.
The only time I download a free-to-play is either through recommendation or boredom. With Asphalt 9: Legends, it was the latter, and I managed to put in a decent amount of hours into it.
Feature the classic time-based challenges, if you’re getting antsy, you can buy some extras (with real money), but in fairness, you can easily play this game without spending a penny, but if you do, the devs will likely continue to invest in it.
Asphalt 9: Legends on Nintendo eShop (UK)
Hotshot Racing
Still playing this one as well. Arguably one of the best arcade racers in the past couple of years (I have it on the PS4 as well), Hotshot Racing is a fast and frantic experience that’s on par with games like Daytona USA and Virtua Racing.
A scandalous comment to make, but I prefer it over the latter. However, Daytona USA is still on a pedestal, so despite Hotshot Racing having some vivid courses and some super sleek low-poly cars and drivers, it’s hard to knock off the old bird just yet. But this game comes a hairline within taking that mantle.
Hotshot Racing review
Hotshot Racing on Nintendo eShop (US)
Rise: Race The Future
Rise: Race The Future is borderline high concept. Racers on the Nintendo Switch might be written off as not being as good on the portable compared to the big boys like WRC 10, but this looks great on the Switch, and goes just as fast.
Boasting 60fps, this is a fast-moving game and, quite frankly, gorgeous. My beef with it was the handling could be awkward at times – coming close to Ridge Racer, but not as good. However, an update was released with a few tweaks and some substantial improvements. Plus, look at those cars!
Rise: Race The Future on Nintendo eShop (UK)
Horizon Chase Turbo
As a big fan of the original Chase H.Q., Out-Run and Lotus Turbo Challenge 2, Horizon Chase Turbo was a perfect way to relive all those titles in one without starting afresh.
Though I started this on the Switch, I ended up getting on the PS4, which was my preference. In fairness, this was because the way it’s animated messed with my vision on the small screen, and the docked mode was an option.
Don’t let my old man eyesight put you off, though. With a new Ayrton Senna update that completely revamps the game with a first-person mode, it’s a game you should consider if you haven’t done already.
No review published, but played to death on the PS4!
Horizon Chase Turbo on Nintendo eShop (US)
Sega Ages: Virtua Racing
Though Hotshot Racing is my preferred low-poly racer on the Switch, you can’t go wrong with Virtua Racing, plus it’s a classic. A friend owned this on console back in the 90s, and I was blown away by how arcade-like it was.
The Sega Ages line-up sets the bar for many other publishers as there are so many features too. If you genuinely take your times seriously, you can watch what the pros/those with the best times do by watching their videos (connected through the game), and perfect the ultimate racing line.
Indeed a great game, especially for the price; just be aware that it doesn’t have the same number of tracks as its contemporaries and is a tad more difficult due to the time-attack nature of the gameplay.
Sega Ages: Virtua Racing review
Sega Ages: Virtua Racing on Nintendo eShop (UK)
Burnout Paradise Remastered
This is a cheeky little entry as I don’t own this on the Nintendo Switch, but I have played it and can testify to the 60fps as seen in Rise: Race The Future. I have this on PlayStation, but I played an associate’s Switch version many a time.
Included in this are eight add-on packs, which includes Burnout Bikes. Sure, it’s a pretty old game – 2008! But it makes the transition to the Switch completely natural, and with a new lick of paint, too.
No review for this one, but it’s good!
Burnout Paradise Remastered on Nintendo eShop (US)
Cruis’n Blast
To reiterate, this 10 of the best racers of the Nintendo Switch feature isn’t in order, but as it was Cruis’n Blast that inspired the idea, it felt appropriate to finish on it.
Getting wrapped up in a game around review time, you live and breath a title, then perhaps don’t get time to come back to it. Not the case in Cruis’n Blast, as it’s still one of the best racers on the Switch – especially in multiplayer.
The arcade element is so much fun, and racing around on a unicorn then flipping it on a vert is an experience in itself. In hindsight, the game is perhaps a little expensive, but if you’re on the fence, note that I’m still playing it with the family, so it’s still competing with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Cruis’n Blast review
Cruis’n Blast on Nintendo eShop (UK)
Any Other Business?
There are other titles I’ve missed, but that’s because I haven’t played them to give a fair assessment. The Gear Club series is one, Moto GP is another, but I’d probably reserve that for the PlayStation. And no, I haven’t played Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled or Team Sonic Racing despite being told they’re good games.
Any recommendations? Let me know by dropping me an email, or DM on Twitter.
