Summary
- Blur featured diverse car selections & unique power-ups, creating an intense racing experience.
- MotorStorm Pacific Rift offered a wide variety of vehicles for thrilling off-road adventures.
- Need for Speed World's downfall was a heavy reliance on microtransactions despite its high user base.
The racing genre is among the most entertaining in the gaming world as it not only allows players to have lots of fun alone and with friends, but it also helps develop fast reflexes to avoid obstacles and take sharp turns. Competitive car games have been around almost as long as gaming consoles have, and luckily, there's no sign that they'll go away any time soon.
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While many racing games can still be purchased from both physical and online stores, there are some timeless classics that, unfortunately, players can no longer get their hands on unless they pay a hefty price for a second-hand copy. Here are some great racing games you can't buy anymore.
5 Blur
Large Car Variety With Tons Of Power-ups
Blur
- Released
- May 25, 2010
- Developer(s)
- Bizarre Creations
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Sports, Simulation
- Bizarre Creations shut down in 2011, delisting the game
- Blur featured power-ups like shields, mines, and nitro boosts
One of the greatest things about Blur, is that it mixed real-life cars with incredibly powerful power-ups that would not work in the real world. With over 50 featured licensed cars, including several classic models and a few more that were modern, players had a ton of variety to pick from to race on tracks modeled after real-life locations.
Blur combined high speed races with intense competition and the use of things like shields, mines, and nitro boosts for an ultimate chaotic, yet very entertaining experience. This title allowed up to 20 players to race against each other online, and it also had a great split-screen mode for local matches that, more often than not, were the life of the party. The game was released for Xbox 360 and the PS3, but unfortunately, it was delisted a few months later due to studio closure.
4 MotorStorm Pacific Rift
A Wide Range Of Vehicles At Players' Disposal
- Platform(s): PlayStation 3
- Released: October 28, 2008
- Developer(s): Evolution Studios, Shadows in Darkness
- Genre: Racing video game
- The game's servers were shut down in the early 2010s
- Featuring monster trucks, regular cars, ATVs, and buggies, players had a ton of variety to choose from
As the second entry in the MotorStorm franchise, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift improved on many things its predecessor lacked. Released exclusively for the PlayStation 3, the game had thrilling off-road racing on an island full of tricky terrain and environmental elements, such as enormous volcanoes and beautiful forests. It could be said that some of the Forza games might have taken some inspiration from this title when developing their off-road areas.
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As opposed to other racing games of its time, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift allowed players to race using many vehicle types, including bikes, ATVs, buggies and even monster trucks. Each vehicle had different handling physics and stats, making them better or worse for certain situations and terrain types. Unfortunately, despite its variety and realistic graphics (for its time), the game was removed from the PlayStation Store and its servers shut down in 2012. These days, players can still get a copy, but it will likely be second-hand and bought from an individual seller.
3 Need For Speed World
A Massive Game That Was Killed By Its Microtransactions
Need for Speed World
- The game once reached 20 million registered users
- Players had to outrun the police and compete against other drivers
As the first multiplayer entry in the Need for Speed franchise, Need for Speed World had enormous shoes to fill, especially as it was implementing a completely new way for players to compete against one another in this universe. The game had an enormous map with different sections that players could race in, learn, and beat their competitors with enough practice and dedication. As in other Need for Speed games, players also had to outrun the police now and then to continue racing undisturbed.
Sadly, despite reaching an amazing 20 million registered players at some point, Need for Speed World was heavily based on microtransactions, which players were not happy about. This led to a slow but steady decline in users over the years, and in 2015, EA finally decided to shut down the title's servers, leaving it in the dark for good.
2 Ridge Racer 2
A Racing Classic For The PSP
Ridge Racer 2
- Released
- September 14, 2006
- Developer(s)
- Namco Bandai
- Platform(s)
- PSP
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- The game was delisted due to licensing issues
- Ridge Racer 2 built on its predecessor's successes and included new things of its own
Released in 2006 for the PSP, Ridge Racer 2 was the long-awaited sequel to the 1993 game Ridge Racer, which was not only available for the PS1, but also as an arcade game in several establishments. Ridge Racer 2 kept the elements that made its prequel successful, while adding new elements to its gameplay that helped take it one step further. With over 40 tracks available, some of which were remastered versions from the original game, this title offered hours of fun for players.
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The game also featured a wide range of different cars and game modes, including World Tours, Arcade, and Time Attack—more than enough to compete with any racing title Sony or other developers released at the time. Unfortunately, after a good run, Ridge Racer 2 was delisted from the PlayStation Store as many licenses around its soundtrack and other content expired and were never renewed.
1 Driver: San Francisco
An Undercover Cop Racing Game
Driver: San Francisco
- The game was delisted due to licensing issues
- Players could use the shift mechanic to switch between vehicles
Released in 2011 and developed by Ubisoft, Driver: San Francisco incorporated a shift mechanic that allowed players to switch between different vehicles in the middle of races. The game was set in a virtual version of San Francisco, which was masterfully crafted and designed with a ton of attention to detail. As undercover police officer John Tanner, players were given the chance to explore the streets of the city while completing various missions.
Unfortunately, the great game mechanics and intricate design of the San Francisco area weren't enough to keep this title from being delisted. Like with Ridge Racer 2 and other racing games from that era, there were some licensing issues involved in this decision.
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