As very few of us can be WRC or Formula 1 pilots, the only solution at our disposal without too much costs, or risks to our health, is the collection of car racing games.
Even if they are only a compromise solution, video games allows us to live out our most wildest racing fantasies without endangering ourselves or other people on the road.
Happily for those that choose the virtual version of car racing, the games offer is varied and besides commercial games like Need For Speed, gamers can also play some free car racing games. A very good choice for people who like to play such games online is also Need For Speed World, a online game with cars that can be played for free.
Need for Speed World Online
Need For Speed World Online is a free car racing game, from the MMO category, which belongs to the world popular Need For Speed franchise, developed by Electronic Arts studio.
Unlike other free car racing games, Need For Speed World Online provides a very detailed game world with many circuits where we can drive some of the world’s most powerful cars.
In Need For Speed World Online we can play against other players using the multiplayer mode, or against some virtual opponents using the single player mode.
Minimum System Requirements
- Windows XP / Vista / 7
- 2.0 GHZ Core 2 Duo or AMD X2 4000 at 2.1 GHZ+ processor
- 2 GB of RAM memory
- 4 GB of HDD space
- DirectX 9, 256 MB video memory
Need for Speed: The Run
Released on November 18, 2011, Need For Speed: The Run was one of the most expected car racing games of the year, which will surely keep you busy in 2012 as well.
The game developed by Black Box is a very successful arcade racer, but with a brief singe player campaign which can be completed in only a few hours.
The main advantage of the Need For Speed: The Run game is the multiplayer mode, capable of offering a good experience for people who like car racing games. You must know that in order to take part in the multiplayer game you need to have a valid license, which you can get by buying the game.
DiRT 3
Codemasters managed to perfect the Dirt franchise, the successor of the Colin McRae Rally game.
Even if it doesn’t come with many changes compared to its predecessor, it offers a impressive number of tracks which we can compete on in many ways.
The single player is named DiRT Tour and it is divided into four seasons. With the level advance new races get unlocked, as well as varied racing cars. The duration of the single player campaign is pretty big so we are going to have plenty of time to perfect our driving skills.
The multiplayer mode of DiRT 3 is varied and big. Besides the online game, you can also play using split-screen, competing on the same computer or gaming console.
Need for Speed: SHIFT 2 Unleashed
Shift 2 Unleashed is the sequel of the famous NFS Shift Unleashed game, one of the most famous car racing of the last years, produced by Slightly Mad Studios and Electronic Arts.
Need For Speed SHIFT 2 Unleashed provides a impressive selection of racing cars which we can drive on famous circuits all over the world.
Unlike it’s predecessor, SHIFT 2 is trying to offer a more elaborate structure of the career game, which is full of intro movies and tips.
As the game wants to be a auto simulator, SHIFT 2 is more difficult to handle than other racing games. You must know that despite many options of adjusting the difficulty level, the game is not very well optimized for keyboard control, reason for which it’s a good idea to play the game using a gamepad or a steering wheel.
The SHIFT 2 realism is supported with the help of a very good damage system, which makes each impact leave visible traces on your car.
Driver: San Francisco
Driver: San Francisco follows the story of detective John Tanner, who is searching for psychopath killer Charles Jericho. During a car race to apprehend Jericho, Tanner is involved in a very serious car crash and he ends up in the hospital in a coma.
Even under this situation, Tanner finds a way to continue to track down Jericho, using a new ability that allows him to leave his body. In his dream, Tanner is in San Francisco and can steal any car that he finds in traffic. Thanks to this new ability, our driver manages to solve missions through unique methods.
Along with a original single player campaign, Driver: San Francisco also enjoys a multiplayer mode, which allows us to race online, but also using the split-screen mode.
The graphics engine developed by Ubisoft Reflections is thrilling as it provides good quality images and it is very well optimized, being capable of offering 60 frames per second constantly, regardless if you play on your PC, Xbox or Playstation 3.