5 Great Racing Games You Cannot Buy Anymore

Key Takeaways

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.

As someone who has spent countless hours behind the virtual wheel, I must say that these delisted games hold a special place in my heart. They were the soundtracks to many late-night racing escapades and the backdrop for countless victories against formidable opponents.

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.

Although numerous racing games remain available for purchase through physical and online retailers, it’s unfortunate that certain beloved classics are no longer in production. Here is a list of out-of-print racing games that are still worth playing.

5 Blur

Large Car Variety With Tons Of Power-ups

Bizarre Creations shut down in 2011, delisting the game
Blur featured power-ups like shields, mines, and nitro boosts

One fantastic aspect of the game Blur lies in its unique blend of ordinary street vehicles with extraordinary power-ups that wouldn’t function in reality. Featuring over 50 licensed cars, ranging from iconic vintage models to more recent ones, players are spoiled for choice when selecting their ride to race on tracks inspired by real-world locations.

The game offered a thrilling blend of high-speed races, fierce rivalry, and strategic elements such as shields, mines, and nitro boosts, resulting in a wildly chaotic yet highly engaging experience. It supported up to twenty players competing online, and its exceptional split-screen mode for local matches often turned out to be the highlight of any gathering. The game was initially available on Xbox 360 and PS3, but it was taken down just a few months later after the studio’s 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

In the sequel to the MotorStorm series, titled MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, several shortcomings of its predecessor were addressed. Launched exclusively on the PlayStation 3, this game offered heart-pounding off-road racing across an island with challenging landscapes including towering volcanoes and lush forests. It’s worth noting that some elements of the off-road sections in the Forza series may have been influenced by this game during their development.

Instead of typical racing games from its era, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift distinguished itself by offering multiple vehicle options such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), buggies, and even monster trucks for players to race with. Each vehicle had unique handling characteristics and stats, which made them more or less suitable for different conditions and terrains. Regrettably, despite its diverse gameplay and advanced graphics (compared to other games at the time), the game was taken down from the PlayStation Store in 2012, and its servers were shut off. Nowadays, players can still find copies of the game, but they’ll likely have to purchase it second-hand from private sellers.

3 Need For Speed World

A Massive Game That Was Killed By Its Microtransactions

The game once reached 20 million registered users
Players had to outrun the police and compete against other drivers

In its debut as the initial multiplayer installment of the Need for Speed series, Need for Speed World faced a significant challenge due to its innovative approach to letting players compete against each other within this world. The game boasted an expansive map divided into various sections where races could take place, offering opportunities for players to learn and ultimately outmaneuver their opponents with persistence and commitment. Similar to previous Need for Speed titles, players occasionally had to evade the police to maintain uninterrupted racing.

Regrettably, even though Need for Speed World amassed an impressive 20 million registered players at one point, its reliance on microtransactions displeased many gamers. This dissatisfaction triggered a gradual decrease in users over the years, and ultimately, in 2015, Electronic Arts chose to close the game’s servers permanently, casting it into perpetual darkness.

2 Ridge Racer 2

A Racing Classic For The PSP

The game was delisted due to licensing issues
Ridge Racer 2 built on its predecessor’s successes and included new things of its own

Launched in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), Ridge Racer 2 was the highly anticipated sequel to the 1993 game Ridge Racer. Not only was this classic available on the PlayStation 1, but it also graced arcade machines in numerous locations. Ridge Racer 2 retained the features that made its predecessor popular, while introducing new elements to enhance its playability. With more than 40 tracks to choose from, some of which were updated versions from the original game, this title provided countless hours of entertainment for gamers.

This game boasted an array of various cars and game settings such as World Tours, Arcade, and Time Attack. These modes, along with others, made it a formidable competitor to any racing game Sony or other developers put out during that time. Regrettably, due to expired licenses on its soundtrack and other content that were not renewed, Ridge Racer 2 was removed from the PlayStation Store.

1 Driver: San Francisco

An Undercover Cop Racing Game

The game was delisted due to licensing issues
Players could use the shift mechanic to switch between vehicles

2011 saw the launch of “Driver: San Francisco,” created by Ubisoft. This game introduced an innovative feature where players could swap vehicles mid-race. The game’s setting was a meticulously designed virtual San Francisco, rich in intricate details. In this game, you play as John Tanner, a undercover cop, who navigates the city streets, completing diverse missions.

Despite its impressive gameplay mechanics and elaborate design, the San Francisco-based title failed to avoid removal from the market due to some complications related to licensing agreements, much like what happened with Ridge Racer 2 and other racing games of that period.

2024-09-27 18:33