The Top Racing Games You Should Be Playing From 1992

Racing games tend to get a bad rap from gamers. Many players consider the genre boring or childish and they are wrong. Some of the most interesting games of all time are racing games. Fans of this genre love pushing these virtual cars to their absolute limits while maintaining control. Some fans just enjoy the chaos and speed and others truly just enjoy cars. No matter what kind of racing fan you are you can find a plethora of great games in the past decades. 1992 was a great year for gaming in general and here are some of the best racing games from 1992.

Nakajima Satoru Kanshuu F1 Hero MD

• Release Date: May 19, 1992
• Release Platforms: Mega Drive, Game Boy, NES

Known as Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge in the States and Europe, this title is a Formula One game endorsed by Satoru Nakajima. Depending on which version of the game you’re playing the gameplay could be very different. The NES version is simplified compared to the others and the Mega Drive version has different team and player names to avoid copyright laws. Both versions are good to this day and it doesn’t matter which one you prefer.

Super Mario Kart

• Release Date: August 27, 1992
• Release Platforms: SNES

A racing franchise that needs no introduction also made its way to the masses in 1992. Super Mario Kart has been ranked as one of the greatest video games of all time by several publications. Many racing game fans see this franchise as the pinnacle of kart racing. Fans can take control of one of eight Mario characters and race in single-player or multiplayer modes across 20 tracks. Fans of the very successful Mario Kart 8 would love the original.

Lamborghini American Challenge

• Release Date: 1992
• Release Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Super NES, Amiga CD32, Game Boy

One of the pioneers of street racing video games, the Lamborghini American Challenge was released in 1992. More so an expansion of a previous title than a full-on release. This game was very popular on release and sold almost 300,000 units. The player must race against the CPU in a variety of illegal races across the country. As you progress through the game these races become harder and the players must upgrade their Lamborghini to keep up. All in all, this title is a fun blast from the past.

Ayrton Senna Super Monaco GP II

• Release Date: July 17, 1992
• Release Platforms: Genesis / Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear

Another game based on Formula One, Ayrton Senna’s Super Monaco GP II was praised for its speed and graphics. Fans of this title tend to prefer certain versions over others. This title is one of the best racing games of this era but the Sega Genesis version of the game didn’t change enough from its predecessor. Criticisms aside the game sold well, and fans who enjoy the Formula One games will be right at home with this title.

Car and Driver

• Release Date: 1992
• Release Platforms: MS-DOS

For fans of more realistic driving controls, look no further than Car and Driver. The game only consists of 10 controllable cars: The Porsche 959, Toyota MR2, Ferrari F40, Lotus Esprit, Ferrari 250 Testarossa, Shelby Cobra, Lamborghini Countach, Eagle Talon, Corvette ZR-1, and Mercedes-Benz C11. Despite the small roster of vehicles, this game offers one of the most immersive driving experiences of this year. If realism is all that matters in your racing title then this is the pinnacle of 1992.

F1 ROC: Race of Champions

• Release Date: February 21, 1992
• Release Platforms: SNES

Known as Exhaust Heat in Europe, this title is a great game all around. The game is one of the most enjoyable games of the time however it does have its flaws. The game is simple and has an empty feel to it. Many critics at the time compared it to an easy version of F-Zero. Despite its criticisms, this game is perfect for those interested in retro games and aren’t a fan of racing games. Its simplicity makes it accessible.

Aguri Suzuki F-1 Super Driving

• Release Date: July 14, 1992
• Release Platforms: SNES, Game Boy

This title was named and sponsored by the Japanese Formula 1 driver, Aguri Suzuki. In North America, the game is known as Redline F-1 Racer but Aguri Suzuki’s imagery is still present in the game. The SNES port is preferred due to its use of mode 7 graphics similar to Super Mario Kart and F-Zero. This game has a lot of player customization and it’s important to make sure you have the correct car parts for the job. For example, if you have the wrong tires during rainy weather can cause your car to skid out.

Battle Grand Prix

• Release Date: March 27, 1992
• Release Platforms: SNES

Originally, the reception for Battle Grand Prix was mixed on release. However, the game is praised for its graphics and controls. Where the criticism comes in is the game’s clunky controls. The game isn’t as accessible as others on the list however many people prefer its two-player mode to others. The game also has many game modes and customization so there’s a little something for everyone who gives it a chance.

Cyber Spin

• Release Date: March 19, 1992
• Release Platforms: SNES

Cyber Spin is a science fiction game built around the fictitious 2015 Formula One season. All of the vehicles are futuristic and turbocharged with futuristic technology. The game is in the same style as the arcade racing games that came before it. Fans of anime will thoroughly enjoy this game and the Japanese version even has in-game anime cutscenes. While it might not be as realistic as the others on the list there is still a lot of fun to be had.

Final Lap 3

• Release Date: September 1992
• Release Platforms: SNES

Final Lap 3 was one of the most successful upright arcade games during the month of its release. It ran on Namco System 2 hardware allowing for up to eight players simultaneously. The game was simple with little content but was praised and popular for its fun multiplayer. The game also allows for skill expression with its tracks, where Barcelona is one meant for novices, and Suzuka is a track meant for experts.

Jeep Jamboree: Off-Road Adventure

• Release Date: July 1992
• Release Platforms: Game Boy

Funnily enough, this title was later recycled for use in another game called Race Days. Jeep Jamboree is a first-person driving game similar to another game, Test Drive. Although this game is an older handheld title, it has many options to play around with. Players can choose the difficulty level, whether to race in MPH or KM/H, steering ability, whether or not to have a track map, chevrons, and position flashing. This game isn’t for everyone but it is novel in its presentation and worth a try if you can find it for cheap.

Jaguar XJ220

• Release Date: 1992
• Release Platforms: Amiga, Mega-CD

This title is a pseudo-3D racing game featuring the Jaguar. The game consists of a championship race across 12 different countries. Jaguar also featured an edit mode that allowed you to create your own track. The game was received well by fans and critics. Mostly because Jaguar XJ220 is very intuitive and the inclusion of a track editor was a great addition too. Unfortunately, the game allows the use of only one car but this allows for more detail and options in other places. Many people feel like this is the best racing game of 1992.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Collage of racing titles from 1992.