We already published the list of best original Xbox games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best original Xbox arcade racing games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the original Xbox definitely has a great library of arcade racing games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the original Xbox and arcade racing games, there’s a chance you’ll like this list.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. XGRA: Extreme-G Racing Association
- Release Data: Acclaim Studios Cheltenham/Acclaim, 2003
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Futuristic
XGRA will appeal to fans of the genre that have been craving for a worthwhile futuristic racing game and are willing to overlook some of its flaws.
However, a lot of the potential of XGRA has been realized, so unless you’re expecting it to raise the bar for this genre, you ought to get a kick out of it.
#24. Freaky Flyers
- Release Data: Midway, 2003
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
A fun idea that manages to capture the entertainment value of kart racing without making too many compromises, Freaky Flyers is surprisingly entertaining.
It’s likely that fans of challenging games and enthusiasts of the genre will enjoy this more than your typical player, but there’s enough appeal here to attract just about anybody.
#23. Crash Tag Team Racing
- Release Data: Radical Entertainment/VU Games, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Crash Tag Team Racing doesn’t raise the bar of the kart racing genre with innovation and brilliant gameplay, but it has enough going for it to appeal to those with an interest in cute characters racing and blowing up one another.
It’ll be especially good for younger audiences, since the difficulty level is set pretty low.
#22. Cars
- Release Data: Rainbow Studios/THQ, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Though Cars will almost certainly take you well under 10 hours to complete, there’s two-player multiplayer to mess with, as well as some bonus materials to check out.
It also manages to deliver an authentic Pixar film experience to the video game medium, and it’s certainly one of the better kid-oriented games to come out on the Xbox.
#21. Freestyle Metal X
- Release Data: Deibus Studios/Midway, 2003
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
While it won’t win any beauty contests, and the control is a little tough to master at first, Freestyle Metal X is unique in that it is a trick-based motocross game.
Most of the others, including the trick-heavy Freekstyle, have been racers at their core, but this one is really different.
#20. Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller
- Release Data: Hitmaker/Sega, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
If you’re a big fan of the series, and all you’re looking for is more Crazy Taxi, you should definitely get Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller.
Also, if you’ve never played any of the Crazy Taxi games, Crazy Taxi 3 is a great place to start—it’s fast, fun, and easy to learn.
#19. MX 2002 featuring Ricky Carmichael
- Release Data: Pacific Coast Power & Light/THQ, 2001
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
Fans of motocross will be more than pleased with what MX 2002 provides—the control is tight, the graphics are more than adequate, and the Xbox version’s additional features make it a good choice.
Overall, MX 2002 is quite a racing title on its own merits and should be considered by fans of motocross and newcomers to the sport alike.
#18. Spy Hunter
- Release Data: Point of View/Midway, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
If you were to slap a 007 license on this game, it would be one of the best James Bond games.
As it stands, it’s a solid reinterpretation of a video game classic that adds its own unique elements to the franchise without forgetting what made Spy Hunter what it was.
#17. FlatOut
- Release Data: Bugbear/Empire Interactive, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
If you can look past some of the flaws, the game’s delightfully unscripted core racing mechanics can be a lot of fun, especially when played against others in a multiplayer setting.
As it is, it’s a very good game that falls just shy of greatness, and serious demolition racing fans would do well to check it out.
#16. Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions
- Release Data: Bunkasha Publishing/Activision, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
If you’re looking for a great-looking game that will show off the Xbox’s graphical muscle, Wreckless fits the bill.
However, a general lack of gameplay depth, stupid physics, and annoying mission design all get in the way of what could have been a fantastic, action-packed driving game.
#15. Test Drive: Eve of Destruction
- Release Data: Monster Games Inc./Atari SA, 2004
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
It’s obvious that the developers have a legitimate affection for demolition derbies, and they really tried to make a game that captured the typical atmosphere of derbies.
While they do manage to pull this off, the game’s rather limited scope means that you won’t necessarily get much out of it for long, especially if you don’t have friends.
#14. MX Superfly
- Release Data: Pacific Coast Power & Light/THQ, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
MX Superfly is a cleaned-up and slightly larger version of MX 2002.
If you missed out on MX 2002, Superfly is a perfect place to start.
If you’re a casual MX 2002 player, though, you might not notice or appreciate the game’s changes and updates as much as an MX 2002 fanatic would.
#13. FlatOut 2
- Release Data: Bugbear/Empire Interactive, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
FlatOut 2, while not a major improvement over the first game, is still a quality demolition racer.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of lovable qualities to be found in FlatOut 2, especially if all you want is the same basic racing gameplay as in the first FlatOut, but with a lot more of it.
#12. Quantum Redshift
- Release Data: Curly Monsters/Microsoft Game Studios, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Futuristic
While Quantum Redshift capably fills the vacuum of futuristic racing games for the Xbox, gamers already familiar with the Wipeout or Extreme-G games won’t find anything meaningfully different here.
It’s a pretty fun game on its own merits, so those who haven’t grown tired of the Wipeout formula and want to see some flashy visuals should have a good time.
#11. MTX Mototrax
- Release Data: Left Field Productions/Activision, 2004
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
All told, MTX Mototrax is a good game that should please fans of the motocross racing genre, but there are better choices on the market.
MTX Mototrax may be a good motocross racing game, but MX Unleashed is still a better game across the board.
#10. OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Sega, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
If you’re looking for a fun arcade racer with lots of Ferraris and the ability to do some fast and furious drifts, you won’t go wrong with OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast.
Those who’ve already played OutRun2 may find the experience to be largely the same, but it’s still a worthwhile experience, especially those who missed out on that game.
#9. Splashdown
- Release Data: Rainbow Studios/Atari SA, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
When you race through the new courses and then through the original courses, it almost feels like you’re playing two different games.
In any case, the improvements that the developer made to an already good game are certainly for the best, so Xbox owners looking for a racing game that plays and looks great would do well to play Splashdown.
#8. Burnout
- Release Data: Criterion Games/Acclaim, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Anytime you feel the need for a nerve-racking racing experience, it is the type of game that you can come back to and play from time to time and enjoy thoroughly.
Burnout is one of the most intense and entertaining racing games on the Xbox, complete with tight controls and impressive graphics.
#7. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
- Release Data: EA Seattle/Electronic Arts, 2002
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
With 66 missions, a multiplayer mode that features the infamous Need for Speed pack, and a good selection of licensed cars, Hot Pursuit II is a worthwhile purchase for anyone interested in arcade-style racing games.
It’s not as impressive as the PS2 game, but it does mark the first time the Need for Speed series is available for the Xbox.
#6. Midtown Madness 3
- Release Data: Digital Illusions/Microsoft Game Studios, 2003
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
The single-player modes are simply run-of-the-mill checkpoint races that don’t really add anything meaningful to the overall package.
The online play really saved it, as the nice collection of modes and the ease with which you can jump into games or change cars as needed definitely put the focus on fun.
#5. MX Unleashed
- Release Data: Rainbow Studios/THQ, 2004
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
In the end, MX Unleashed is another very good entry in a solid series of motocross games.
It plays well, and it has great control and a lot of tracks and objectives.
All in all, fans of the series or of motocross in general should definitely check it out.
#4. OutRun2
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Sega, 2004
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Overall, OutRun2 sets itself apart as an excellent arcade-style racing game.
The only major caveat is that the game lacks a split-screen mode for offline racing, so if that’s an important feature for you to have, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Otherwise, OutRun2‘s attractive visuals, tight controls, and abundance of content make it easy to recommend to racing fans.
#3. Burnout 2: Point of Impact
- Release Data: Criterion Games/Acclaim, 2003
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
In the end, Burnout 2 makes significantly better use of all the elements that the game does well, from its blistering sense of speed to its hilariously destructive crashes.
The crash mode alone makes this game worth seeing, and the inclusion of the well-done championship and multiplayer modes makes it a great arcade-style racing game.
#2. Burnout Revenge
- Release Data: Criterion Games/Electronic Arts, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Burnout Revenge might not be the revolution that Burnout 3 was, but in the end, it changes more than enough to make it feel like a very different game.
It’s a technical marvel, but more importantly than that, it’s one of the most exciting racing games ever made.
#1. Burnout 3: Takedown
- Release Data: Criterion Games/EA Games, 2004
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Unless your only idea of driving-game enjoyment involves playing the strictest of simulations, Burnout 3: Takedown is the driving game for you.
Furthermore, it’s simply one of the most exciting, action-packed games to come along in a long time, regardless of genre.
Overall, Burnout 3: Takedown is an amazing achievement that anyone with a pulse will probably love.
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See also: Best Gaming Chairs & Best Xbox 360 Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which original Xbox arcade racing game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
