By all accounts, 2016 was a pretty mega year for racing games with a stunning number of titles released, from the spectacular Forza Horizon 3 to the notoriously hardcore console version of Dirt Rally.
Fear not, though, as even after all of that 2017 is also shaping up to be a serious year for racing fans. Whether you’re a hardcore sim racer or more of a casual fan here are the titles that should be on your radar this year.
Gran Turismo Sport
Platform: PlayStation 4
Due out: Late 2017
Perhaps the only downside to the iconic Gran Turismo series is that such is Sony’s dedication to making each one a pixel perfect, high-quality product, they don’t tend to come around very often.
Spin-off title Gran Turismo Sport aims to bridge the gap between Gran Turismo 6 - which was release all the way back in 2013, if you can believe it – and the next proper Gran Turismo game, which is likely a while off yet.
Don’t write it off as just any old tat to fill the gap though, as GT Sport is the first game in the franchise tailor-made for the PlayStation 4. Developed in conjunction with the FIA, Sport aims to offer a more realistic driving model and competition format as players climb the ladder of a professional driving career.
As well as a whole range of licensed sports, super and racing cars, Gran Turismo Sport will also support 4K TVs and virtual reality headsets, while Sony is aiming to push the game in the eSports world with live competitions.
Dirt 4
Platform: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Due out: June 2017
Formerly known as Colin McRae Rally, the Dirt series has produced some of the best-loved and most iconic racing games of all, and though some of its titles steered in the direction of entertainment rather than simulation, 2015’s Dirt Rally ushered in a proper return to realistic rallying form.
Dirt 4, meanwhile, aims to bridge the gap between the ultra-hardcore realism of Dirt Rally and the more user-friendly approach of previous games like Dirt 3. There’ll be over 50 different cars available to drive, from the iconic Subaru Impreza 555 to Group B monsters and modern R5-spec machinery.
Along with the standard rallying modes, with your pacenotes once again called out by none other than Nicky Grist, Dirt 4 will also offer the off-road focused Landrush mode and rallycross events, along with a free-roam joyride option.
Completely new to the series is the innovative ‘Your Stage’ system, which allows players to create totally unique rally stages with adjustable length and complexity, so you’ll never have to drive the same route twice.
Need For Speed 2017
Format: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Due out: Late 2017
We owe a lot to the Need For Speed series for stoking our pre-teen interest in cars, and earlier this year a blog post on the series’ website confirmed that a new game is coming out this year.
Aside from that, there’s not a whole lot known about the game, which will be the first Need For Speed title in two years. The game is being developed by Ghost Games, which oversaw the controversial 2015 reboot of the series, but which was also responsible for the hilariously brilliant Need For Speed Rivals in 2014.
But as with any Need For Speed game, even if the content itself isn’t exactly stellar you can bet your bottom dollar that it’ll both look and sound exceptional.
Micro Machines: World Series
Format: June 2017
Due out: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
They’re never the most realistic of driving games, but Micro Machines has become a cult series of arcade racers with players assuming control of a variety of wacky RC vehicles and competing against other drivers on similarly wacky tracks.
Each comes equipped with all sorts of exotic weapons like rocket launchers, flamethrowers and machine guns, and each takes place in macro-tastic tracks located in pool tables, gardens, kitchen tables and garages.
It’s a bit like Worms but on wheels then, and just like Worms the only objectives are to utterly destroy your enemies and have as much fun as possible doing so. Not one for hardcore sim racers, but we defy anyone not to have an absolute hoot playing this.
Project Cars 2
Format: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Due out: Autumn 2017
The follow-up to the original Project Cars, the sequel is likely to follow closely in its predecessor’s hyper-realistic, hyper-gorgeous footsteps. As a proper sim racer, Project Cars 2 will be the game you want if you prioritise the driving experience over everything else.
Less experienced players can enable various assists to make the game slightly more forgiving, but it’ll still definitely be one to play on the racing wheel rather than on a controller. Project Cars 2 will contain more cars and more locations than ever before, with more than 200 tracks available and a huge variety of vehicles divided into more than 40 categories.
Players are free to tinker with the looks and technical parameters of every vehicle, while the game consists of a single player campaign mode, multiplayer racing and online challenges and rankings. Much like Gran Turismo Sport, you can expect this one to be a real hit with the eSports crowd.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Format: Nintendo Switch
Due out: April 2017
From most realistic to probably least realistic, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an updated, uprated version of Mario Kart 8 due to be released for the Nintendo Switch. Bundling together several elements from previous games like motorcycles, gliders and underwater racing, the Deluxe version will also introduce anti-gravity for the first time.
Casual fun at its best, although there’s no story campaign like in many other racing games, there is the option of several different multiplayer variants both online and offline, while single players can race against AI-controlled opponents.
The Deluxe edition will also include all of the content present in the original Mario Kart 8, including all add-ons and DLC, and will also introduce several new tracks and characters like King Boo, Dry Bones and Bowser Jr.
Forza Motorsport 7
Format: Windows, Xbox One
Due out: Late 2017?
Officially, there’s not actually any word yet that the seventh title in the Forza Motorsport series will be out this year, but given that the Forza games tend to alternate between a Motorsport and Horizon title each year, it’s safe to assume Motorsport 7 is on its way this year.
Following on from the smash-hit that was last year’s Forza Horizon 3, rumours state that Motorsport 7 will be announced at this year’s E3 convention in June and will go on sale towards the end of the year.
Compared to the more family-friendly, free-roaming adventure fun of Forza Horizon, Forza Motorsport is a true-blue sim racer and serves as the Xbox alternative to the Gran Turismo series. Expect hardcore handling, a vast range of different cars as well as the inclusion of features like the advanced weather modelling system that was introduced in Horizon 3.
Drift Stage
Format: PC
Due out: Late 2017
One for the hipsters this, but don't let that put you off: Drift Stage is an independent retro racing game that pays deliberate tribute to the likes of 80s arcade classics like Outrun, Super Hang-On and Daytona USA.
Available exclusively on PC, it’s unashamedly arcade-y in nature with old-skool physics that’s a million miles away from the likes of sleek, hyper-polished games like Gran Turismo or Project Cars. Along with a standard career mode, players can also face off against other players via split-screen or online.
There are various cars licensed from all your favourite old retro arcade racers that you can drive, along with stunningly minimalist 3D graphics designed to ape the old 8-bit and 16-bit games of yore.
