Need a Christmas present for a virtual racing fan? Then check out these eight racing games for the Nintendo Switch.
Photo credit: Nintendo / MotoGP 20
Christmas is right around the corner, but you still don’t have all of your presents? Well, if you need to find something for a racing games fan who owns a Nintendo Switch, then it’s your lucky day. We have collected the eight best racing titles for the console. Whether you need something for a child, a car enthusiast or a motorbike expert, there is a potential present for everyone.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Release date: April 2017
Price: €59.99
Nintendo’s best-selling title is a must-have. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features the beloved Italian plumber and 41 more playable characters. The iconic circuits all have a unique theme such as a haunted mansion, a snow terrain, a rainbow road through space or a giant clockwork. Players have to race through the crazy tracks, jump, fly, go underwater and collect items they can use in the race.
Not only is Mario Kart a great game to have fun with alone, it is also one of the most popular party games for the Switch. So why not test it out with the whole family on Christmas Eve?
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
Release date: November 2020
Price: €39.99
Fun is important when playing racing games, but you know what else is? Speed! Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered is a new and polished edition of the popular 2010 release. The game is set in the fictional Seacrest County and brings high-speed police chases. The player can choose to be either a racer or a cop, with career modes and special power-ups available for both sides. A variety of licensed real-world cars and SUVs are available which you might never be able to drive in real-life, but you can now satisfy your need for speed in the virtual realm.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer
Release date: June 2020
Price: €13.72
Star Wars Episode I: Racer is nearly as old as Master Yoda himself, as the game was originally released in 1999. Due to its insanely popular reputation, the fan-favorite came back to newer consoles this year. Fans get to relive the iconic podraces from the movie franchise. 25 characters are available, such as Anakin Skywalker or Sebulba and there are 8 worlds, including Tatooine and Malastare. The players have to maneuver their podracers through challenging environments and can also upgrade their vehicles.
Hotshot Racing
Release date: September 2020
Price: €19.99
If you want to gift someone a trip back to the 90s, Hotshot Racing is a great time-machine. The arcade racer is eye candy with its bubbly, nostalgic polygonal look. The Grand Prix mode offers a variety of circuits that all stand out in their design, as you get to see cityscapes with skyscrapers, the vast ocean or explore the mountains between ski lodges. The tracks progressively become harder and the game perfectly balances mixing borderline realism with splashes of over-the-top fantasy. There are also additional race options, including pursuits or “Drive or Explode”.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Release date: June 2020
Price: €49.99
Burnout Paradise Remastered is the first open-world racing game for the Switch. You might remember its original from 2008, but the new version has completely upgraded graphics and also includes all eight DLCs for the older generation games. The title challenges you to crazy full-speed driving, but doesn’t ask for you to obey to the Traffic Code. On the contrary, you have to deliberately go absolutely maniac and dangerous to build up your boost meter and get rewarded for crashing into others. Burnout Paradise Remastered is probably the fastest game available for Switch, so get ready for an adventure.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Release date: October 2020
Price: €110
If you need a present for someone who loves racing and also has a creative mind, then Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is the perfect choice. The game comes with a real remote-controlled kart toy and several checkpoints. Now all you need is your imagination as you have to build circuits with these checkpoints across your living room. Once your home-made track is complete, you race through your room with the Nintendo Switch controller, while the toy car cruises around on the TV screen as well as in your home. If you need some inspiration to build a track, you can check out our tutorial for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit.
MotoGP 20
Release date: April 2020
Price: €49.99
As the name already suggests, MotoGP 20 is a simulation of the 2020 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Therefore, it includes the official drivers and tracks of the season which the player has to lead to victory in the career mode. You can also create your own team from scratch and hire assistants to build and improve bikes. The Historical Mode unlocks additional content with legacy riders and bikes. Leaning heavily to the side of realism and life-like physics, MotoGP 20 is challenging to handle at first, but a true gem once you master the machines.
GRID Autosport
Release date: September 2019
Price: €34.99
GRID Autosport is the closest you get to car racing simulations on the Switch. The game doesn’t include any crazy gravity-defying physics, but focuses on realism. Players can live their dream as motorsports driver in the career mode and have fun in five different categories: Touring, Endurance, Open Wheel, Tuner, and Street. There is a range of different cars available, such as Stock Cars, V8 Supercars, GTs or Hypercars. Tracks have an emphasis on the real-world circuits such as Spa-Francorchamps, Indianapolis and the Red Bull Ring.
What racing games do you want for Christmas? Tell us on Twitter at @overtake_gg!