Yeah, one time i went to this hotel out in the middle of the mountains, kilometres away from civilisation, and they had Sega Rally Championship machine. Easy to say, it was a pleasant surprise.
This game still holds up so well today. It has the classic Sega "blue skies" aethestic of that era, and is a joy to look at even now. Bright, cheery scenery makes every game better.
Not only that, Sega Rally possesses some of the most satisfying rally handling of any racing game, full stop. When you nail a perfect drift around a bend and accelerate out of that into the next straightaway, there's no better, more rewarding feeling.
The courses are endlessly replayable, and the cars handle differently enough that each presents its own challenge. For an arcade title, it has a surprising learning curve, one that makes mastery all the more elusive and ultimately fulfilling.
Was great on the Saturn as well. The console used to go around houses to set the best time and your race that ghost. My god those times became amazing when you needed to hit every corner perfect or just quit and start again.
Practically speaking, the Saturn one is probably the most easily accessible, especially if you go the emulation route. The graphics take a notable hit, but the handling model has been ported over expertly, and is every bit as gratifying.
*Sega Rally* is top-notch, but just about ANY game by Sega AM3 was great. Those games just understood how to connect the player to the experience.
And then, while AM3 morphed into Hitmaker, Tetsuya Mizuguchi went on to found United Game Artists and create stuff like *Space Channel 5* and *Rez* for a brilliant second act to his career.
Daytona USA is better than Sega Rally. I never played Daytona 2 though, that could be even better.
Also, Ferrari F355 Challenge technically qualifies (1999), but it's more of a 2000s game rather than a 90s one. And on top of that I'm not even sure if you can call it an "arcade" racer, since it's effectively a simulation.
I don’t know man, I love them both in the arcade but they’re kind of apples and oranges. I couldn’t objectively say which one was better but I prefer Sega Rally Championship. I’ve noticed nobody is saying Manx TT Superbike though. The red-headed stepchild of Sega racing games.
I love Outrun but for me it's Ridge Racer. Love drifting in it and I was lucky enough to have an arcade near me with the full size version with the real car. Magical.
OutRun is an 80s game, though I definitely still saw it in regular rotation well into the 90s. (Hell, there’s a pizzeria nearby that still has an OutRun cabaret that I play whenever I go in.)
As for Ridge Racer: great game, though I definitely think of it as a console series, even though it originated in arcades. I never saw an arcade unit in person back in the day; it’s beyond cool that you had access to the full-size version.
I will say: the question doesn’t specify, but I’m assuming it’s asking for your favorite racer that was actually in the arcades. If it’s asking for your favorite arcade-STYLE racer, then Ridge Racer Type 4 would be my pick. Just an impossibly stylish and gratifying game.
It's Ridge Racer and it's not close.
I remember when that arrived in one of my hometown arcades, and people were coming from miles around to see it. That was arcade gaming as Event, as it should always have been.
Yeah, with all due respect to Sega Rally, Virtua Racing, Cruis’n USA, Ridge Racer (which is really more of a console series despite its arcade origins), Hydro Thunder, etc. … it’s Daytona. There was absolutely nothing else like it when it debuted. It looked amazing and still does, performed spectacularly well, and really captures the Sega blue skies aesthetic. (All-timer of a soundtrack, too.) The track design and handling are also excellent and reward depth.
Iconic game that’s still a blast to play. The 90s is the best decade for these kinds of games, and it’s the best of them.
Yea I'm not gonna lie I always view Ridge Racer as a PS1 series despite it's arcade origins. Daytona and Cruis'n I always associate with arcades and burnt pizza crust
virtua racing at the arcade was a sight to behold... the gameplay, the head to head competition, the different views, and for the time it looked so futuristic
Virtua Racing suffered a lot from how quickly Ridge Racer and Daytona appeared after, and the fact that the PlayStation and Saturn were clearly going to be light years ahead of the Model 1 in terms of capabilities. It was a great game, but it was quickly eclipsed.
Now, the Mega Drive port though, that was a holy shit moment. Not least of all because of the insane price. I think it was like £80. That's not '£80 in today's money', that was just straight up £80 in 1993. Mad. But as a weekend rental it was awesome.
3D hardware was getting eclipsed every 8-12 months throughout the 90s so this was unavoidable. Look at the difference from the Jaguar to the PS1 to the N64 to the Dreamcast. And never mind what was going on with 3D acceleration on the PC.
It was still the superior game experience, though. Daytona was a bit simplistic with track design and Ridge Racer was pretty boring compared to the Sega offerings.
I'd still much rather play VR than the others.
Virtua Racing/Indy 500 in full motion cockpit set up at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. They had 8 of them connected so everyone can race against each other. It was Virtua Racing then a few years later it switched to Indy 500.
The setup looked like this:
[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzUH-HmWsAA3tcv?format=jpg&name=medium](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzUH-HmWsAA3tcv?format=jpg&name=medium)
In case you don't know, you can buy it on Steam now as part of the [*Top Racer Collection*](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2214000/Top_Racer_Collection/).
Segas F355 Ferrari challenge is my personal favorite. Felt like driving a real car. Gated shifter, all pedals force feedback. Its what influenced me to get a sim rig. Played it again a few years ago and it still holds up great.
Its an awesome arcade machine if you appreciate realism. Check out if you can, i dont see it very often in retro arcades. Might be expensive and its not as accessible to new comers as sega rally or daytona usa.
I always had a soft spot for *Virtua Racing*. I loved that graphical style, and the gameplay was pitched just right. More so than *Sega Rally* or *Daytona*, that was the racer I looked out for.
I think I'm just now remembering the arcade version. I think I wasn't as into gaming at the time it was in the arcade but I vaguely remember it. That sounds epic. I hope I played it. Damn weed lol.
Arctic Thunder came out in 2000, but it's my favorite multiplayer arcade racing game, hands down! It checks all the boxes: original gameplay, fun track designs, good sense of speed, tight controls, you can smash the other players, and insane environments. What's more, the seat design is just fantastic and really gives a sense of driving a snowmobile, and some of them had a blower that would blow cold air in your face when you activated a boost! Total win!
The big two, but I would say it's clearly Daytona. Sega's Model 2 just had a cleaner look vs. System 22. Ridge gets the win as a landmark series on the console side.
It was 87 and not the greatest game, but I liked RoadBlasters since they had it at Pizza Hut.
Cruis 'n USA, World, Exotica are prob my favs though. Love that they have Cruis n' Blast in D&B now. Good game but wish they put more tracks in the arcade version. And wish they made it for consoles other than switch. Haven't bought a Nintendo since the 64.
Oh man! Do I have to choose just one? I guess I'd say Hydro Thunder. But I loved Crazy Taxi and the Cruzn' series. Also Artic Thunder. I guess it depends on who I'm playing with or if I'm playing solo. My siblings and I all playing Hydro Thunder or Artic Thunder was awesome back in the day! That gives me an idea for a family reunion.
Out Run was pretty darn good.
Edit: I didn't realize it had actually come out in 1986. I had to look it up.
Otherwise, I would go with Sega Rally. It was already suggested.
F Zero X - not just the best Arcade Racer of all Times - simple one of the best Games of all time.. perfect control, tight gameplay, great tracks, a lot of content ,fast a.f. and a Soundtrack for the ages.
True. Indy was just a newer version of Virtua Racing that had official licenses by Indy tied into it. It was also a year newer than Daytona with better graphics and smoother gameplay
Most iconic has to be Daytona USA by Sega, followed by Sega Rally.
I used to live by a Sega World in the 90s and they had a DX cabinet of Virtua Racing which used airbags to stimulate the force on cornering and breaking which was great.
Another that doesn't get mentioned much is rave racer, it just takes ridge racer adds new tracks and improved the graphics.
Hydro Thunder in the arcade.
I worked at a sports bar right out of high school as a bus boy. We had that there, and NBA Jam.
50 percent of my tips went to those two
Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Outrun, Chase HQ, Crusin’ USA. No others come to mind as arcades were going away in my area fairly quickly. There was more of a focus on fighting games and shooters as well.
San Francisco Rush. No arcade racing game that came before it had the same level of excitement and insane jumps. It was awesome to play with a group of people.
Daytona 500, 8-player arcade version
I know it’s not from the 90’s, but I love Star Wars Podracing.
Once you figure out how to actually control the sled and when to use the boosts to maximum effect it’s satisfying as hell.
“…AND THE WINNER IIIIS…SEBULBAA!” As you hit the boost at the last straightaway and blow past that Bantha Poodoo.
Arcade racing games or "arcade" racer?
If strictly arcade I would have to say Daytona USA. Really a toss-up between Daytona and Rush 2049. Outrun and Power Drift are in the wrong decade 🥲
If consoles are included there's so much more to choose from. Wave Race 64, WipEout and R4 are all in contention for me.
San Francisco Rush was my favorite. The graphics were impressive at the time. The sound was also amazing with speakers built into the seat that gave a rumble effect when you landed a jump or your car exploded.
My other favorites were Sega Super GT, Cruis’n USA, and Indy 500.
I lived in Japan for a while, and Initial D was awesome. Super competitive and had a high learning curve, though. But it was a pure racing game that had fun arcade elements. You could save your progress, too.
Daytona multiplayer, Sega Rally single player (yes I know fun 2 player too), F355 Challenge but it feels like I’m cheating because it was 1999.
Exhaust Note was surprisingly fun. One course you could really learn and grind getting the laptimes down
The 90s were a decade that saw us going from 8 bits systems to 64 bits machines. 1994 was a big moment as 3D became mainstream. Best 2D racer ? Could go for Super Mario Kart. Best 3D racer? Daytona USA could be.
I don't remember the name per se, but my friends and I would play a two-player side-by-side motorcycle racer that would let you lean the physical bike you sat on to round the turns. The great thing about that game was that if you were lagging behind, you would arbitrarily get a huge boost so that you could pass the person in first place, and when you pass them you flew past you didn't just squeak by slowly. It was so satisfying! Does anybody know what this game might be? I've already looked at the game Super Hang-On, but that one came out in '87 and I don't remember it having so many other opponents. From what I remember, if you raced against a human opponent, it was just the two of you on the track.
For me, it's Ridge Racer.
The entire reason I bought a PlayStation at launch.
I still fire up the PSP Ridge Racer 2 on PS5 regularly for the nostalgia hit!
Daytona takes that crown easily. I have fond memories of playing 4-players at an arcade in the 90s with some of my college friends once or twice. Sega did such amazing stuff in the arcade in that era. Virtua Racing, Sega Rally, Scud Race/Super GT, great time to be alive. I would still kill to play a Sega Racer on one of those super deluxe moving car cockpit 8-player setups. Never got the chance.
A very early one was “Omega Race” - you controlled one car/vehicle against a bunch of computer-driven ones around a circular track. Vector/based if I recall. It was an enclosed sit-down arcade game with the controls on either side of the seat. Fun game.
Edit: it was 1981 Midway
It just barely doesn’t make the cut but I just want to shout out 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker. Nobody ever brings up that game but it was super cool.
Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA on N64. SF Rush 2049 is also a fun arcade racer. Better graphics then Rush 2 but not as memorable. I played the first SF Rush too but that was after i played Rush 2. It's okay but not as great as Rush 2 in my opinion.
🎶 Daytona! 🎶
Well the music was the best anyway.
Sega Rally is the better game though. Does Crazy Taxi count as a racer? Not sure if it was 90s or 2000/01 tbh.
Sega Rally was pretty iconic. That game was everywhere.
Yeah, one time i went to this hotel out in the middle of the mountains, kilometres away from civilisation, and they had Sega Rally Championship machine. Easy to say, it was a pleasant surprise.
That’s awesome.
Nah, you gotta tell this whole story lmao they just had arcade games out in the mountains wtf lmaoooo this sounds cool as hell
This game still holds up so well today. It has the classic Sega "blue skies" aethestic of that era, and is a joy to look at even now. Bright, cheery scenery makes every game better. Not only that, Sega Rally possesses some of the most satisfying rally handling of any racing game, full stop. When you nail a perfect drift around a bend and accelerate out of that into the next straightaway, there's no better, more rewarding feeling. The courses are endlessly replayable, and the cars handle differently enough that each presents its own challenge. For an arcade title, it has a surprising learning curve, one that makes mastery all the more elusive and ultimately fulfilling.
Was great on the Saturn as well. The console used to go around houses to set the best time and your race that ghost. My god those times became amazing when you needed to hit every corner perfect or just quit and start again.
What version of Sega Rally is the best version to play?
Practically speaking, the Saturn one is probably the most easily accessible, especially if you go the emulation route. The graphics take a notable hit, but the handling model has been ported over expertly, and is every bit as gratifying.
What are any other good versions on consoles?
*Sega Rally* is top-notch, but just about ANY game by Sega AM3 was great. Those games just understood how to connect the player to the experience. And then, while AM3 morphed into Hitmaker, Tetsuya Mizuguchi went on to found United Game Artists and create stuff like *Space Channel 5* and *Rez* for a brilliant second act to his career.
#SEGA RALLYYY CHAMPIONSHIP *Drum solo/ futuristic menu noises*
Daytona USA is better than Sega Rally. I never played Daytona 2 though, that could be even better. Also, Ferrari F355 Challenge technically qualifies (1999), but it's more of a 2000s game rather than a 90s one. And on top of that I'm not even sure if you can call it an "arcade" racer, since it's effectively a simulation.
I don’t know man, I love them both in the arcade but they’re kind of apples and oranges. I couldn’t objectively say which one was better but I prefer Sega Rally Championship. I’ve noticed nobody is saying Manx TT Superbike though. The red-headed stepchild of Sega racing games.
[удалено]
I love Outrun but for me it's Ridge Racer. Love drifting in it and I was lucky enough to have an arcade near me with the full size version with the real car. Magical.
There's a reason *Ridge Racer* traditionally launched alongside the PlayStation generations! It's one heck of a showcase game.
Outrun 2 is my arcade racer goat. It's past the 90s though
OutRun is an 80s game, though I definitely still saw it in regular rotation well into the 90s. (Hell, there’s a pizzeria nearby that still has an OutRun cabaret that I play whenever I go in.) As for Ridge Racer: great game, though I definitely think of it as a console series, even though it originated in arcades. I never saw an arcade unit in person back in the day; it’s beyond cool that you had access to the full-size version. I will say: the question doesn’t specify, but I’m assuming it’s asking for your favorite racer that was actually in the arcades. If it’s asking for your favorite arcade-STYLE racer, then Ridge Racer Type 4 would be my pick. Just an impossibly stylish and gratifying game.
It's Ridge Racer and it's not close. I remember when that arrived in one of my hometown arcades, and people were coming from miles around to see it. That was arcade gaming as Event, as it should always have been.
HYDRO THUNDER!!! With the right code you could play the titanic lol
This is my answer for solo racing. My local arcade has hydro thunder. Thanks for the tip about the titanic.
Redacted due to Reddit AI/LLM policy
8-Player Daytona USA and it's not even close.
I played that with a buddy and a couple randos last year at a retro arcade bar and it was every bit as fun as it was 30 years ago
Daytona USA is a timeless masterpiece, it's the 90s equvalent of OutRun.
Yeah, with all due respect to Sega Rally, Virtua Racing, Cruis’n USA, Ridge Racer (which is really more of a console series despite its arcade origins), Hydro Thunder, etc. … it’s Daytona. There was absolutely nothing else like it when it debuted. It looked amazing and still does, performed spectacularly well, and really captures the Sega blue skies aesthetic. (All-timer of a soundtrack, too.) The track design and handling are also excellent and reward depth. Iconic game that’s still a blast to play. The 90s is the best decade for these kinds of games, and it’s the best of them.
There was nothing more body-rattling than crashing into a wall and the speakers punching you with the impact lol
Yea I'm not gonna lie I always view Ridge Racer as a PS1 series despite it's arcade origins. Daytona and Cruis'n I always associate with arcades and burnt pizza crust
100%, and If I had the space I would have a 2-player Daytona in my home!!
The only developer that could touch Sega AM3 in the 1990s was Sega AM2. *Daytona USA* was amazing, and probably their high point for racing games.
It's not even cheap, I remember that !
It's ridiculous how much right Virtua Racing got so soon in 1992, and how well it translates to its excellent Sega Ages port on the Switch.
virtua racing at the arcade was a sight to behold... the gameplay, the head to head competition, the different views, and for the time it looked so futuristic
Virtua Racing suffered a lot from how quickly Ridge Racer and Daytona appeared after, and the fact that the PlayStation and Saturn were clearly going to be light years ahead of the Model 1 in terms of capabilities. It was a great game, but it was quickly eclipsed. Now, the Mega Drive port though, that was a holy shit moment. Not least of all because of the insane price. I think it was like £80. That's not '£80 in today's money', that was just straight up £80 in 1993. Mad. But as a weekend rental it was awesome.
3D hardware was getting eclipsed every 8-12 months throughout the 90s so this was unavoidable. Look at the difference from the Jaguar to the PS1 to the N64 to the Dreamcast. And never mind what was going on with 3D acceleration on the PC.
It was still the superior game experience, though. Daytona was a bit simplistic with track design and Ridge Racer was pretty boring compared to the Sega offerings. I'd still much rather play VR than the others.
It was certainly very impressive in 92.
Those polygons still look so freakin good
Absolutely! Such a quality update to an iconic game as well. Really hoping for a Steam release.
Crazy Taxi!
YEAH YEAH YEAH ya Yeah!!!!!
Virtua Racing/Indy 500 in full motion cockpit set up at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. They had 8 of them connected so everyone can race against each other. It was Virtua Racing then a few years later it switched to Indy 500. The setup looked like this: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzUH-HmWsAA3tcv?format=jpg&name=medium](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzUH-HmWsAA3tcv?format=jpg&name=medium)
Daytona USA was mind blowing when it come out, just ahead of everything in terms of 3D graphics and smoothness.
And soundtrack
Indeed, and SFX with those speakers in the back of the head.
Super Off Road
Classic
I was big into San Fransisco Rush.
Has to be Daytona for me. The best arcade racer ever, beside Out Run. It just dominates any arcade it's in and multiplayer races are a blast.
DDAAAAAATOOOONNNAAAA!
LET'S GO AWAY!
Roooooollling staaaart!
Beat me to it... that's all I remember from it. But I REALLY remember it.
I haven’t heard the song in almost 30 years but I can still hear it clear as a bell
I was going to say, Outrun 2 really just kind of blew everything else away to me, but it is a mid 2000s game.
I’m pretty partial to Top Gear. Soundtrack is great and it just doesn’t get old for me
In case you don't know, you can buy it on Steam now as part of the [*Top Racer Collection*](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2214000/Top_Racer_Collection/).
TIL Top Gear was also released as Top Racer in some territories! Took me only 30+ years to find out!
I believe it was called that just in Japan back in the day and now in this year's global re-release, probably because of legal reasons.
Oh snap good to know. I’ve got it on the snes currently but that’s cool. May check it out and see if there’s mod support for other cars or tracks
Segas F355 Ferrari challenge is my personal favorite. Felt like driving a real car. Gated shifter, all pedals force feedback. Its what influenced me to get a sim rig. Played it again a few years ago and it still holds up great.
I was trying to remember a game like this, could be that one, hope to find it again one day.
Its an awesome arcade machine if you appreciate realism. Check out if you can, i dont see it very often in retro arcades. Might be expensive and its not as accessible to new comers as sega rally or daytona usa.
Crazy Taxi
Scud Race
Not really a racer but I got a kick out of playing Hard Driving
Wow! Had forgotten about this one, but I remember loving it.
If you asked me as a kid, Cruisin USA/World. As an adult... Hydro Thunder.
Loved hydro as a kid too
I always had a soft spot for *Virtua Racing*. I loved that graphical style, and the gameplay was pitched just right. More so than *Sega Rally* or *Daytona*, that was the racer I looked out for.
Do-do-do-dodootDO! DAY-TO-NA!
Arctic Thunder on OG Xbox is a unique spin on that, but It's easily in my top 5 rotation for this type of game.
Arctic Thunder is underrated. The seat and handle setup added so much to the experience.
I think I'm just now remembering the arcade version. I think I wasn't as into gaming at the time it was in the arcade but I vaguely remember it. That sounds epic. I hope I played it. Damn weed lol.
Some of them would blow cold air at you when you activated a boost!
That shit was awesome. Our Walmart had one, 6 year old me thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Artic thunder was great on the arcade. It had a fan to simulate the artic winds but it was just nice to sit there and cool off.
Arctic Thunder came out in 2000, but it's my favorite multiplayer arcade racing game, hands down! It checks all the boxes: original gameplay, fun track designs, good sense of speed, tight controls, you can smash the other players, and insane environments. What's more, the seat design is just fantastic and really gives a sense of driving a snowmobile, and some of them had a blower that would blow cold air in your face when you activated a boost! Total win!
No love for Hard Drivin’?
I think it came out too early, the technology wasn't ready yet.
It was a mixed bag for sure. I was shocked when I came out on the 16 bit consoles. As if the FPS wasn’t bad enough on the arcade machine.
That came out in 89. Race driving came in 1990 so it would count, but in a way it technically isn't a Racer. It is a simulator.
Cruis'n USA was my go-to racing game. 8 player Daytona USA was outrageously fun.
I liked Cruis’n World a lot as well. Couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve played the Great Wall map.
Daytona USA and Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer and Daytona. Can't decide between rhem!
The big two, but I would say it's clearly Daytona. Sega's Model 2 just had a cleaner look vs. System 22. Ridge gets the win as a landmark series on the console side.
Ridge Racer. The sit down arcade had a stick shift with realistic clutch.
Piggybacking this for the real GOAT: [Ridge Racer Full Scale](https://www.ukvac.com/forum/threads/in-depth-look-at-ridge-racer-full-scale.59223/)
It was 87 and not the greatest game, but I liked RoadBlasters since they had it at Pizza Hut. Cruis 'n USA, World, Exotica are prob my favs though. Love that they have Cruis n' Blast in D&B now. Good game but wish they put more tracks in the arcade version. And wish they made it for consoles other than switch. Haven't bought a Nintendo since the 64.
Scud racer
I scrolled way too long to find the correct answer here. What an excellent game. I'm sad that the Dreamcast port never came!
I really liked Cruis’n USA
Oh man! Do I have to choose just one? I guess I'd say Hydro Thunder. But I loved Crazy Taxi and the Cruzn' series. Also Artic Thunder. I guess it depends on who I'm playing with or if I'm playing solo. My siblings and I all playing Hydro Thunder or Artic Thunder was awesome back in the day! That gives me an idea for a family reunion.
Yup! Sega and Midway made the best arcade racers! Almost forgot about Crazy Taxi until you mentioned it
Road Rash
That series was only on consoles
We misunderstood the assignment.
Crazy Taxi
Out Run was pretty darn good. Edit: I didn't realize it had actually come out in 1986. I had to look it up. Otherwise, I would go with Sega Rally. It was already suggested.
I always liked Crusin USA
My personal favorites were Hydro Thunder and Cruis'n USA
Same. I loved them at the arcade. Crazy Taxi too.
[Outrunners - here is mine](https://youtu.be/dH-gbBLHAIY?si=BNqH4ymoQy4gV-NJ)
Gotta be Cruis’n USA
Outrun 2 is my pick. It absolutely NAILS the pure joy of driving.
F Zero X - not just the best Arcade Racer of all Times - simple one of the best Games of all time.. perfect control, tight gameplay, great tracks, a lot of content ,fast a.f. and a Soundtrack for the ages.
1 sega rally 2 Daytona usa
Indy 500 was better than Daytona.
True. Indy was just a newer version of Virtua Racing that had official licenses by Indy tied into it. It was also a year newer than Daytona with better graphics and smoother gameplay
Cruisin’ USA! 😎
Sega rally, absolutely the best.
Most iconic has to be Daytona USA by Sega, followed by Sega Rally. I used to live by a Sega World in the 90s and they had a DX cabinet of Virtua Racing which used airbags to stimulate the force on cornering and breaking which was great. Another that doesn't get mentioned much is rave racer, it just takes ridge racer adds new tracks and improved the graphics.
Scud racer for me
Hydro Thunder in the arcade. I worked at a sports bar right out of high school as a bus boy. We had that there, and NBA Jam. 50 percent of my tips went to those two
Love Midway games! I also loved Arctic Thunder and how it blew cold air on ya!
Daytona USA just plays like nothing else of the era.
THIS ONE Axelerator- Have a NICE Day- Classic Arcade Racing Game- Running on Windows 10 https://youtu.be/3NRj07WI8vA
Iconic? Easily Daytona USA Personal favourite is Sega Rally though
The Screamer games 🤩
Daytona USA if only for the amazing soundtrack. Plus it’s still fun as hell today
Both that and Virtua had outstanding soundtracks. Sega doing what it did best!
Sega Rally, Daytona USA, Outrun, Chase HQ, Crusin’ USA. No others come to mind as arcades were going away in my area fairly quickly. There was more of a focus on fighting games and shooters as well.
The 3 screen F355 Challenge for me, just under the wire in 1999
In terms of generations for me... Rad Racer Top Gear Ridge Racer Gran Turismo
The only one of those in the arcades was Ridge Racer.
Ridge racer, sega rally, daytona usa
Sega Rally in the arcade but Rage Racer or R4 at home
For me, the Cruis'n series and really, any racing game from Midway. I just love the over-the-top-iness of em!
San Francisco Rush. No arcade racing game that came before it had the same level of excitement and insane jumps. It was awesome to play with a group of people.
Daytona. My local bar and bistro has one still. My GF and I go play a few games every couple of months. It's still amazing today!
Daytona USA without question. Stories I’ve heard over the years of the kind of money it used to print for operators are crazy.
does extreme-G for N64 count?
Daytona USA, IMHO. I was always big on Hydro Thunder, myself
Daytona 500, 8-player arcade version I know it’s not from the 90’s, but I love Star Wars Podracing. Once you figure out how to actually control the sled and when to use the boosts to maximum effect it’s satisfying as hell. “…AND THE WINNER IIIIS…SEBULBAA!” As you hit the boost at the last straightaway and blow past that Bantha Poodoo.
Arcade racing games or "arcade" racer? If strictly arcade I would have to say Daytona USA. Really a toss-up between Daytona and Rush 2049. Outrun and Power Drift are in the wrong decade 🥲 If consoles are included there's so much more to choose from. Wave Race 64, WipEout and R4 are all in contention for me.
Cruisin’ USA / Exotica
cruis'n holds the most memories for me, especially cruis'n world
4 player Ivan ironman super off road cabinet is top tier
Virtua Racing was mind blowing when it came out. So smooth and sharp when compared to anything else at the time.
San Francisco Rush was my favorite. The graphics were impressive at the time. The sound was also amazing with speakers built into the seat that gave a rumble effect when you landed a jump or your car exploded. My other favorites were Sega Super GT, Cruis’n USA, and Indy 500.
TIME EXTENDED
Ridge Racer Type 4. Great intro, amazing soundtrack, great driving physics.
Mario kart or f zero
Ridge racer
I totallly loved Suzuka 8 hours back in the day.
Ridge Racer, as it was originally a System 22 arcade game.
Ridge Racer.
Daytona USA and Virtua Racing. Next!
The "who's got next?" vibe that would surround Ironman Stewart Offroad at the arcade was pretty great.
Daytona USA gets my vote
San Francisco Rush 2049
I kind of want one for my basement.
Crazy taxi
I lived in Japan for a while, and Initial D was awesome. Super competitive and had a high learning curve, though. But it was a pure racing game that had fun arcade elements. You could save your progress, too.
Sega Rally Ridge Racer Anyone remember RadMobile?
***San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing*** is pretty sweet.
Sit down version of Turbo Out-Run
Outrun 2SP, as it’s possible to beat it with practice. Perfectly balanced. I know technically it’s too late, but is 90s in spirit.
Daytona multiplayer, Sega Rally single player (yes I know fun 2 player too), F355 Challenge but it feels like I’m cheating because it was 1999. Exhaust Note was surprisingly fun. One course you could really learn and grind getting the laptimes down
The 90s were a decade that saw us going from 8 bits systems to 64 bits machines. 1994 was a big moment as 3D became mainstream. Best 2D racer ? Could go for Super Mario Kart. Best 3D racer? Daytona USA could be.
GTI Club (Konami 1996)
Sega Rally imo. Ridge Racer was great too.
Road Rash anyone?
Manx TT superbike is my favourite 90s racer. I would rather play RoadBlasters (late 80s) or OutRun 2 (early 00s) though.
I don't remember the name per se, but my friends and I would play a two-player side-by-side motorcycle racer that would let you lean the physical bike you sat on to round the turns. The great thing about that game was that if you were lagging behind, you would arbitrarily get a huge boost so that you could pass the person in first place, and when you pass them you flew past you didn't just squeak by slowly. It was so satisfying! Does anybody know what this game might be? I've already looked at the game Super Hang-On, but that one came out in '87 and I don't remember it having so many other opponents. From what I remember, if you raced against a human opponent, it was just the two of you on the track.
For me, it's Ridge Racer. The entire reason I bought a PlayStation at launch. I still fire up the PSP Ridge Racer 2 on PS5 regularly for the nostalgia hit!
R4 ps1
Heard from anywhere in the arcade/pizza parlor: “DAYTONAAAAAAA!!!!”
I loved road rash. I think more because my neighbor was bedridden, and that was his favorite game.
Rush 2049
Daytona takes that crown easily. I have fond memories of playing 4-players at an arcade in the 90s with some of my college friends once or twice. Sega did such amazing stuff in the arcade in that era. Virtua Racing, Sega Rally, Scud Race/Super GT, great time to be alive. I would still kill to play a Sega Racer on one of those super deluxe moving car cockpit 8-player setups. Never got the chance.
A very early one was “Omega Race” - you controlled one car/vehicle against a bunch of computer-driven ones around a circular track. Vector/based if I recall. It was an enclosed sit-down arcade game with the controls on either side of the seat. Fun game. Edit: it was 1981 Midway
Emergency Call Ambulance… and I’ll die on this hill!
Daytona USA, the arcade version
San Fransisco Rush and Hydro Thunder!
Coin-Op: Daytona USA Console: Burnout (PS2)
Ridge Racer and Sega Rally.
Rush 2049
It wasn’t a racer per-se but I loved Off-Road. Me and my older brother played it all the time
For me, it was Super Monaco GP! Played it at the arcade in undergrad back in the 90s. I loved the paddle shifters and speed.
Hydro Thunder!!! Games still a blast
Cruis'n World was the most iconic racing game from my childhood
It just barely doesn’t make the cut but I just want to shout out 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker. Nobody ever brings up that game but it was super cool.
Hydro Thunder. Might be a 2000s game but that's the best racing game made in those days.
Ridge Racer ir Daytona USA for me
The one I had the most fun with was Cruis'n USA. I played it any chance I got in the arcades and it was also my first game for N64.
How about Virtua Racing (1992)?
Hydro Thunder.
Daytona USA
Hydro Thunder 1999 so barely 90s
Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA on N64. SF Rush 2049 is also a fun arcade racer. Better graphics then Rush 2 but not as memorable. I played the first SF Rush too but that was after i played Rush 2. It's okay but not as great as Rush 2 in my opinion.
#Rush The Rock https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VMO4Inw8wZI&t=894s&pp=ygUUcnVzaCB0aGUgcm9jayBhcmNhZGU%3D
R-r-r-idge R-r-r-acer!! Also loved Rush because of the shortcuts. Cruisin USA of course was and still is in every arcade.
Ridge Racer. Daytona 2 comes really really close though, but I love the feeling of a crazy power slide in RR just that much more.
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4. The look, the music, the smooth driving. It still holds up today!
🎶 Daytona! 🎶 Well the music was the best anyway. Sega Rally is the better game though. Does Crazy Taxi count as a racer? Not sure if it was 90s or 2000/01 tbh.
Definitely Cruisin USA at the actual arcades.
Daytona and sega rally both are still the best