The Nintendo Switch has been out for a while now, and it's still one of the best gaming consoles, especially for playing while out and about. A staple genre in the video game realm is racing, and the Switch complements this genre perfectly with its ability to take games with you wherever you go.
Whether you are in the middle of a race or you want to drive around for a while on the bus, racing games, and the Nintendo Switch go together like cars and gasoline. At the same time, it may not have Forza or Beam.NG, but the Switch has a trove of classic and modern racing games to fuel your desires.
Updated on July 23, 2023, by Branden Lizardi: There's something ironic about being added later on to a list of the best Nintendo Switch racing games. Not to imply that these games aren't worthwhile. Whether it's adjusting trends or new availability, we've found a few more games that deserve to be mentioned. As such, we've included them among the best racing games on Nintendo Switch.
21 Horizon Chase Turbo
Remember those crude 8-bit racers that tried to convince you you were driving straight ahead in a 3D space? Most likely not, but either way — this indie arcade racer by AQUIRIS will likely blow your hair back with fun 80s nostalgia anyway.
The game is a faithful homage to 2D racers of yesteryear while giving the aesthetic a modern polish of crisper, more vibrant visuals.
This flat, blocky visual style is something of a cover — as Horizon is loaded with content. Dozens of unique, rapid-fire stages, distinct cars, and even the underappreciated split-screen multiplayer round out this gripping racer.
Oh, and in typical retro fashion, the AI racers can be shockingly brutal.
20 Grip: Combat Racing
Grip: Combat Racing makes a great fit for Switch with its frantic, pick-up-and-play style and undiluted arcade gameplay. While a spiritual successor to the even lesser-known Rollcase, studio Caged Element makes this chaotic combat formula its own.
The game brings a satisfying array of weapons, power-ups, and double-sided vehicles that can ride 360 degrees and flip about. Grip offers solid multiplayer (online and four-player split-screen), which hosts intense, F-Zero-style Elimination races and a combat-centric Arena.
What's more — Grip can often be found heavily discounted, making this romp all the more worth the ride.
19 NASCAR Rivals
While there are plenty of racing and driving games on Switch in some form, the deeper, more refined sims are still rare. Enter NASCAR Rivals from Motorsport Games, a title that nicely fills a Switch niche.
The game sets out to not only mirror pro auto racing but specificallyemulate the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series.
A slew of diverse content has been released out of the gate, with more promised down the pipeline. These include a deep career mode, a challenge mode, and a feature that connects players with random drivers in any track.
On a technical level, the game does what it can with the Switch's (relatively) limited hardware, though it plays fairly smoothly and looks great to boot.
18 Fast RMX
Those looking for an F-Zero replacement on Switch: look no further, as this launch game by Shin'en Multimedia is still about as close as you'll get. Though Fast RMX isn't going to blow past Captain Falcon and company, this futuristic racer tosses in a few neat features that make it stand out on its merit.
The game features subtle-yet-effective color-switching mechanics used on the fly. You'll need to flip the color of your car's lights to utilize the corresponding strip on the track for boosting. Added to this are some impressive particle and lighting effects, along with split-screen andonline multiplayer.
17 The Next Penelope
When most people think of racing games these days, something like The Next Penelope probably isn’t likely to be the first thing that comes to mind. The game is a top-down racer and is highly stylized with vibrant colors and a retro feel.
Don’t go thinking this game is all style over substance as it has plenty of surprises in store. The racer also mixes in some shooter mechanics to make for a shockingly fun and varied arcade-style racer. Anyone who longs for old-school racers will probably want to check this title out.
16 Inertial Drift
If you love your games to ooze old-school vibes, then you’ll probably find yourself drawn toward Inertial Drift, a fantastic arcade racer with some fun mechanics surrounding (you guessed it) drifting. Even better, it can be great for beginners too.
With plenty of cars and tracks to choose from, you’ll be able to race through the game by yourself or up against your friends in multiplayer. If you want a racing game that is challengingly distinct, yet also somewhat familiar, give Inertial Drift a shot.
The best part is, the game is often discounted on the Switch shop, and it’s already not as expensive as many other games in the same genre.
15 Cruisin' Blast
One of the most overlooked racers on Switch, Raw Thrill's port of the 2017 arcade game fits the hybrid console like a glove. The game exudes charming arcade chaos with its eccentric themes, 90s flair, and frantic speeds throughout.
Cruisin' Blast manages to be quite accessible while still hitting you with intense, edge-of-your-seat moments.
You'll zip through various vibrant tracks in several colorful cars, scrambling to extend your time limit while racing head-to-head. You can also get an edge by upgrading your vehicle, bringing a bit more depth to the Cruis'n experience.
14 Team Sonic Racing
Kart racing games are a classic way for games that are traditionally from other genres to effectively mix things up. The classic example is Mario Kart, but Sonic has had several racing games over the years both in karts, on foot, and on hoverboards.
Of course, Sonic is the perfect subject for a racing game, given his speed and Team Sonic Racing is a great example of this. While it shares a number of things in common with Mario Kart, Team Sonic Racing has enough unique content to be enjoyable to both kids and adults.
13 Star Wars Episode One Racer
The surprising thing about Star Wars Episode One Racer is that it stands up against many of Switch's other arcade-style racers despite being 20 years old. It doesn't even have cars in it; instead, you race with pods like in the film. Despite it all, this game lives up to its legacy and then some.
This is not a remaster, though there are some quality-of-life improvements like motion controls. That means that even though the gameplay is solid, some things clearly show its age, like the somewhat loose controls, the compressed music, and especially the N64-era graphics.
12 Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a perfect example of a remastered game done right, even if it is still a bit of a weird game. It has everything you could want out of a remaster, like modern graphics, tighter controls, and even online multiplayer, while respecting the vision of the original game.
While it also shares several things from the Mario Kart formula, CTR Nitro-Fueled has a few key differences that make the experience new. The best way to describe it would be that it is more of a competitive game requiring more skill, whereas Mario Kart is more of a party game about chance.
11 Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Admittedly, this game does require some additional work on your part to get it going, but it’s hard to deny just how much of a blast it can be. Rather than the usual Mario Kart experience, the game is part-virtual-reality in which you build a racetrack of your own around the house, and race karts around it.
The actual game app is typically free to download, but the rest of the gear required to play the game must be purchased separately. Still, it’s no surprise that anyone who picked the game up and let their imagination run wild had a ton of fun with this game.
10 Asphalt 9: Legends
There is a phenomenon on the Nintendo Switch in which mobile games are ported over. Most of these games are better played on your phone, but Asphalt 9: Legends is a fully-fledged game and is worth downloading on the console.
Not only does it have realistic graphics, but there is online multiplayer, a huge selection of cars and tracks, and, best of all, a comprehensive career mode to play through. Scratch that; the best part is that it's 100 percent free to play.
9 Hot Wheels Unleashed
Hot Wheels is the ideal toy to make into a video game, and Hot Wheels Unleashed proves this. Rather than trying to make Hot Wheels into a realistic racing game, Hot Wheels Unleased stresses accessible, arcade-style driving and gives you a look into the toy's perspective.
The best part about Hot Wheels Unleashed is that it takes place on actual Hot Wheels tracks in houses that feel massive relative to the small size of the cars. You can even make your tracks and relive every child's dream of getting in their favorite car and racing around the track they made in the backyard.
8 Art Of Rally
Someone who’d prefer a less stressful and more classically visually appealing racer will probably be a fan of Art Of Rally. The game looks simple on the surface, but it’s a blast of an experience whether playing through the campaign or just roaming around.
This is far from the greatest version of this game, but for those who only have a Switch, Art Of Rally is a great game to give a try. Go do some stylish races, unlock some cars, and make your way through the fun career experience, all for a price that is lower than many other titles.
7 Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered
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There is one Need for Speed game that is unilaterally agreed upon as excellent. That game is Need For Speed Hot Pursuit, and you can play the remaster of this classic cops and robbers arcade racing game on the go with the Nintendo Switch port.
You can switch between being a cop or an illegal street racer whenever you want, meaning things never get stale. Add to this a competitive leaderboard where you're encouraged to beat all your friends' times, and this game has a ton of replay value.
6 Trials Rising
To describe Trials Rising in one word is impossible. Like all of the games in the Trials series, this 2.5D racing puzzle platformer is one of the most unique takes on the racing genre. Trials Rising does not take place along a 3D space. Instead, it's a side-scrolling platformer of sorts, where you're more focused on not falling over than anything.
You control your torque and whether you lean forward or backward. Using this, you have to ride your motorbike over strange objects and over tremendously dangerous environments. Throw in some multiplayer functionality, and all of this combines to make for both the slowest and most intense racing experience you can get. It may not be the type of game that comes to mind when you think "racing," but it should be.
5 Grid Autosport
Grid Autosport comes in and steals the top spot on the podium for realistic racing games on the Switch. Not only does it feature a wide variety of racetracks and cars, but they all look about as realistic as the Switch can handle without exploding.
Grid Autosport is going for a more simulation-like experience, but there is a wide range of options to customize the difficulty and controls for your vehicle. Best of all, the game includes local and online multiplayer, something that every racing game worth its salt needs.
4 Rocket League
Never before has such a perfect combination of two seemingly unrelated things come together so smoothly. Rocket League combines race cars and soccer, and while technically it's more of a sports game, it must be mentioned because it blows away any potential competition.
Rocket League has everything a racing game needs, including a huge amount of cars, cross-platform online multiplayer, and, best of all, the fact that it isfree to play. It's always entertaining to see the ball soar into the goal after boosting it at high speed.
3 Wreckfest
If you’re looking for a fun racer that manages to offer more than just the same old races, then you’re in luck. Wreckfest manages to provide an excellent racing experience while also giving you the option to engage in plenty of destructive mayhem as well.
Somehow, this game has gone under the radar for a lot of Switch players. You’ll need to make sure that you learn the best of offense and defense while you race your way through Wreckfest if you want to become the most destructive racer on the track.
Sega Ages: Out Run
For an arcade game released in the 80s to make the list, it must be pretty special; and that's exactly what Out Run is. Sega Ages: Out Run is a Nintendo Switch port of what is one of the most famous and influential racing games of all time. The rules are simple: pick some sweet tunes, hop in your convertable, and don't stop driving. As you reach certain checkmarks, you can choose to move left or right at a fork in the road, which determines the style and challenge of the next area.
While not the most advanced game on the list, this particular rendition of the classic arcade game is done perfectly, allowing you to fully experience what made Out Run such a hit in the first place. If you want something quick, easy, and non-stop engaging, there are fewer choices as ideal as this one.
2 Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout is one of the racing series known for its high-octane treks through crowded urban streets rather than taking place on an isolated track. Burnout Paradise took this to the next level, with its open-world city filled to the brim with races, crashes, and secrets to find.
Burnout Paradise Remastered is available on the Switch, and the style of play it sets up of driving around in the open world or taking part in a quick race perfectly complements the Switch's portability. Best of all, the crashes are glorious.