Best Racing Games on the N64

Racing Games are one of the things the Nintendo 64 is genuinely for. The ones worth playing start with Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Wave Race 64.

The N64 and Racing Games

The machine that worked out how to move a character in three dimensions, and then had to invent the camera to film it. Small library, enormous influence.

This is one of its strengths. 3D platformers and four-player local multiplayer. The controller had four ports as standard, which is why so much of this library is designed for a room rather than a person.

Filtering to racing means you want the vehicle to be the subject. It is the right filter when what you liked was speed, or handling, or a road worth driving.

The Racing Games Worth Playing

  1. 1. Mario Kart 64

    Follow the link for hand-written recommendations if you want more like it.

  2. 2. Diddy Kong Racing

    Follow the link for hand-written recommendations if you want more like it.

  3. 3. Wave Race 64

    Follow the link for hand-written recommendations if you want more like it.

  4. 4. F-Zero X

    Follow the link for hand-written recommendations if you want more like it.

What Makes a Good Racing Game

A short session that is complete in itself. A race is over in five minutes and you can always take the corner better.

Everything outside the vehicle. Racing games rarely have a story, and the ones that try usually should not have.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best racing game on the N64?

Mario Kart 64 is the usual first answer, and there are 4 in the library we cover.

Was the N64 good at racing games?

Yes — it is one of the things the machine is known for, and there are 4 in the library we cover.

Arcade or simulation?

Simulation models tyre temperature, fuel and weight transfer and punishes you for ignoring them. Arcade gives you grip, boost and a rewind, and is about flow. Buying the wrong one is where most disappointment comes from.

Do I need a wheel?

For the simulation picks it changes the game completely. For anything arcade it makes almost no difference.

How is this list put together?

From the games this site covers on the Nintendo 64, matched against hand-mapped gameplay categories rather than a storefront's genre tag. A page only exists where there are at least four, which is why some console and genre combinations have no page at all.

Racing Games on Other Consoles

More From the N64

Or browse the whole Nintendo 64 library.