4 of the Best Retro Racing Games on the Super NES
If you grew up in the 1990s, there’s a fair chance that the SNES dominated a fair chunk of your free time. Here’s a blast from the past — check out these four memorable games from those halcyon days of yore.
Okay, it’s really a list of three beloved games and one cartridge you probably laughed at in the bargain bin at Goodwill. Anyway, without further ado, here’s the list.
A Modern Classic: The Mazda MX-5 Miata
Super Mario Kart
Of course, we can’t overlook this classic. As the first entry in the smash-hit Mario Kart series, Super Mario Kart revved its way into our hearts with just the right balance of intuitive gameplay and competitive challenge. While the courses seem downright basic compared to the series’ modern entries, they were enough to keep us 90s kids engaged throughout many a sleepover and birthday party.
F-Zero
Back when F-Zero was released in Japan, 3D graphics were quite the envelope-pushing innovation for a home-console game. While its graphics were awesome back in 1990, F-Zero truly cemented its place in video game history with its fast-paced, skillful gameplay, exciting obstacles, and fluid action. The game even came with a mini comic book that introduced us to good ol’ Captain Falcon.
Top Gear
As the Top Gear franchise’s debut title, this classic burst on to the scene as one of the console’s first standout racing games. Unlike the other games on this list, Top Gear is a little more grounded in the real world. You can choose between an automatic and manual transmission, as well as pit stops where you have to refuel. Plus, its tracks are inspired by real-world nations, giving each course a unique atmosphere.
Fun and Affordable: Mazda models available for under $10K
Biker Mice From Mars
How could I overlook game with a name like “Biker Mice From Mars?“ Despite being a licensed game based on one of the era’s many Teenage Mutant Ninja Knockoff cartoons, Biker Mice From Mars offers some surprisingly fresh (if unpolished) gameplay. Unlike Mario Kart, these biker mice weren’t afraid to be lab rats for then-unique racing game mechanics. That said, some of those science experiments went awry. The game’s isometric graphics are charming and unique, but aren’t ideal for helping the player spot obstacles on the racetrack. And while the game’s upgrade system is a welcome innovation, the upgrades don’t seem to change much about you bike’s performance. Despite the game’s dodgy reception, it received a reboot for the Nintendo DS and the PS2.
Kimiko Kidd is a native Daytonian. She graduated from Wright State University with degrees in environmental science and sociology. She loves her trusty old Honda Civic, but dreams of owning a 1974 Ford Falcon XB with a custom paint job and a vintage Kawasaki Z1000. In her free time, Kimiko can be found watercolor-painting, baking muffins, collecting rocks, playing old-school Nintendo games, writing her novel, sewing stuffed animals, and cosplaying as her favorite Mad Max characters. See more articles by Kimiko.