A History of Licensed Ford Video Games
Ford Racing 2(2003)
Photo: : Empire Interactive, Feral Interactive, Take-Two Interactive, Gotham Games
When you think of car advertisements, your mind recalls television commercials, radio jingles, and online banner ads. You probably don’t think of video games. Yet, Ford saw an opportunity to reach fans and give them the opportunity to race their favorite Ford vehicles.
From 2000-2008, the automaker had its name on nine officially licensed Ford video games.
Look to the Past: The innovative history of Ford through the years
Ford Racing series retrospective and other licensed Ford video games
Ford Racing (2000)
The first entry in a series that spawned six sequels, Ford Racing featured a dozen models to race across a handful of generic, fictional tracks. It was a humble beginning for with mediocre reviews that attracted enough fans to warrant a follow-up. [PC, PS1]
Ford Racing 2 (2003)
The sequel introduced multiplayer racing mode and a challenge mode that unlocks content as players succeed in missions (and they can create their own customized challenges). The number of playable models nearly tripled, too. [PC, PS2, Xbox]
Ford Racing 3 (2004)
With a total roster of over 50 Ford models, a variety of tournament modes, and up to six-player compatibility via LAN connection, Ford Racing 3 went all-out, giving Ford fans everything they could want. [PC, PS2, GMA, Nintendo DS, Xbox]
Ford Mustang: The Legend Lives (2005)
It’s no surprise that the legendary pony car eventually received its own spin-off in the series. Solely featuring the titular model, Ford Mustang: The Legend Lives let players pilot 40 playable Mustangs through a half-dozen major U.S. cities. [PS2, Xbox]
An Electric Mustang… Could it be as good as the real thing?
Ford Vs. Chevy (2005)
Photo: Global Star Software, Take-Two Interactive, 2K Games
Ford Racing Full Blown (2006)
This strangely titled game in the Ford Racing series was only released in Europe. The Sega-developed arcade game didn’t come to home consoles, so interested players had to track down the actual cabinets in arcades.
Ford Street Racing (2006)
The other entry in the series released in 2006, this title had varying titles and content based on where it was released and on what console. It offered a lot of unlockable content, including many special-edition and concept Ford models. [PS2, PC, PSP, Xbox]
Ford Racing Off Road (2008)
The last entry in the series, Ford Racing Off Road heavily featured the Ford-owned Land Rover brand alongside Ford models like the F-150. You could select from 18 different vehicles to race on the 12 tracks. It was the only entry in the series to feature off-road driving. [PC, PS2, PSP, Wii]
Ford Truck Mania (2002)
Not part of the Ford Racing series, Ford Truck Mania let you drive a variety of pickups from the brand’s history — like the 1956 F-100 and 2003 Ranger — through mountains, deserts, and jungles. It was advanced for its time, letting you customize tires, suspension steering, body colors, and even the track itself. [PS1]
Ford Vs. Chevy (2005)
The rivalry arrives on the home console with Ford vs. Chevy, putting four-dozen American models against each other in a racing extravaganza. Unfortunately, the only way both brands agreed to this cross-brand arrangement that once a player selected their brand during save file creation, they were locked out of the other brand’s offerings until they started the game over. [PS2, Xbox]
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