Recommended GBA Racing Games?

[Pedro Lambrini]

I've played that utter crap out of Super Circuit, the F-Zero trilogy and the GT Advance series.

What other racing games are worth playing? Any hidden gems that people may have missed?

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Ah, you've already played the crap out of the Japan only F-Zero Climax? Then sorry to say you've already experienced the best GBA racing game. That said, check out Konami Wai Wai Racing. It's basically a Mario Kart clone that came before Mario Kart Super Circuit and is in fact better than Super Circuit.

[Tanooki]

I'm going to double agree with Satoshi.

Wai Wai Racing aka 'Konami Krazy Racers' in the US is truly fantastic. The handling is better, tracks are more fun, items rebranded but mario kart stock, it's just an overall better title than Nintendo's effort which says a lot and it's dirt cheap as no one knows or cares about it.

F-Zero Climax I regret ever letting go of it but I was out of GBA for a time, wish I still had it. It has all the best aspects of F-Zero and FZero64 + the FZero 64DD addon as you can make your own courses and save up to 4 of them in your carts memory. The primary game has some crazy good courses, nice controls, and the a/v quality on it blows out GP Legend.

Another great suggestion though it's up to if its your thing would be V-Rally 3. It's a 3D racer, like the Saturn which also wasn't a 3D machine they both use the same techniques in software to render a very nice 3D course. It runs smooth, lots of tracks, good cars and rewards, has a few race modes too. Even has an in car view which is pretty decent.

I can't remember which but I do believe that out of all the racing garbage the GBA got NFS Underground 2 I recall got some popular buzz from people who enjoyed it but I never touched it so I don't know.

[MachineGex]

Rock'N'Roll Racing. It is a remake of the SNES game, but who cares.....the game rocks!

[Leo_A]

Many nice games yet to be mentioned (At least were when I started typing this, a few popped up before I hit reply). These include Racing Gears Advance, V-Rally 3 (Stick to the cockpit view though), Colin McRae Rally 2.0, Moto Racer Advance, MotoGP (Reminded me a lot of Super Burnout on the Jag), Karnaaj Rally, Sega Rally Championship, Rock 'N Roll Racing, and Top Gear Rally. Of these, the two must haves in my eyes would be Racing Gears Advance (I'm so very puzzled how this thread could have several replies yet not be mentioned ) and V-Rally 3. But all are solid games. The GBA is particularly blessed with several nice rally racers.

Ones I disliked that I've played include Top Gear GT (Looks nice in screenshots but it's pure garbage) and I suspect the entire Need for Speed series on the GBA. I've tried at least two entries for NFS on the GBA and disliked both of them and they're only good for seeing 3D on the GBA if you've never played a good 3D GBA game like V-Rally 3 (And I've tried and felt similarly about two DS entries that kept me away from purchasing any further releases... the entire DS platform is a wasteland pretty much for racers compared to quite a few average to excellent GBA releases).

Ones I intend to try but have yet to include Banjo Pilot, Stuntman, Hot Wheels Burnin' Rubber, Konami Krazy Racers, F1 2002, TOCA World Touring Cars, and NASCAR Heat 2002. You would think those three realistic racers sound destined to be junk on the GBA, but I've seen the occasional good thing about all three so they're on my to buy list even though I'm sure they're going to be B titles at best.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been trying out some of these games on VBA and I'm now going to buy Racing Gears Advance, Karnaaj Rally and V Rally 3. At least to start with!

I also really enjoy Konami Krazy Racers but I actually already own that one. It was a launch title over here if I remember rightly. I certainly got it early in the GBA's life that's for sure.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Oh yes, forgot about the GBA build of V-Rally 3. From the same developer, check out Stuntman. It's not a pure racing game, but it's pretty damn fantastic and its visually stunning, especially when you consider the GBA has no actual 3D capabilities and everything it accomplishes is done through hardware trickery.

[BydoEmpire]

Karnaaj Rally