Evolution Of Customization
At first, racing games were about driving 200 mph in a barely legal streetcar. However, developers have added extra adrenaline boosts with car customization features that keep players on their toes.
For Players Who Love To Pimp Their Rides
Currently, the winning developers are those who understand how vehicle customization can enhance gameplay. They reel in gamers by allowing them to spend hours in the garage tweaking their rides. It's all about creating a stylish, high-performance machine—even if you lose the race.
Customize To Win
These developers add visual and performance enhancements to retain and grow their fanbase. While hundreds of great racing games are available for purchase, these are for players who want more than races. They take car customization to the next level.
The Crew 2
When The Crew first launched, it didn't make much of a splash due to its frustrating AI and choppy performance. As online communities called out its flaws, developers worked overtime on upgrades. Now, most gamers feel the series has drifted onto the right track.
Rising From The Dust With a Comeback
Crew 2 had more vehicles, including boats, motorcycles, and F1 cars. Players could swap out body parts for better performance and slap on decals or vinyl tapes on their dream rides. These enhancements transformed the game from a mediocre story to a high-octane adventure.
Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Forza Horizon 4
Rumors of Forza Horizon 4's delisting have many gearheads racing to add this gem to their collection. Besides an impressive lineup of 752 cars, the game attracts players with its engaging gameplay and simulation. Yet, they say that's not the best part.
A Game With Tune And Style
The vehicle customization upgrades allow you to fine-tune your ride, including acceleration and handling. You can upgrade your car with widebody kits while checking out user-created designs. The sheer amount of spoilers, bumpers, and rims makes most gamers love "Sport" mode.
Wreckfest
Forget about realism—Wreckfest is all about pure, unadulterated fun. This game has built a loyal following, selling demolition and destruction. Players are either smashing into opponents or trying to survive the chaos. No wonder they keep players coming back for more.
Racers Can Take A Crash Course For Fun
Besides racing, Wreckfest developers allowed players to showcase their creativity with paint styles and liveries. However, users can only access custom text or numbers if they go for mods. Despite these restrictions, the game keeps players busy with exciting visuals and gameplay.
Love' Em, Crash' Em
Wreckfest players pour their hearts into crafting their dream cars, only to see them get trashed in the next race. In treacherous modes like Deathmatch, collisions are the order of the day. Although Last Man Standing has a contact timer to warn you, it's easier said than done.
Paul J Everett, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Street Racing Syndicate
Despite being released in 2004, Street Racing Syndicate is still a top pick for gamers. It has over 40 authentic cars and parts from 15 real-world manufacturers with serious customization chops. Be careful, though. Don't just slap on the flashiest parts and hope for the best.
Too Much Muscle Can Cost You
Unlike other games, "over-customization" can be a double-edged sword. Too much horsepower, and you might find yourself spinning out on the first turn. Like real-life racing, it's not just about having the best parts; gamers must know how to balance performance and handling.
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Timeless Appeal With An Authentic Atmosphere
You have to commend the developers for keeping things real. Gamers can enjoy the racing and police chase scenes even under floodlights. This game has got you covered if you're in the mood for old-school arcade racing with the bells and whistles of early 2000s cars.
Dirt Rally 2.0
Rising from the ashes of the old Colin McRae Rally series, Codemasters set the standard for realistic rally driving. They continue their legacy with the Dirt Rally 2.0. Besides adding real-life locations, this installment pushes their players' limits by focusing on physics and precision.
Tinker And Race
Unlike other games, Dirt Rally 2.0 offers enough customization. Players can fine-tune their vehicle with the tools available in the garage. It's rated one of the most practical racing games because Codemasters ensured that every change to the suspension settings improved performance.
Gran Turismo 7
The Gran Turismo series prides itself on being a driving simulator rather than just a racing game. This installment continues this tradition with extra features. Players can tweak, fine-tune, or upgrade their cars' appearance and performance, but it comes at a cost.
The Price Of Perfection
Players sometimes pay through their noses to upgrade their cars, and only a few can afford the $200 1967 Ferrari 330 P4. But there's barely any time to complain. With a lineup of over 500 cars, players get busy creating hundreds of custom rides.
Marty B, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Need For Speed Unbound
This Need For Speed edition continues the series' impressive car customization. It complements the excellent visuals and gameplay with engine swaps, exotic widebody kits, and endless tweaks. It is highly recommended for players who love spending hours in their garage tweaking every little detail of their vehicle.
It Has Constant Updates And New Thrills
Players enjoy Criterion's commitment to making this game a live-service gem. The frequent content updates, including new cars, drift events, and the return of drag racing, keep their adrenaline pumping. Plus, the anime-infused art style adds a unique flair that sets it apart.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
Despite being a veteran in the racing scene, NFS's car customization in Midnight Club has stood the test of time. It has impressive visuals, a stack of performance upgrades, and a trunk-load of customizable parts. It's an excellent choice for perfectionists who enjoy refining in the workshop.
Sergey Galyonkin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Blast From The Past
The classic streets of LA are still worth revisiting—or discovering for the first time. You can get the game in digital storefronts and enjoy it on modern hardware. Like the next few games, it takes vehicle customization beyond paints and parts.
włodi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Street Legal Racing RedLine
Next on the list is Street Legal Racing RedLine by Invictus. This exciting game has competitive modes like Drifting, Circuit, and Drag racing. Although players can build, tune, crash, repair, and race, critics argue that RedLine emphasizes customization more than racing.
Tune! Repair! Race!
In addition to the game modes, players have many transmission options and cars. Gamers can replace tire textures, add new rear wings, and unlock hidden suspension scripts. Things get real when players must repair their vehicles and tune them for optimal performance before racing.
Acetone Corsa
Acetone Corsa is a knockout game because the developers' customization tools are the same ones the players use. Players can build their cars and tracks and share their designs. While they come for customization, they stay for the robust car lineup, excellent racing mechanics, and more.
The Developers Got Things Right
The new "Laguna Seca" technology uses visuals from laser-scanned tracks that make racers feel like they're on an actual circuit. This feature makes it one of the best racing simulators out there. But developers didn't stop there; they added cars most gearheads would love to get their hands on.
Figure8, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Game Has A Cool Car Collection
Besides speedsters from Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Mercedes, developers added the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio hypercar. A beauty! They also used an advanced physics engine that simulates car features in areas like tire flat spots and hybrid systems to make racing realistic for players.
Alexandre Prévot, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Car Mechanic Simulator 2018
This game stands out with its photorealistic graphics and immersive gameplay. Players can test their skills as mechanics while finding classic cars in the Junkyard modules and enjoying racing quests. There's a multi-level garage with over 1,000 parts where players can repair, customize, and service vehicles.
Crew: Motorfest
When Ubisoft Ivory Tower released this open-world racing game in September 2023, they added a fresh, exotic setting with thematic racing playlists. They found a way to merge visual concepts in The Crew and Forza Horizon series to create unique scenery. But what about their vehicle customization?
Set On A Hawaiian Island
Since this game evolved from The Crew 2, it improves on vehicles, upgrades, and events. Players can even transfer their rides from The Crew 2. This seamless transition and opportunity to start with a full garage encouraged many players to race through the beautiful landscapes of Hawaii.
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Need For Speed: Underground 2
Underground 2 significantly improved from its predecessor, with better arcade racing and storytelling that leaves players wanting. The game's setting in Bayview keeps players excited, alongside the vibrant visuals and soundtrack in tuner scenes. Then, there's the endless customization possibilities.
Street Racing At Its Best
Players can upgrade their engine, chassis, drivetrain, and auxiliary systems. With a massive assortment of paint, finish options, bumpers, and spoilers, customization is endless. Players can soup up a vehicle with decals, collectibles, and cop logos to immerse themselves in the street racing culture.
Haro, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Automation
While many games market vehicle customization, Automation takes a novel approach. The developers didn't make it just about tweaking existing vehicles; they allowed players to build custom cars from scratch, like George Barris or Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.
Paul Conroy, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Customization Galore
Players can turn a Citroen CX into a Citroen DS, a '32 Ford into a "traction avant," or a Plymouth Belvedere into a '68 Ford Fairlane. Whether you want a Baja off-roader, a 2000 HP supercar, or a tiny fiberglass convertible, Automation lets you create it—and more.
Peter Schmenger, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
It Was A Cut Above The Rest
Players could choose cars with FWD, RWD, AWD, and 4x4 drivetrains with several engines. Then, the game's developers added the 3D fixtures update to keep players playing. They could build tanks, planes, functional go-karts, and F1 cars. The sky was the limit.
Rick Dikeman, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fun Over Realism: Forza's Winning Formula
Unlike Gran Turismo's realism, Forza Horizon 5 focuses on fun. The game is packed with activities to keep players entertained for hours. There's the Super7, Eliminator (a battle royale with cars), and more; there's never a dull moment.
Your Car, Your Rules
Forza Horizon 5 doesn't restrict you to traditional car categories. Want to make an off-road Aventador or a drag Beetle? Go ahead! The game's upgrade system lets you rebuild and use cars as you see fit. But these take a backseat to the game's customization features.
Forza Played The Numbers Game
Every car in Forza Horizon 5 has a Performance Index (PI), indicating its raw power. This PI changes with installed parts, affecting single-player AI strength and multiplayer matchmaking classes. The higher the number, the stronger the car. No wonder this edition has attracted over 37 million players.
BeamNG.Drive
BeamNG.drive is often called "The car crash simulator" for a reason. With one of the most accurate damage models, players might eagerly await their next spectacular crash. While this is different from what other games offer, it isn't just about wrecking cars.
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The Ultimate Car Crash Simulator
This game has one of the most accurate physics engines in simulators, with off-road physics and realistic rallying. While BeamNG.drive is fun, be warned: it demands a powerful PC and possibly a steep learning curve. But when you conquer these issues, you'll be racing to glory.
Matt Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Forza Motorsport 7
This 2023 version continues to impress with new features, especially an online multiplayer that pits mismatched cars together. Your 2017 Holden V8 Supercar may face off against Lamborghinis, but the sweat-inducing, smile-producing challenge keeps the racing intense and unpredictable. If you're tempted to upgrade your car, beware.
The Game Was Fun Without Sacrificing Authenticity
Players earn upgrades in Forza Motorsport 7 through seat time and experience, not credits. Each car gets Car Points for upgrades like engine swaps, body kits, and turbos. Indiscriminate upgrading without knowledge can turn top-tier cars into duds, so players must understand how cars work.
Project Cars 2
Project Cars 2 isn't just a visual masterpiece; it's a playground for racing enthusiasts. The developers made it simple enough for players of all skill levels to tweak their rides when trying to dominate the track. It also strikes a perfect balance between realism and fun.
Sergey Galyonkin, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tweaking Without Going Over The Top
For those who live for speed rather than bling, Project Cars 2 delivers. Its no-nonsense approach to car customization might disappoint those seeking flashy bells and whistles. Still, it's good enough for anyone focused on getting the best performance out of their machine.
Chim98, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Lastly, Juiced 2 amplifies everything its predecessor started, making it a must-play for tuner enthusiasts. This arcade racing game has advanced modification methods, a robust car roster, and spectacular drift events for those who love cars as much as they love to race. But Juiced 2 is more than just racing.
A Game With A Novel Approach To Customization
This game adds a layer of psychological warfare to the street racing scene, proving that winning is a blend of speed and style. Players often show off their perfectly tuned ride, trying to get into their opponent's head during multiplayer events.
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