11 Best Nintendo Wii Racing Games

The Nintendo Wii’s huge success encouraged the developers to discover a whole new world. The racing genre was not an exception, paving the way for the devs to try the new innovative motion controls, both on new games and ports.

As you should expect a wide range of Wii racing games is labeled as shovelware or gimmicky. But digging deeper will surprise many gamers as the Nintendo Wii is one of the best examples of an underrated console. Despite the hardware limitation developers did an amazing job, especially transcending some of the big ports to a cartoonish style fitting perfectly for the console and controls design.

Today we are here to present you our best Nintendo Wii racing list, including exclusives, ports, and remakes.

Excitebots™: Trick Racing 2009 エキサイト猛マシン (Ekisaito Mō Mashin)

About
	Release Date April 20, 2009
	Developer Monster Games
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Excitebike™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2009-04-20

Excitebots: Trick Racing is an arcade racing game, the game mark the fourth game on the long-running Excite series and a direct sequel to Excite Trucks on the same system. The player competes in a series of racing events using animal-themed robot vehicles.

The Excite bots are controlled by using the Wii mote as a wheel moving both ways and sliding up and down in the air. The goal of each race is to finish first but that’s not all of it as the trick score plays a huge role in winning the race. The player can get a higher score by doing tricks, stunts, smashing other players, and completing minigames. While the motion controls can be a turn-off for some of you, i assure you that the controls are responsive, fun and perfectly fitting for this kind of arcady gameplay. Personally, this is one of my favorite arcade racing games on the console, hugely recommended!

Mario Kart Wii 2008 マリオカートWii (Mario Kāto Wii)

About
	Release Date April 10, 2008
	Developer Nintendo
	Publisher Nintendo
	Franchise Mario
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2008-02-04
2008-04-10
2008-04-11
2008-04-27

Mario Kart Wii is an arcade kart racing game developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii. The game act as the sixth game in the Mario Kart series. Mario Kart needs no introduction as the series is one of the best-selling game franchises of all time. The game features single-player and multiplayer kart racing competitions using a selection of Mario universe characters and locations.

Up to twenty-four playable characters are available from the Mario series including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Rosalina, Dry Bowser, and many more. While the game borrows a lot from its DS predecessor, it also features new elements including new bikes, characters, and tracks. In terms of control, the player has the freedom to choose between motion controls using the Wii mote sideways or a racing wheel, normal controls using the nunchuck stick, classic controller, or a GameCube controller. Overall the game is perfectly balanced welcoming both casual and experienced players, if you like kart racing Mario Kart Wii is all you need on the Wii system.

Need for Speed™ Nitro 2009

About
	Release Date November 03, 2009
	Developer EA Montreal
	Publisher Electronic Arts
	Franchise Need for Speed™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

Wii Releases
2009-11-03
2009-11-06
2009-11-26

Need For Speed Nitro is an exciting arcade racing game and the fourteenth game in the Need For Speed series. The game was exclusively developed for Nintendo both on the Wii and DS. Need For Speed Nitro is kind of a departure from the classic formula introducing cartoony and colorful graphics with unrealistic physics and fully arcade elements. This change fitted perfectly on the Wii system regarding the hardware and targetted audience and also the Wii motion controls.

The main career mode is pretty linear, offering a progress system by earning stars, stars can be earned by winning races, completing challenges, and drifting. Earning stars unlocks new races and regions, as well as bonus cash to upgrade and buy new cars. Cars are fully customizable giving the player the freedom to paint and modify the car looks using the Wii mote pointer. Control-wise the game is better played using the Wii motion controls as it was designed for it, but the developer gave the players the freedom to choose between motion and physical. Overall NFS Nitro is a great arcade game with a great sense of speed, a colorful world, and a new fresh idea.

TrackMania: Build to Race 2010

About
	Release Date September 23, 2010
	Developer Firebrand Games
	Publisher Focus Entertainment
	Franchise Trackmania
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Wii Releases
2009-06-30

TrackMania: Build to Race a.k.a Trackmania Wii is an arcade racing game, the game is the eighth entry in the long-running Trackmania series. TM: Build To Race focus on time trials offering a variety of short tracks to complete, and a reward system including medals new tracks, and unlockables.

The game starts fairly simple and easy and gets challenging on the later tracks, the difficulty curve is nothing to be afraid of as the game introduces you to the game mechanics and feels on the first levels. Besides the main mode, the game offers a track builder with fully customizable terrains and easy to use interface. Overall the game is addicting and fun offering a short but sweet portion of gameplay, a decent track builder, and a nice challenge.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars™ Racing 2010

About
	Release Date February 23, 2010
	Developer Sumo Digital
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Sonic™, Sega All-Stars
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Wii Releases
2010-02-23
2010-02-26
2010-03-04

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a kart racing video game, the game feature multiple characters from the Sega franchises and marks the third installment of the Sega All-Star series. Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing takes inspiration from early kart racing series like Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing, the player can participate in multiple events with up to 20 playable characters from the Sega universe. The goal of each race is to reach first while using powerups, weapons, and drifting skills.

Despite the game being labeled as a clone, Sumo Digital gave this game its own personality with tracks inspired from previous sega games such as Billy Hatcher, Super Monkey Ball, Jet Set Radio, and many more. The feel, atmosphere, and audio are perfectly fitting creating an amazing experience. The driving control is tight, responsive, and fast, the tracks are perfectly designed, and the content is huge for a kart game. While Mario Kart Wii got the fame that it deserves, this game is definitely the hidden gem of the list, i hugely recommend it!

Driver™: San Francisco 2011

About
	Release Date August 30, 2011
	Developer Ubisoft Reflections
	Publisher Ubisoft
	Franchise Driver™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Concepts Modern, Realistic
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Wii Releases
2011-08-30
2011-09-01
2011-09-02

Driver: San Francisco is an open-world racing game, the game mark the fifth installment of the long-running Driver series. The Wii port is hugely different from the HD counterpart telling a whole new story. The story is a prequel to the original Driver game on the PlayStation 1, featuring the first protagonist of the series John Tanner as an undercover cop.

The game is fairly similar to the GTA series, but without the ability to walk freely on the map, instead, the game is entirely played on vehicles. The player takes on various missions as an undercover cop taking down criminals, participating in illegal races, and chasing down lawbreakers. Graphic wise the developer choose a cartoony look fitting perfectly for the Wii capability and giving the port a different personality. Overall, the Wii port is a nice little surprise, actually, it’s a whole different game compared to the main HD version, allowing a whole new experience and story to be discovered.

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity 2008 ソニックライダーズ シューティングスターストーリー (Sonikku Raidāzu Shūtingu Sutā Sutōrī)

About
	Release Date January 08, 2008
	Developer Sonic Team
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Sonic™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Wii Releases
2008-01-08
2008-01-17
2008-02-22
2008-03-01

Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity is a hoverboard racing video game, the game uses characters and locations from Sega’s Sonic series. The characters compete in various racing events using some type of hoverboard called Extreme Gears, the goal of each race is to reach the finish line first using a combination of tricks and boosts.

Mostly the game follows the same formula as its predecessor with some new elements such as the Zero Gravity effect, the player can collect gravity points by doing tricks over the course of the race. Collecting enough of these points will give you the ability to use the zero gravity effect boosting the player’s speed. Up to 8 playable riders are available from the Sonic universe including Sonic, Dr.Eggman, Knuckles, and many more. All things considered, Zero Gravity is a nice little change from your typical racing games, with the lovable sonic cast and the captivating hoverboard setting.

MX vs. ATV Untamed 2007

About
	Release Date December 17, 2007
	Developer Rainbow Studios
	Publisher THQ
	Franchise MX vs. ATV
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2008-02-18
2008-03-07
2008-03-27

MX vs. ATV Untamed is a motorcycle off-road racing game, the Wii version is slightly degraded compared to its HD counterpart, with the advantage of motion controls. Also, the Wii port contains some additional tracks and tricks. The player can participate in various events including racing, free rides, freestyle, and time trials.

The Wii version allows motion controls either by steering with the Wii mote or using the combination of both the Wii mote and nunchuck. Visually the graphics are not anything special compared to the HD versions but for a Wii game, it looks fairly decent. Overall, this is the best off-road racing game on the system, in my opinion, offering both good motion controls and addicting gameplay elements.

Speed Racer: The Videogame 2008

About
	Release Date May 06, 2008
	Developer Sidhe Interactive
	Publisher Warner Bros Games
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin New Zealand

Wii Releases
2008-05-06
2008-05-09
2008-06-04
2008-07-10

Speed Racer The Videogame is a fast-paced arcade racing game inspired by a movie holding the same name. The game takes huge motivation from the well know F-zero series, offering ultra-fast racing, and unrealistic tracks.

The player controls the vehicles using the Wii mote sideways steering left and right, but that’s not all of it, the player can bash and smash other opponents’ burnout style using the nitro booster. Sending other participants off-track fill the nitro meter further up, using the full nitro enter the player into zone mode doubling his speed twice the normal for a certain amount of time. Content-wise the game offers 20 playable characters from the movie each with their own vehicles, and 5 different tracks. Altogether, speed racer the video game is a great racing game combining both elements of F-zero and Burnout, if you can overlook the forced motion controls check it out! 

Need for Speed™ Carbon 2006

About
	Release Date October 30, 2006
	Developer EA Vancouver
	Publisher Electronic Arts
	Franchise Need for Speed™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Concepts Modern, Realistic
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

Wii Releases
2006-11-19
2006-12-08
2006-12-14

Need for Speed Carbon for the Wii is an exciting racing game that offers a thrilling experience for gamers of all ages. The game features intense and fast-paced racing action with a variety of cars and tracks to choose from. Players must race their way through the underground world of street racing, taking on rival crews and dodging the police.

The game features a variety of control options, allowing players to customize their experience. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk are the recommended control style, allowing players to control their car with the motion-sensing capabilities of the Wii. Players can also use the Wii Wheel or Wii Classic controller if they prefer. While the motion controls might scare many players, I still assure you that you can get a hold of the controls in no time allowing you to experience a whole new experience.

Disney • Pixar Cars Race-O-Rama 2009

About
	Release Date October 12, 2009
	Developer Incinerator Studios
	Publisher THQ
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Wii Releases
2009-10-12
2009-10-30

Cars Race-O-Rama is an arcade racing game inspired by Disney movie Cars. The player controls Mcqueen competing in several circuit races scattered across radiator springs fictional city. Three main modes are available including a story mode covering the events of the movie.

Progressing further in the game the player can upgrade and change Mcqueen looks including rims, hood, side skirt, rear bumper, spoiler, and paint. Visually, the game captures the feel of the movie using the same colorful design and atmosphere. Overall this is a great game, especially if you have kids, this a& good introduction to arcade racing games.