11 Best SEGA Dreamcast Racing Games

Despite the Dreamcast’s failure, the console was eventually recognized as one of the most underappreciated consoles among retro gaming enthusiasts. This incredible system was much ahead of its time, with the first internet capability and extremely powerful technology that offered crisp 3D pictures and great sound. Racing games were no exception, as the system thrived with amazing exclusives and outstanding ports.

From hardcore F1 simulation racers to crazy arcade racers like Star Wars Episode I: Racer and Tokyo Xtreme Racer, the console has a slew of racing games that will keep you on your toes hooked to your TV. In today’s article, we’ll go over the best racing games on the mighty Sega Dreamcast, including numerous subgenres as well as exclusives and ports.

Hydro Thunder™ 1999

About
	Release Date February 01, 1999
	Developer Midway Studios San Diego
	Publisher Midway Games
	Franchise Thunder™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Dreamcast Releases
1999-10

Hydro Thunder translates the thrilling arcade experience to your little TV screen. This amazing game has you controlling a futuristic high-speed boat across several tracks in exotic areas. The user can select from a variety of boats, each with its appearance and stats. The goal of each race is to be the first to cross the finish line by perfecting curves, memorizing circuits, and seamlessly shifting between accelerating and braking when necessary.

Aside from the fantastic single-player experience, up to two players can join in on the split screen at the same time. The multiplayer feature adds to the excitement by providing countless hours of fun with pals locally. With a clean picture, great boat design, and one of the best circuits among all races on this list, the game demonstrates what the Dreamcast is capable of. Overall, Hydro Thunder is a timeless jewel on the system that every Sega or racing fan should play at least once.

Star Wars Episode I Racer 1999

About
	Release Date May 18, 1999
	Developer Lucasfilm Games
	Publisher Lucasfilm Games
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Dreamcast Releases
1999-12-17

Star Wars Episode I: Racer takes inspiration from the first movie in the second trilogy of Star Wars. The player participates in an intergalactic racing event driving high-speed floating pods, the goal is to reach the finish line first while perfecting turns, and memorizing each track. The game captured the essence of the movie with a huge cast to choose from, and amazing visuals at the time.

The Dreamcast version was vastly superior to its Nintendo 64 counterpart delivering better visuals and smooth framerates. The multiplayer component enhances the package by allowing other people to join you in the fun locally. The audio was equally excellent, with terrific stereo sound and soundtracks that reflected the intense atmosphere of the pod-racing competition.

Crazy Taxi / Crazy Taxi 2 2000 / 2001

About
	Full Name Crazy Taxi
	Release Date January 24, 2000
	Developer SEGA
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Crazy Taxi
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2000-01-24
2000-01-27
2000-02-25

About
	Full Name Crazy Taxi 2
	Release Date May 29, 2001
	Developer SEGA
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Crazy Taxi
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2001-05-29
2001-05-31
2001-07-06

Crazy Taxi is one of the most iconic titles on the Sega Dreamcast, the game captures the thrill of chaotic urban driving where you have to drive your passengers as fast as possible to their destination. In an open-world game, you drive your taxi across the road, picking up passengers and delivering them to their destinations before the timer runs out. The Dreamcast version expands on the bundle by including mini-games ranging from skill-based stuns to precision driving and more.

The sequel builds on the legacy of its predecessor by adding a new city and a slew of new features. You play as a taxi driver who roams the streets hunting for clients in the fictional city of Small Apple. While the game is nearly identical to its predecessor, some additional features are introduced. For example, for the first time in this game, the crazy hop system was introduced; this action allows you to leap while driving, providing a quick option to perform tight curves and salvage your journey before time runs out.

The game also has a time extension feature, which allows you to gain more time by performing various acrobatics and maneuvers during the trip. New passengers and playable characters were also added to the visuals offering expanded content compared to the first game. Overall, Crazy Taxi is a must-play on the system, providing one of the most memorable racing games ever as well as a modern classic that still holds up to present-day gaming standards.

Sega™ GT 2000

About
	Release Date February 17, 2000
	Developer Wow Entertainment
	Publisher SEGA
	Franchise Sega GT
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2000-12

Sega GT was Sega’s answer to Sony’s Gran Turismo, developers tried to deliver an authentic experience with realistic cars, and well-crafted tracks. What makes this game unique is the ability to tweak each car to your liking, the modification system was well crafted with detailed aspects and some of the best options that still hold up to this very day. The game featured a huge roster of cars ranging from your everyday cars all the way to high-performance sports cars. This variety offers an amazing opportunity for hardcore players to experience every car’s physics and stat.

 Gameplay wise the game offers multiple game modes including championships, quick race, and career mode. In career mode, the player could progress through a variety of championships and races, unlocking new cars and getting more challenging events after each race. Furthermore, the tracks were also hugely diverse with a couple of environments including cities, countryside, and many more. As a whole, Sega GT is a solid simulation racer that will please any fan who is looking for a realistic experience and a tough challenge.

Daytona USA® 2000

About
	Release Date December 21, 2000
	Developer Genki
	Publisher SEGA
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player, Split-Screen PvP
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2000-12

Daytona USA is not to be confused with the Sega Saturn game, this game is a whole new game made exclusively for the Dreamcast. Unlike the previous title this time Sega was trying to deliver an over-the-top arcade racing game, and they pretty much succeded in every aspect. Daytona puts you in the shoes of a race driver, participating in several championships and race competitions, the game takes inspiration from track base racers where you race across a circular track in several laps before reaching the finish line.

The game offers a decent roster of automobiles that differ in appearance and attributes and are inspired by cartoons with strange designs and exaggerated physics. One of the game’s most notable features is its online functionality, which was a tremendous deal at the time; the player could compete in races online with gamers from all over the world.

Local multiplayer is also available, with split-screen capabilities, allowing you to compete against a friend on the couch. While the game is not perfect by any means, it still offers a very fun arcade racer that will give you a nice break from all those hardcore sim racers you’ve been playing lately.

Tokyo Xtreme Racer™ / Tokyo Xtreme Racer™ 2 1999 / 2000

About
	Full Name Tokyo Xtreme Racer™
	Release Date June 24, 1999
	Developer Genki
	Publisher Genki
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
1999-10

About
	Full Name Tokyo Xtreme Racer™ 2
	Release Date June 22, 2000
	Developer Genki
	Publisher Genki
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
2000-06

Tokyo Extreme Racer is an iconic drift-based racer that takes inspiration from the highway of Tokyo and the beautiful Japanese cars. In an open-world environment, you take the role of a new racer arriving in Tokyo, your goal is to challenge several racing teams to climb your way across the best racers on Tokyo highways. The first game was an amazing foundation of the franchise formula, with good controls, beautiful visuals, and decent content.

Tokyo Extreme Racer 2 builds on the legacy of its predecessor by providing an even better experience with improved visuals, expanded content, and a massive list of playable cars. Furthermore, this sequel has a story option in which the player can delve deep into Tokyo’s subterranean racing scene. Multiplayer is also supported, allowing other players to join in on the fun locally. On the whole, both games are an amazing translation of the wangan culture, offering amazing arcade racers with a pinch of the beautiful Japanese culture.

Metropolis Street Racer™ 2000

About
	Release Date November 03, 2000
	Developer Bizarre Creations
	Publisher SEGA
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Dreamcast Releases
2000-11

Metropolis Street Racer is brought to you by the legendary studio behind the Project Gotham Racing series, the game offers a slow-paced racing game where the goal is to drive with style rather than be faster. Just like the Project Gotham Racing games, the goal of each race is to search Kudo points, this can be done by drifting, using the handbrake, driving clean, near misses, and such. This system encourages the player to show their skills on the track, focusing more on the style of driving rather than just reaching the finish line as fast as possible.

Extra work was put into the tracks taking inspiration from real-world locations like London, Tokyo, and San Francisco. Each track is well-crafted with tight corners and a tough challenge to overcome for hardcore players. The multiplayer mode is also one of the most notable modes, allowing the player to go head-to-head against friends and family in a split-screen look. While Metropolis Street Racer is not for everyone, it still offers one of the most unique gameplay in a racer and a very beautiful graphic design that still holds up to this very day.

San Francisco Rush™ 2049 2000

About
	Release Date September 06, 2000
	Developer Midway Games
	Publisher Midway Games
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Dreamcast Releases
2000-11

San Francisco Rush 2049 takes the players to the futuristic city of San Francisco, participating in a high-octane speed race the player will embark on a journey to win all competitions and eventually unlock all available cars. What makes this game unique is the addition of a stunt system where you can perform various rolls, flips, and aerial stunts to fill your nitrous meter and take the upper hand.

While winning appears to be unachievable at first glance, utilizing shortcuts and precisely timing your stunt might enable you to defeat the merciless AI and eventually reach the finish line first. Furthermore, the game provides players with an in-depth customization system in which they can improve their automobiles to take on the most difficult challenges by changing the bodywork, wings, and performance enhancements of each vehicle. To be honest, the graphics are terrible, but the gameplay more than makes up for it if you’re willing to accept the game’s unattractive design.

Test Drive: Le Mans® 1999

About
	Release Date November 26, 1999
	Developer Eutechnyx
	Publisher Atari SA
	Franchise Test Drive™
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Dreamcast Releases
2000-11-08
2000-11-17

Test Drive Le Mans takes inspiration from the iconic Le Mans 24-hour endurance race, delivering an authentic experience and highly detailed cars and environments. The player controls one of many high-speed cars in a closed circuit similar to titles like Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport, the goal is of course to reach the finish line first while sticking to the game tracks.

Up to 24 cars join in on the tracks, where the game can get quite competitive bumping into each other and eventually getting out of tracks.  This adds more to the challenge where the player must carefully make turns and memorize the tracks to reach the finish line first. The visuals are excellent, especially if you’re prepared to boost that VGA box to experience the game in magnificent 480p; the creators made sure to include details in each car and track. In the end, Test Drive Le Mans is a lovely neglected gem that I highly recommend if you’re striving for a good mix of arcade and simulation.

Demolition Racer: No Exit October, 2000 TBC

About
	Release Date October, 2000 TBC
	Developer Pitbull Syndicate
	Publisher Atari SA
	Genre Arcade Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Dreamcast Releases
2000-10

Demolition Racer: No Exit is yet another Dreamcast exclusive that went forgotten for years, as the name indicates the title is a demolition derby game where you compete in various competitions that focus on destruction and combat racing. In demolition derbies, players battled with the dual objectives of inflicting most damage on rivals and finishing first.

The player can choose from a wide range of cars ranging from compact models all the way to robust and larger models. Cars can be upgraded after each race reinforcing the body of your car as well as the engine and many more. The visuals are super crisp with beautiful car designs, amazing collider physics, and fine tracks. Overall, the game is a nice little gem that is still exclusive to the system to this very day, if you’re looking for a fine demolition derby game this might be your next pick!

F-1 World Grand Prix 1998

About
	Release Date July 27, 1998
	Developer Video System
	Publisher Eidos Interactive
	Genre Simulation Racing
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Japan

Dreamcast Releases
1999-11

F-1 World Grand Prix aims to bring the excitement of Formula 1 competition to your home console. This beautiful gem offers a solid simulation racing game with authentic cars, tracks, and competition. The game offers a wide range of game modes including Grand Prix, time trials, arcade, and championship modes. The grand prix mode allows the player to customize their own car and compete in various events gaining fame and unlocking more customization options along the way.

 Ai opponents are fairly challenging offering a hardcore experience where the player must perfect his vehicle control as well as memorize each track to win the race. Taking advantage of the Dreamcast capabilities the visuals are equally striking with an amazing look of both cars and tracks holding up to this very day. All in all, the F-1 World Grand Prix offers one of the best simulation racing experiences on the console, delivering the best of both worlds as both a great game and the better version compared to the Nintendo 64 version.