Top Five Driving Games

Some days, all you want to do is get in your car and take a long, fast drive. Unfortunately, things like speed limits, the high price of gas, and lack of a car can get in the way of that.

Fortunately, there's always been plenty of video games based on the driving experience. From old arcade games like Daytona USA to current gen games like Project CARS, there's never been a shortage of games to drive fast in. Here are five games to play if you want to get that driving experience, without the hassle. Some are realistic, some are goofy, all will be a lot of fun.

DRIVECLUB 

One of the best driving sims of the current generation, DRIVECLUB's strength is it's amazing multiplayer. When a friend beats your time, you'll be notified and given a chance to beat theirs, which keeps the game feeling competitive. Not only that, but DRIVECLUB feels, handles, and looks great.

In a world where games focus on realism above all else, it's fun to play a game with more "arcadey" sensibilities. DRIVECLUB's cars are unique, but handle similar enough to each other that it's not a chore to play something different. If you want something that's good to play with friends and easy to pick up and play, grab a copy of DRIVECLUB.

Mario Kart (Any of Them)

On the goofier end of the spectrum, Mario Kart games are always fun with some friends. Each one manages to be easy enough for your little cousin to pick up and hard enough that you'll still be sweating trying to catch up to first.

While there's a lot that might make you angry, (damn you, blue shell!) the Mario Kart games have an irresistible charm that will always have you coming back for more. Like most multiplayer Mario games, it's the perfect game for family gatherings, parties, and any time more than one person's in a room. With tons of maps, characters, and customization options, there's plenty of ways to keep the game fresh for a long time.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 

Laugh all you want, but there's something strangely calming about this game. You're not going at a breakneck speed down winding roads, but there's still a sense of urgency to your actions. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a relaxing game that's best played while listening to some music or a podcast to keep your mind occupied, and then just driving until you can't drive anymore.

While most driving games are all about speed, it's a breath of fresh air in that it's not about the speed. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is all about the journey, not the destination, and that's not a thing you see in video games very often. If that sounds like fun to you, give it a go.

Forza Motorsport 6 

The Forza series has always been well-liked, but the most recent installment took home the gold. Hitting the point between realistic simulation and arcade-style fun, Forza Motorsport 6 is also visually stunning, with great weather effects and plenty of beautiful levels to pick from.

Forza Motorsport 6 is a great racing game with no bells and whistles, just a long track, great visuals, and tight gameplay. If you like racing and have an Xbox One, than there's no reason you shouldn't own this game.

Twisted Metal Black

Still the best game in the franchise fifteen years later, Twisted Metal Black is undoubtedly the least realistic game on this list (and consider that this list contains Mario Kart). But it's one of the most fun as well.

This car-combat game has a massive list of twisted characters to play through in a dark, over-the-top story mode, and the gameplay, which ranges from races to frenetic death matches across huge maps, is made all the more fun with the insane weapons you unlock. It's like Mario Kart's twisted older brother -- a great multiplayer party game, but with a twisted campaign mode that'll keep you busy for a long time. And it's been re-released on the PlayStation 4, so if you missed it when it came out, give it a go.

What's your favorite driving game?  Let us know in the comments!