Classic MS-DOS Racing Games

Racing games on MS-DOS delivered speed and competition long before 3D graphics became standard. Test Drive put exotic supercars in players' hands in 1987, while Need for Speed arrived in 1994 with stunning (for the time) VGA visuals and licensed cars. IndyCar Racing, Grand Prix Circuit and Stunts offered variety ranging from simulation to arcade chaos. DOS racing games often had to be creative with limited hardware — top-down views, Mode 7-style scaling and clever sprite tricks were all used to convey the sensation of speed on machines measured in megahertz.

Games in the racing genre (recently added)

Out Run
Out Run – MS-DOS cover art
Out Run is a legendary arcade racing game developed by Sega and originally released in 1986, before making its way to MS-DOS in 1989. Designed by Yu Suzuki, the game puts players behind the wheel of a sleek red Ferrari Testarossa convertible, racing…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1986
Developer: Sega
Publisher: U.S. Gold

IndyCar Racing
IndyCar Racing – MS-DOS cover art
IndyCar Racing (1993) by Papyrus Design Group is a landmark racing simulation that brought an unprecedented level of realism to MS-DOS. Focused on the 1993 PPG Indy Car World Series, the game places players behind the wheel of high-speed open-wheel…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1993
Developer: Papyrus Design Group
Publisher: Papyrus

Wacky Wheels
Wacky Wheels – MS-DOS cover art
Wacky Wheels is a colorful and fast-paced kart racing game released in 1994 for MS-DOS by Apogee Software. Set in a whimsical world populated by cartoon animals, the game puts players behind the wheel of quirky characters racing across imaginative…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1994
Developer: Beavis Soft
Publisher: 3D Realms

The Need for Speed
The Need for Speed – MS-DOS cover art
The Need for Speed (1994), developed and published by Electronic Arts for MS-DOS, is a landmark racing game that set new standards for realism and presentation in the genre. Unlike many arcade-style racers of its era, the game emphasized authentic…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1994
Developer: Electronic Arts
Publisher: -

Destruction Derby
Destruction Derby – MS-DOS cover art
Released in 1995 by Psygnosis, Destruction Derby for MS-DOS delivers a raw and chaotic racing experience that prioritizes impact over precision. Unlike traditional racing games of its era, the focus here is not simply on crossing the finish line…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1995
Developer: Reflections Interactive
Publisher: Psygnosis

Slipstream 5000
Slipstream 5000 – MS-DOS cover art
Slipstream 5000 is a fast-paced futuristic racing game released in 1995 for MS-DOS, developed by Gremlin Interactive. Set in a stylized vision of the year 5000, the game puts players behind the controls of high-speed anti-gravity vehicles, racing…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1995
Developer: The Software Refinery
Publisher: Gremlin Interactive

Grand Prix 2
Grand Prix 2 – MS-DOS cover art
Grand Prix 2, released in 1996 by MicroProse, is widely regarded as one of the most influential Formula 1 racing simulations of its era. Designed by Geoff Crammond, the game delivers an impressively realistic driving model for its time, capturing…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1996
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -

Death Rally
Death Rally – MS-DOS cover art
Death Rally (1996) is a top-down arcade racing game for MS-DOS developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Apogee Software. Set in a brutal, post-apocalyptic future, the game places players in illegal death races where winning is not just…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1996
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Publisher: 3D Realms

Whiplash
Whiplash – MS-DOS cover art
Whiplash (released as Fatal Racing in some regions) is a high-speed, futuristic racing game developed by Interplay Productions for MS-DOS in 1996. The game focuses on aggressive, stunt-heavy driving across wild, roller-coaster-like tracks filled…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1996
Developer: Gremlin Interactive
Publisher: Interplay Productions

Formula One Grand Prix
Formula One Grand Prix – MS-DOS cover art
Formula One Grand Prix, released in 1992 by MicroProse and designed by Geoff Crammond, is a landmark racing simulation that set new standards for realism and immersion in motorsport gaming. Featuring all sixteen tracks of the 1991 Formula One…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1992
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -

Power Drive
Power Drive – MS-DOS cover art
Power Drive is an isometric rally racing game developed by Rage Software and released for MS-DOS in 1994. Blending arcade-style handling with realistic rally elements, the game puts players behind the wheel of various licensed cars as they compete…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1994
Developer: Rage Software
Publisher: U.S. Gold

Super Cars International
Super Cars International – MS-DOS cover art
Super Cars International, released in 1996 by Magnetic Fields, is a top-down arcade racing game that delivers fast, competitive action with a touch of vehicular mayhem. An updated version of the classic Super Cars II, the game features a lineup of…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1996
Developer: Magnetic Fields
Publisher: Gremlin Interactive

SuperKarts
SuperKarts – MS-DOS cover art
SuperKarts, released in 1995 by Manic Media, is a fast-paced arcade-style racing game that brings colorful kart racing action to the PC. Featuring a cast of quirky international drivers and imaginative tracks set around the world, the game delivers…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1995
Developer: Manic Media
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

Carmageddon
Carmageddon – MS-DOS cover art
Carmageddon, released in 1997 by Interplay Productions, is a chaotic vehicular combat game that blends high-octane racing with dark humor and outrageous violence. Set in a dystopian future, players take on the role of a deranged driver competing in…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1997
Developer: Stainless Games
Publisher: Interplay Productions

NASCAR Racing
NASCAR Racing – MS-DOS cover art
NASCAR Racing, released in 1994 by Papyrus Design Group, is a highly realistic racing simulation that brings the excitement of stock car racing to the PC. As one of the first truly authentic NASCAR games, it offers a deep and immersive driving…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1994
Developer: Papyrus Design Group
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

Grand Prix Circuit
Grand Prix Circuit – MS-DOS cover art
Grand Prix Circuit, released in 1988 by Accolade, is a Formula One racing simulation that brings the excitement and challenge of professional motorsport to the home computer. Players can choose from three iconic cars of the era—the McLaren Honda…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1988
Developer: Distinctive Software
Publisher: Accolade

Test Drive III: The Passion
Test Drive III: The Passion – MS-DOS cover art
Test Drive III: The Passion, released in 1990 by Accolade, is a revolutionary entry in the Test Drive series that brought open-world exploration and advanced 3D graphics to the racing genre. Departing from the linear courses of its predecessors, the…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1990
Developer: Accolade
Publisher: -

Stunts
Stunts – MS-DOS cover art
Stunts, released in 1990 by Broderbund, is a groundbreaking racing game that lets players experience high-speed thrills on insane stunt tracks. Known for its innovative gameplay and freedom of creativity, Stunts allows players to race against the…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1990
Developer: Distinctive Software
Publisher: Broderbund

Street Rod 2
Street Rod 2 – MS-DOS cover art
Street Rod 2: The Next Generation, released in 1991 by California Dreams, is a classic racing and car customization game set in the nostalgic world of 1960s American muscle cars. Building on the success of its predecessor, the game puts players in…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1991
Developer: Logical Design Works
Publisher: California Dreams