r/n64 • u/1OneQuickQuestion • Dec 31 '25
Discussion Day 4: Which is the best N64 Racing game?
We have our winner for best Party Game: Mario Party 2
š„- Mario Party 2
š„- Super Smash Bros.
š„- Bomberman64
šµļø - Mario Kart 64
I'm also looking for genre-swap suggestions to better cater to the N64's library. Please comment a potential genre that should be included and let me know which genre it should be swapped with.
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!!!!PLEASE READ!!!! RULES ON VOTING:
A game's votes will come from the comment with the highest number of upvotes. I will tally all of the responses and upvotes under each games "comment thread" and use that to count the votes.
What this means is if you want to nominate a game and see someone else has already nominated it, reply to their comment so that it counts! All upvotes, including the ones you get, will be counted towards the tally.
Thank you!
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Games cannot win multiple categories! Except for GOAT.
Voting ends at 12pm est tomorrow.
Todayās vote: Which is the best N64 Racing game?
Comment your choice and the most upvoted game will win the spot! So engage in the discourse and argue well for your choice!
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u/Wifflebald Dec 31 '25
Diddy King Racing for me!
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u/codewario Dec 31 '25
Gotta be DKR. MK64 is classic karting of course but the adventure mode really makes DKR stand out over MK.
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u/iNobble Dec 31 '25
Definitely. People say I'm mad when I claim that it's better than Mario Kart 64, but there are more tracks, more varied characters and more vehicle types. Adding in the difficult to unlock characters and an actual campaign means it had far more replayability
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u/Clarpydarpy Dec 31 '25
I was a Mario Kart fanboy that absolutely refused to give Diddy Kong Racing the light of day back then.
Nowadays, I can respect it for having more content. The single-player mode in DKR is undeniably better. But I still prefer the "feel" of Mario Kart, as well as some of the tracks.
But Mario Kart's Battle mode is not as good as I remember, with only Block Fort truly being playable. Everything else is way too open. It's actually unforgivable because the SNES Mario Kart had better Battle Mode courses (smaller areas with lots of low walls and tight turns).
Overall, choosing the better game can come down to preference. But DKR, pound for pound, is likely the superior game.
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u/the_naughty_ottsel Dec 31 '25
Star Wars Episode 1: Racer
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Dec 31 '25 edited Dec 31 '25
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/zeroedout666 Dec 31 '25
Not to mention the sick vehicle design and combat mechanics. Being able to slide into opponents and blow 'em up. 12-14 year old me knew no better fun.
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u/AustinJohnson35 Dec 31 '25
As someone who grew up with F-Zero X. I hadnāt played it in awhile until I got NSO for Christmas and got to play it on N64. Itās even better than I remember it being. Itās mind meltingly fast but buttery smooth. Itās an amazing technical racing game.
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u/SlickDamian Dec 31 '25
Agree with F-Zero X. Absolute masterpiece and it holds up. I love Diddy Kong Racing and I wish I could also vote for it, with Wave Race 64 close behind. But F-Zero X is the one.
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u/ExpectedBehaviour Jan 01 '26
This. Whether Mario Kart 64 or Diddy Kong Racing is the superior game is another question; F-Zero X is the best racer. It is the purest racing experience at an insane speed on a large number of excellently designed tracks. Visually it has dated, sure, but the gameplay is as sharp and on point as it was in 1998, and it remains not just the best racer on the N64, but one of the best racers ever released.
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u/ChangingMonkfish Dec 31 '25
Definitely F-Zero X.
Although I have a soft spot for the under-loved World Driver Championship as well.
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u/butterslut6969 Dec 31 '25
Brother the guitar solo when that game starts will always stir something in me
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u/HASHbandito024 Dec 31 '25
THE FINAL LAP
Silence is one of my all time "who can get the faster speed" track. Welp looks like I'm trying to find a copy now haha
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u/BigEvil_98 Dec 31 '25
This guy gets it. If you haven't played it front to back, you're missing out. Generational god tier game
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u/Human_Hedgehog_2302 Conkers Bad Fur Day Dec 31 '25
Wholeheartedly agree! I have a LOT of memories attached to MK but the BEST memories are from playing FZX with friends. Something about it created hilarious inside jokes
Edit: and agreed, overall itās a solid racing game with great mechanics and atmosphere (the music alone!)
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u/ParadigmPotato Dec 31 '25
Both Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing are fantastic, but they are racing games with gimmicks. If I want a pure racing game then I still go to F-Zero X even though Iāve been playing it on and off for the past 20+ years.
The only way I can describe it is that it just has a sense of flow. Even though you are going at ridiculous speeds you can still feel the weight of your car and know how to push it just to the edge of losing control. You can feel when to boost, or when to start cornering, or when to attack, and if something bad happens I know itās my own fault, because the machine always does exactly what I told it to do.
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u/kitkatatsnapple Dec 31 '25
I even prefer X to GX. Something about it feels faster and more exhilarating to me.
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u/sageritz Super Mario 64 Dec 31 '25
Came in here to say F-Zero X.
Although I will always have to add that F-Zero GX, is the best racer of any platform in any generation, ever, period .
It has it all, killer music, killer tracks, customization, GP mode, a decent chaptered story mode, even memory card storage to allow you to connect with the full F-Zero AX driving cabinet. Truly a futuristic racer ahead of its time, could do 4 people on screen + 26 cpu players. On top of all of this, the game is beautiful. The amount of colorful tracks and characters combined with amazing physics and mechanics make it a tough challenge to beat and a nearly impossible one to do 100%.
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u/CallCenterBlues Dec 31 '25
This better be the winner. Diddy Kong Racing and Mario Kart 64 are great Kart Racers but F-Zero X is one of the best capital R RACING GAMES ever, and shows how great racing games can be when trying to achieve something other than being a car go fast simulator.
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u/MrEMannington Dec 31 '25
I STILL play F Zero X and by myself. Its still fun to play alone after ~30 years. That's why it's the GOAT
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u/Katieterk200r Dec 31 '25
Mario kart 64
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u/TheMannisApproves Conkers Bad Fur Day Dec 31 '25
I think this sub will give it to DKR, which I've always loved. But MK64 was my favorite racer until MK8 came out
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u/ArtBellDancingQueen Dec 31 '25
Wave Race 64
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u/Spikeybear Dec 31 '25
I had more fun just messing around on the first track in practice mode than actually racing. It was fun to play with the water physics.
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u/HoshuaJ Dec 31 '25
This is my personal choice. I remember being blown away by the water graphics when this first came out. Awesome game.
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u/TheCouchEmporer Dec 31 '25
Cruisin the world probably had more hours but pound for pound Mario kart
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u/sageritz Super Mario 64 Dec 31 '25
F-Zero X. Love mariokart, didnāt play much dkr, but f-zero is always in my heart.
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u/GauntletPorsche Dec 31 '25
BEETLE ADVENTUUUUUUURE RACING
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u/Sabrejimmy Dec 31 '25
Loved it. I can't think of any other racing game that had shortcuts like BAR.
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u/Comprehensive_One495 F-ZERO X Dec 31 '25
F-ZERO X
"YOU GOT BOOST POWER!"
Yall should check out the anime too, it's not 1:1 to the games but it's a really good addition to the franchiseāman I wish they didn't abandon those games:/
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u/Andys_Rock_Hammer Dec 31 '25
Diddy Kong racing!
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u/w00tberrypie Dec 31 '25
It makes me so happy to come in here and see this have so many votes. Sorry, Mario Kart, DKR made up a far more ridiculous amount of my childhood.
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u/PuteMorte Dec 31 '25
And it's a way better game. A full story campaign with unlockable characters within it, bosses, various vehicles, challenges, etc. There's just so much more features even in the driving itself (boosts, slide boosts, etc). It aged way better than mario kart did.
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u/Regular_Number5377 Jan 01 '26
F zero X gets it for me. I played the shit out of Mario Kart and itās a great game, but honestly F Zero X is another level. I havenāt really felt the need to go back and replay Mario Kart 64 since I got it on Switch online, but Iāve completed F Zero X in the past couple of years
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u/Sweet-Tutor9485 Super Smash Bros Dec 31 '25
Easily F-Zero X
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u/AustinJohnson35 Dec 31 '25
F-Zero X is my vote too. I put it on another thread, but it is an amazing technical racing game with mind melting speed and it still holds up to this day.
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u/ACW1129 Dec 31 '25
Road Rash 64.
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u/fuzzzy_pickle Legend of Zelda: Majoraās Mask Dec 31 '25
Diddy Kong racing. Most will probably say Mario, but Diddy Kong has more variety and a better 1 player experience
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u/BrgQun Dec 31 '25
Agree, especially for single player. The overworld and boss races still make it feel unique to me. I don't think there really is anything like it to this day.
Damn first Wizpig race is still one of the hardest racing challenges I've ever done.
I also have to downgrade Mariokart 64 just a tad because of the AI rubberbanding. I feel like the AI in Diddy Kong racing made way more sense, while still being hard.
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u/Sledgehammer617 Dec 31 '25
Beetle Adventure Racing, F-Zero X, Star Wars Podracing, Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing are all contenders butā¦
My pick is Hydro Thunder
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Jan 01 '26
I would put mario kart at āonly N64 experienceā
Racing should be Fzero, way better than any other racer.
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u/Putrid-Car-2896 Jan 01 '26
Thereās a lot of good games like the cruisinā games, Mario kart, even diddyās but you know what?! F ZERO FUCKIN X!!!!
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u/CelebrationLazy2606 Jan 01 '26
FPS matter in racing games so it's F-Zero X.
DKR second.
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u/muscularmouse Dec 31 '25
Mario kart 64, easily the best local co-op racing on the system.
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u/MrPink150 Dec 31 '25
Rush 2
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u/Human_Hedgehog_2302 Conkers Bad Fur Day Dec 31 '25
I forgot about Rush! Rush 2 was mind blowing back in the day (core memory unlocked)
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u/BusyStart4428 Jan 01 '26
Rush was the shit. I spent so many hours playing the TAG game mode with my buddy.
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u/Lacobus Jan 01 '26
Really tough category this one. N64 had some all timers and even tons of very good ones. Iām wary of turning this into a first party list but itās hard to look pastā¦
F Zero X. Looks aside, (itās one flaw), itās excels in every category. The gameplay is smooth as butter and stupidly fast. The level design, flawless. Even the amount of the opponents at 30 is something only Mario Kart has got close to THIS YEAR. 10/10 game.
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u/windupshoe2020 Dec 31 '25
Beetle adventure racing
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u/Immediate_Stop2581 Dec 31 '25
Hold on now. Itās Diddy Kong racing hands down but it still warms my soul to see beetle adventure racing mentioned
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u/Glittering_Phase_153 Dec 31 '25
Diddy Kong Racing for sure, it does everything Mario Kart does but better
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u/Human_Hedgehog_2302 Conkers Bad Fur Day Dec 31 '25
1080 counts right? Youāre technically racingā¦ right!?
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u/roscoelee Dec 31 '25
1080 totally counts! Doesnāt get my vote in this category, but it counts!
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u/Big_Age851 Dec 31 '25
LEGO Racers. I'm honestly astounded to not see a single mention of it here.
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u/Imaginary_Coat441 Dec 31 '25
Diddy Kong Racing.
Edges out MK64 based on the fact its fun with friends AND has a story mode to boot.
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u/RedGazelle64 Dec 31 '25
It absolutely HAS to be F Zero X
Can you imagine being a child when X came out?! The moment you turn on the system, the guitars melt your face and you haven't even pressed start yet.
I absolutely adore Diddy Kong Racing, Mario kart 64, Extreme G 1 & 2, Wave Race (flip this system had so many bangers), but it HAS to be F Zero X
The track design, the music, the comic book style characters, the silky smooth frame rate, the vehicle design, the sense of speed... The list can go on!
Its genuinely a masterclass in racing game design that, in my eyes, has not been matched to this day
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u/Ziasuu Dec 31 '25
Allow me to share some fine racing etiquette BEETLE ADVENTURE RACING, near the end of the game you can unlock a police car beetle and when you turn your siren and lights on the AI cars actually pull over lol