Anyone who picks up Dangerous Driving is looking for a particular type of thrill. It’s something that used to be common in games but has more or less fallen by the wayside when it comes to virtual driving. The arcade racer is an uncommon sight, but there are still plenty of releases that hold the torch in one way or another. So, if you’re looking for other games that capture the spirit of Burnout, we did the work for you. Here are 10 Burnout alternatives to try after you blaze through Dangerous Driving‘s campaign.
Now, it is clear that each of the 10 Burnout alternatives listed here isn’t a perfect match. Because arcade racers are less than common, the list becomes a big scattershot unless you include retro titles. Even Paradise has problems compared to the peak of the series. However, you should go in looking for a varied diet. You can find every aspect of Burnout replicated somewhere among the collection. Furthermore, if you just like a single aspect of the experience, you’ll find a game that focuses in on that. You might like that Burnout alternative more than the original game!
But it’s clear that the world needs more Burnout alternatives. There’s nothing quite like getting behind the wheel of a realistic car and then smashing it as if you were in a cartoon. With the requirements of big games nowadays, it’s harder and harder to make that a reality, but it’s not impossible. Much like how Doom captured old-school FPS with a new coat of paint, it’s possible that some developer can find a Burnout alternative with a huge budget. Hey, maybe it will even be EA, the current holders of Criterion’s legacy. It’s a little harder to believe given the publisher’s current track record, but who knows? History is full of surprises.
Burnout Alternatives
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10 Burnout Alternatives to Try After Dangerous Driving
Whether you've already blazed through Dangerous Driving or you're looking for something a little more polished, there are plenty of great games that carry the spirit of Burnout forward. Explosions, fast vehicles, and outright mayhem await in this collection of Burnout alternatives. Let's put the pedal to the metal. -
Onrush
The last game to carry the mantle of Burnout successor, Onrush is an online game that failed to find an audience. Even so, it's still a unique and expressive driving game that removes racing from the equation and survives on sheer combat. It's wonderfully innovative and deserves a look, even if you're just playing against AI. -
GRIP
Join in with Lionel Richie and drive on the ceiling with GRIP. Designed as a successor to Rollcage, races range from missile-filled deathmatches to more traditional point to point driving. While it's not a direct comparison, this combat racer has plenty in common with Criterion's arcade classic. -
Fast RMX
If all you're looking for is to capture Burnout's sense of speed, there are several F-Zero successors that do that well. Fast RMX is the latest in a long-running series of futuristic racers mainly living on Nintendo platforms. It's pretty and powerful all in one. -
Redout
Or, if you have a VR helmet, perhaps Redout will be more your speed. A game with an ever-growing feature set, this futuristic racer is hailed as the F-Zero fan's best bet until Nintendo decides to revive Captain Falcon's adventures one day. We're not holding our breath. -
Wreckfest
Wreckfest attempts to create a modern interpretation of games like Demolition Derby on the PlayStation. It's got realistic physics, plenty of different modes, and recreates car destruction in a way that even Criterion couldn't top in its prime. For destruction junkies, this is the choice. -
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Kart racing is one of the best forms of arcade racing, and if you want a pure but arcadey race experience, they don't get much better than Crash. While this game isn't out yet at the time of writing, the work Activision has done on the previous PS1 remasters gives us confidence that it will nail this version of the best kart racer in existence. Yes, better than Mario. -
Renegade Ops
What if you want less racing and more explosions? If that is the case, then Renegade Ops would be a good get. It's a Jackal successor with plenty of firearms and tight controls. Made by the same people who make Just Cause, this vehicular carnage simulator will quench your thirst for wrecks in a jiffy. -
The Next Penelope
Half arcade racer and half shoot 'em up, The Next Penelope shines as a unique statement by indie developer Aurelien Regard. It's got a bit of anime style in there as well, in case you needed some of that flavor in your Burnout tour. -
Horizon Chase Turbo
If you've ever played Outrun in an old arcade or on Sega Genesis, you know what Horizon Chase Turbo is going for: blue skies, a shiny convertible, and the open road. It's like the good twin to Burnout's twisted machinations, but both games still deliver a high-speed thrill ride. -
Burnout Paradise Remastered
There's nothing quite like going back to the source, and EA recently allowed fans to do just that with the release of Burnout Paradise Remastered. It's no Burnout 3, but the races and events in this game will certainly fulfill your urge to play Need for Speed until EA rights the ship with its own driving mishaps.
