Driving games mega-test

Are you looking for the ideal Christmas present for the petrolhead in your life? Or do you want to get your little ones behind the wheel from an early age? 
A driving video game makes a perfect stocking filler – and over the next three pages, we test 12 of the latest, from family fun titles to realistic simulators. We round up the top peripherals, and offer tips to get the most out of playing.

The test

We rated games on three platforms: the Microsoft Xbox 360 (X360), Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3). Your choice will be dictated by the system you have, or are looking to buy, but we’ve listed the consoles each title is available on. Our games were divided into three categories – starting with simulators, which we rated for life-like handling and accurate cars. Involving gameplay was key, while real circuits and authentic details scored points.

For pick-up-and-play fun, we looked at arcade titles. These offer alternative thrills, many with multiplayer racing and options for online gaming. 

Our final category was games for all the family: less realistic racers which give maximum enjoyment for young players. In all three categories, we 
considered how long the titles would keep you entertained. Price wasn’t a key factor; all the figures quoted are from retailer Game’s website, and refer to the title on the console it was tested on.

Verdict

It’s been all change since our last test in 2006. New consoles and technology have raised the bar significantly, yet the games are still offered at affordable prices. Gran Turismo 5 has been well worth the wait, and edges ahead of F1: 2010 in the driving sim section of our test. The arcade category saw a much closer result, with the seasoned Colin McRae franchise’s DiRT 2 pushing Need for Speed into second place. Families wanting hours of fun this Christmas don’t need to look any further than Mario Kart Wii.