Rockstar Games With The Best Driving, Ranked

Rockstar is one of the most beloved modern developers in the gaming world, and it’s poised to make waves in the industry with the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. This new open-world adventure will let players engage in a life of crime as they drive the flashiest vehicles.

The developer is known for integrating amazing driving mechanics into their games that fans can’t get enough of. As one would expect, some Rockstar Games boast better driving systems than others, with a range of factors governing their overall quality.

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8

Midnight Club: Street Racing

The First Entry In An Underrated Racing Series Signals A Promising Start

Midnight Club: Street Racing

Released

October 26, 2000

Midnight Club is one of the flashiest street racing franchises around, boasting a ton of character. Players loved engaging in illegal street races at night as they acquired better vehicles to leave their opponents in the dust.

For a first entry in a game series, Midnight Club got a lot of things right and established the formula that later games would roll with. While its driving mechanics may feel a bit dated by modern standards, that should take nothing away from the iconic quality of the first game.

7

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Features An Impressive Array Of Vehicles

Released

October 26, 2004

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the greatest video games of all time, and fans love it to death. The sheer amount of love players have for CJ’s adventures is immense, as they guide him through a heartbreaking betrayal and help him get revenge on the people who did him dirty.

One of the best parts of San Andreas involves its huge selection of driveable vehicles, which fans will love to mess around with. From sports cars to dirt bikes, the sheer number of awesome vehicles players can commandeer in San Andreas is intense.

6

Midnight Club 2

The Driving Mechanics Are Considerably Better

Midnight Club 2

Systems

Released

April 9, 2003

ESRB

t

Midnight Club 2 is a sequel that brings the improvements that players would expect if they’re familiar with the first game. Players are rewarded for reaching top speeds and making the most of the many shortcuts present in each race.

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The addition of damage models and more complex driving mechanics ensures that the driving feels more authentic than ever. Players who want to check out a classic entry in Rockstar’s long-forgotten racing franchise will find the second mainline entry to be a ton of fun.

5

L.A. Noire

Driving Cars In 1947 Feels Pretty Authentic

Released

May 17, 2011

ESRB

m

L.A. Noire is a great open-world detective game with an immersive setting that will transport players back to the past. Cole Phelps is an intriguing character who must struggle quite a bit to uncover the mystery behind a string of killings that tie back to his army background.

The driving in this game is pretty functional, with players using cars authentic to the setting with fascinating driving physics. It helps immerse players in the setting as they explore Los Angeles and solve the many cases that come their way.

4

Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition

Considered To Be The Best Of The Series

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Systems

Released

April 12, 2005

ESRB

e

Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition is hailed by many as one of the best entries in the series. Players feel like they’re a part of the thrilling street racing culture as they take on many opponents in enthralling races.

The vibes of Midnight Club 3, coupled with impressive driving physics and gameplay mechanics, ensure that players can spend hours in this title as they drive around in their favorite cars. The best thing is that players can unlock abilities for different classes that let them weave through traffic or blow away any vehicles in their path with ease.

3

Grand Theft Auto 4

The Shift To A New Engine Is Accompanied By Better Driving Mechanics

Systems

Released

April 29, 2008

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Grand Theft Auto 4 is one of the greatest video games ever made, marking a major shift in the series by moving things to a brand-new engine. Niko Bellic’s adventures are a blast as he makes a name for himself in the underbelly of Liberty City.

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As one would expect, players can get their hands on several impressive cars that handle like a dream. Unlike the arcade physics present in past Grand Theft Auto games, players enjoy a driving model that is more realistic and signals a shift in GTA‘s approach in the 3D Universe.

2

Midnight Club: Los Angeles

The Amazing Graphics And Driving Mechanics Are Great To Experience

Systems

Released

October 20, 2008

ESRB

t

Midnight Club: Los Angeles is the best-looking game in the series, and for good reason. The last entry in this beloved series is full of the technical expertise one would expect from a modern racing game, with Los Angeles’ stylish presentation augmenting its racing gameplay.

Cars look and feel better than ever as players zoom their way past opponents across a series of races. It’s a shame that Midnight Club hasn’t had a new entry since, but fans can always check out Los Angeles to witness the glory days of the series.

1

Grand Theft Auto 5

The Driving Rivals Most Modern Racing Games

Systems

Released

September 17, 2013

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

It takes something special for a game to feature driving mechanics so impressive that they rival most modern racers. Grand Theft Auto 5‘s technical achievements cover numerous verticals, and the amazing driving physics are no exception.

Cars feel great to drive, especially if players use Franklin’s ability to make things easier for themselves. With GTA Online being chock-full of community-made races that fans can’t get enough of, it’s clear that these revolutionary driving mechanics still hold up more than a year after this title’s release.

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