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Best Nintendo DS racing games

The Matrix has 62 racing games on file for the Nintendo DS, released between 2004–2010. 50 of them support multiplayer. They're ranked below by legacy score, so the games that shaped the genre on the DS come first, with lesser-known picks further down.

Racing games range from realistic driving to kart racers with weapons and shortcuts. Races are short, making them great for quick sessions and split-screen rivalries.

Typical commitment: quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun). Tip: Learn each track's racing line and braking points; in kart racers, item strategy matters as much as driving.

Just pick one for me

#1

Mario Kart DS box art

Mario Kart DS 2005 · Racing Classic

#2

Need for Speed: Nitro box art

Need for Speed: Nitro Racing Classic

#3

Pokémon Dash box art

Pokémon Dash 2005 · Racing Classic

#4

Asphalt: Urban GT box art

Asphalt: Urban GT 2004 · Racing Classic

#5

Need for Speed: Most Wanted box art

Need for Speed: Most Wanted Racing Classic

#6

MySims Racing box art

MySims Racing Racing Classic

#7

Need for Speed: Carbon box art

Need for Speed: Carbon Racing Classic

#8

Need for Speed: Underground 2 box art

Need for Speed: Underground 2 2005 · Racing Classic

#9

Need for Speed: ProStreet box art

Need for Speed: ProStreet Racing Classic

#10

Need for Speed: Undercover box art

Need for Speed: Undercover Racing Classic

#11

Diddy Kong Racing DS box art

Diddy Kong Racing DS 2007 · Racing Classic

#12 Race Driver: Create & Race

Race Driver: Create & Race 2007 · Racing Classic

#13

Asphalt: Urban GT 2 box art

Asphalt: Urban GT 2 Racing

#14 Diddy Kong Racing

Diddy Kong Racing Racing

#15 Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Racing

#16

Cars 2 box art

Cars 2 Shooter

#17

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 box art

Colin McRae: Dirt 2 Racing

#18

Hot Wheels Track Attack box art

Hot Wheels Track Attack Racing

#19

SpongeBob's Boating Bash box art

SpongeBob's Boating Bash Racing

#20

ATV: Quad Frenzy box art

ATV: Quad Frenzy 2005 · Racing

#21

Burnout Legends box art

Burnout Legends Racing

#22

TrackMania Turbo box art

TrackMania Turbo 2010 · Racing

#23 Wacky Races: Crash and Dash

Wacky Races: Crash and Dash Racing

#24

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam box art

Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam 2006 · Racing Deep cut

#25

Ben 10: Galactic Racing box art

Ben 10: Galactic Racing Racing Deep cut

#26

Cars box art

Cars Racing Deep cut

#27

Cars Mater-National Championship box art

Cars Mater-National Championship Racing Deep cut

#28

Cartoon Network Racing box art

Cartoon Network Racing Racing Deep cut

#29

Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli box art

Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli Racing Deep cut

#30

Jambo! Safari box art

Jambo! Safari Racing Deep cut

#31

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights box art

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights Racing Deep cut

#32

Moto Racer DS box art

Moto Racer DS 2008 · Racing Deep cut

#33 M&M's Kart Racing

M&M's Kart Racing Racing Deep cut

#34

Monster Racers box art

Monster Racers 2009 · RPG Deep cut

#35

Big Mutha Truckers box art

Big Mutha Truckers Racing Deep cut

#36

Cars Race-O-Rama box art

Cars Race-O-Rama Racing Deep cut

#37

Chrysler Classic Racing box art

Chrysler Classic Racing Racing Deep cut

#38

Cocoto Kart Racer box art

Cocoto Kart Racer Racing Deep cut

#39

Corvette Evolution GT box art

Corvette Evolution GT Racing Deep cut

#40

Ford Racing 3 box art

Ford Racing 3 Racing Deep cut

#41

Hot Wheels: Beat That! box art

Hot Wheels: Beat That! Racing Deep cut

#42

Indianapolis 500 Legends box art

Indianapolis 500 Legends Racing Deep cut

#43

Madagascar Kartz box art

Madagascar Kartz Racing Deep cut

#44

MX vs. ATV Reflex box art

MX vs. ATV Reflex Racing Deep cut

#45

MX vs. ATV Untamed box art

MX vs. ATV Untamed Racing Deep cut

#46

Speed Racer: The Videogame box art

Speed Racer: The Videogame Racing Deep cut

#47

Super Star Kartz box art

Super Star Kartz Racing Deep cut

#48

Herbie Rescue Rally box art

Herbie Rescue Rally Racing Deep cut

#49

Crazy Frog Racer box art

Crazy Frog Racer 2006 · Racing Deep cut

#50

Race Driver: Grid box art

Race Driver: Grid 2008 · Racing Deep cut

#51

Biker Mice from Mars box art

Biker Mice from Mars Racing Deep cut

#52

Micro Machines V4 box art

Micro Machines V4 Racing Deep cut

#53

Monster Jam box art

Monster Jam Racing Deep cut

#54

Monster Jam: Path of Destruction box art

Monster Jam: Path of Destruction Racing Deep cut

#55

Planet 51: The Game box art

Planet 51: The Game Action Deep cut

#56

Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing box art

Shrek Smash n' Crash Racing Racing Deep cut

#57

Yamaha Supercross box art

Yamaha Supercross Racing Deep cut

#58

Bigfoot: Collision Course box art

Bigfoot: Collision Course Racing Deep cut

#59

Homie Rollerz box art

Homie Rollerz 2008 · Racing Deep cut

#60

Harlem Globetrotters: World Tour box art

Harlem Globetrotters: World Tour Racing Deep cut

More DS racing games

Ford Racing DS
Super-Bikes Riding Challenge (2009)

Racing games on other systems

Game Boy racing games GBC racing games GBA racing games Game Gear racing games Lynx racing games

Other DS genres

Platformers Action games Action-adventure games RPGs Adventure games Shoot 'em ups Shooters Beat 'em ups Fighting games Sports games Puzzle games Strategy games

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