All Racing Game Mechanics Explained In-Depth

Whether you engage in sports games with unbelievably realistic gameplay or an adventure-filled genre is your go-to, there is always something for everyone.

In the past few years, the gaming industry has taken off with a lightning-fast gameplay technology revolution that has gained more attention and many more avid players.

Including AI, VR, AR, NFT, and now the Metaverse, players seek to experience the gaming environment virtually rather than what their console-controlled characters provide. As a result, the gamers of today’s era are enjoying a next-generation, rich, and realistic gaming experience.

The racing game mechanics in NFS, Asphalt Nitro, or Formula1 offers the real-world feel of driving your favorite cars at an extremely high speed. From the screeching tires, the open-world maps, the engine acceleration sound, the handy movement, and feasible automatic and manual transmission to a personalized automobile garage are the elements that appeal to the hardcore racing game fan.

So, let’s take a look and examine the factors that make a great racing game:

What Makes a Great Racing Game?

Numerous racing games are available in the gaming marketplace, but one differs from the other, offering distinct racing game-level design components. However, when we talk about the racing game, our mind flocks toward racing between two cars, and the winner is the one who ends up on the finishing line earlier, and this is the ultimate goal of every racing game development.

Features like buying, selling and personalizing a car in the garage with the in-game cash, competing online, unlocking new racing game track design, driving openly anywhere, and having different game modes like drift, drag, sprint, circuit, time-lapse, and even freestyle are what grab a player’s attention and help the game propel to the next level of success and popularity.

Attention to the details matter. Elements like in-game asset store, the concept of loot boxes/prizes, random and realistic environment, real-time engagement, obstacles (street barriers, light poles, and traffic), car damage, fuel stations, and multiplayer mode add to the overall gaming experience.

In addition, the random or default missions (escape from the chase of police) and the consistent game enhancement turn a game into a great game.

Components of Racing Games

We have listed ten elements that every racing game developer needs to consider. Usually, all popular racing games do not adhere to these protocols but are now gradually adopting them.

Movement

The core fundamental foundation of any racing game UI design is based upon the plotted movement system used in the game.

The great racing games comprise this system to give players full ownership of the movement. And on the contrary, the games rated low are because of the inefficient movement plotting system they’ve used.

Enabling players to enjoy multidirectional movement gameplay will only result in optimal performance and a higher engagement rate.

Obstacles

Almost every racing game entails hurdles and obstacles, contributing to the game’s complexity and overall thrill. Obstacles are crucial as they keep the players interested in the game. Furthermore, overcoming such hurdles gives the players a sense of achievement which is instrumental in maintaining enticement.

The adventurous random obstacles include barriers, broken roads, bridges, off-roading, street light poles, traffic signals, houses, police cars, and hectic traffic.

Learn More About: Developing a Car Racing Game: Complete Process Explained

Maps

The racing game track design and maps are crucial factors that every racing game needs to consider. Although it should not follow the traditional racing map features like going from point A to point B.

There should be some fun elements like Forza Horizon 3 large maps, and an essential attribute that most of the current great racing games are lacking is giving the players access to an open world just like players have in GTA V.

Adding a walk-around feature will allow players to unlock or discover new tracks and locations and help them level up their careers.

Environment

The most pleasing environment may create a legitimate and intimate attachment to a game. For example, a roaring audience, flags waving in the grandstand, confetti being thrown into the racetrack, and fireworks going off all contribute tremendously to the sense that the race is genuinely essential. Winning a race should be fun; it’s the crux of racing.

A great environment can keep the players around for a long time. For example, the growling clouds covering the sun, diagonal raindrops, and sturdy wind add an authentic feeling to the surroundings.

Game Type (2D/3D)

Modern racing game mechanics should be familiar with 2D/3D visual standards. The depth of focus is one of the advantages of 3D game development. It gives a wider field of view for gaming, allowing a clear focus.

The growing idea of presence in virtual settings has recently gained much attention. The elements of the 2D/3D or VR gameplay seem tangible because they appear to be surrounding the player, and the player is likely to pay greater attention to the 3D effects of the mediated environment, resulting in a higher sense of immersion and presence.

Engagement

Almost every racing game design controls the engagement of gamers. However, only a few racing games allow players to push one another, demanding interactions with barriers and particular tactical regions.

It would be wonderful to have in-game real-world features such as houses, people, buildings, and businesses along with a map. Perhaps this is a concrete suggestion, as it would offer something new to games like Need for Speed.

Scoring System

The racing game design controls the overall scoring system, as players primarily focus on the point table rather than finishing the game on the top. Therefore, the scoring system should be genuine to manipulate the players’ valid points.

The players get the points by participating in the championship, ending up in between the top three positions, completing short in-game missions, or driving skillfully, i.e., style points.

The fair scoring system is the show’s highlight, as its accuracy is vital for a player’s career boost.

Surprises

Surprises like a vintage or new car give you a chance to compete with a rival you want, or it can also be in the form of in-game cash.

Surprises are among the additional elements of the game that give you a feeling of appreciation and keep you hooked to the game.

Marketplace

The in-game marketplace concept isn’t new, as several racing games gradually adopt this attribute to earn extra caps. In addition, players are also getting products they can utilize in their game to boost their performance.

A marketplace of the racing game might be within the game, giving players the option to purchase stuff from their real money or in-game cash, or it might be any website where players buy the products they want in exchange for real cash.

Also Read: Hyper Casual Games Development: Your Only Checklist

Constant Development

This is the element that almost 70% of racing games lack. The racing game UI design and development firm must keep updating the game version or add new features to retain the loyal customer base. But unfortunately, what game development firms do is that they discontinue the modification of a game and release an entirely new game version that causes a massive number of players to switch to another gaming platform.

So, constant development is critical for every successful game development company.

Which Game Engine to Use for Racing Games?

The game engine is vital in any game development as it helps developers bring virtual characters to life. It assists game developers in generating realistic scenes, rich graphical representations, 3D game characters, amusing sound effects, animation, and AI approaches.

The town has two most common and renowned gaming engines: Unity and Unreal Engine. So, let us see the potential difference between the Unity and Unreal Engine to decide which one is best for your next racing game level design and development project:

Definition

Unity is a cross-platform gaming engine, while Unreal Engine is source-available.

Launch

Unity was launched in 2004, whereas the Unreal Engine stepped into the industry in 1998.

Languages

Unity uses C# for game development as it is easy and suitable for beginners, while Unreal uses C++ for its game development, making the programming a bit complex.

Community

Both game engines share a massive interactive user base. However, Unity on-record has a larger community than Unreal Engine, but the active number of users keeps increasing, making Unreal Engine take over Unity.

See More: Get Top-Class iOS Game App Development Services

Documentation/Courses

There is detailed documentation regarding the user guide on Unreal and Unity Engines’ websites. On the other hand, Unity has more online guides and courses than Unreal Engine.

Asset Store

Unity has an extensive set of assets, nearly 30 thousand, while Unreal also shares almost 10 thousand modules and assets in its assets store to assist creators during development.

Graphics

Unreal Engine is one step ahead in the graphical representation as it offers developers extra suited options like lens flares, post-processing, and volumetric lights to enhance the game environment.

Source Code

Unity does not offer open-source code sharing. However, Unreal Engine provides complete access to its code, making it completely open-source.

Rendering

As project deliverance depends upon the rendering, Unreal Engine again takes over Unity in this domain to be the most preferable as providing fast rendering.

Pricing

Unity provides a basic free version that on-demand can be upgraded to full version access by paying a one-time price of $1500 or $75 per month. Likewise, Unreal Engine is available for free, but it charges royalty fees once you launch your game.

Scripting

Both engines provide great scripting tools enabling E2E scripting of games. So, whether you choose Unity or Unreal, they offer swift and rapid game development.

Popularity

The popularity of Unreal and Unity game development can be easily determined through Google search tracking. In the past few years, Unity has been the clear winner giving a hard time to Unreal Engine.

You can opt for the best gaming engine for your racing game design and development according to your desire, as both compete head-to-head in the throat-cutting era of digitalization.

Also Read: Unity vs Unreal Engine: Which is better for Metaverse Development

Get Your Racing Game Developed by Experts

Cubix is a leading game development firm that stands out among dozens of game development companies by offering excellent software, app, and global game services. Our game developers are highly-skilled in creating elegant Unity and Unreal games.

We are committed to providing a seamless, platform-independent 3D modeling solution with unparalleled capabilities. Even though each of our gaming solution is unique and different, we don’t allow room for errors, which benefits both parties.

Wrapping Up

An interactive racing game design has been trendy for decades and is adored by all ages. Many profitable racing games are accessible to all age groups thanks to rapid growth in technology and advancement.

Hire Unity and Unreal game development company to create captivating gaming solutions with the highest level of competence, fusing the virtual and physical worlds.

Moreover, bringing endless solutions with 2D/3D, AR/VR, NFT-based P2E games, and the Metaverse games, along with numerous simulations to a range of platforms such as web browsers, PCs, and mobiles.

Get in touch with us to get incredible game development services from expert developers.