TrackMania Wii

TrackMania Wii offers not only a much needed serious racing game on the platform, but also the ability to create your own dream circuits.

Blur 360

Blur's combat racing is reminiscent of Wipeout with a lot more bite. The ever-present unsettling moment of collision turns what could have been a lightweight kart racer into something much more gnawing and gnarly.

Cycling Pro Manager 2010 PSP

Cycling Pro Manager 2010 PSP throws strategy and biking knowledge into the pot. It did more than enough to tickle my bike gamer itch. But if running a real Tour de France team is anything like this, maybe I should rethink some of my ambitions.

Need for Speed: Shift PS3

Need for Speed Shift's mix of simulation and arcade offers a simple old school approach to racers I can truly get behind. It avoids the complexity that often breaks my engagement with the realism of modern games.

Blur 360

Blur comes to town but not quite as we expected. A mix of karting and racing vie for the family's attention. Those that get it are in for a considered racing treat - but the danger is that there will be many of us that never discover it.

Simultrainer PC

Simultrainer is an exercise system that works with a range of professional gym gear. While it's not cheap, the build quality and fundamental changes it brings to exedrcising are well worth it. And compared to a year's gym membership it's actually pretty good value.

Joe Danger PSN

Joe Danger PS3 is a cheeky chappy sort of game, a roller coaster of bright visuals that scream fun. The points as much of the time drove me to play it again and again - as well as collecting all those shiny coins.

Journey PSN

Journey picks up the success of Flower and creates a darker more human story.

Pilotwings Resort 3DS

Pilotwings returns to show Wii-Sports Resort how to fly a wide range of aircraft.

MotorStorm Apocalypse PS3

Motorstorm Apocalypse takes to the blacktop.

Modnation Racers PS3

Modnation Racers reinvents kart racing by letting us recreate the game in a million different ways. This creative element is coupled with a great racing mechanic with only loading times impacting my fun.

V8 Challenge PS3

V8 Superstars is a serious racing game which doesn't do anything wrong, but the novelty and splendour of a genre that enraptured me years ago simply isn't there. Older, wiser and a bit more pragmatic, I now know that I prefer arcade racers more than simulations.

Blur 360

Blur balances crazy Karting fun with real driving. It avoids being random, or boring and delivers a progressive customisable experience that has learnt as much from Modern Warfare and Halo as it has from Mario Kart.

Split Second 360

Split/Second looks like a serious racer, plays like an arcade game and really does have something for everyone. Even with Blur hot on its heals this is a technically impressive achievement.

Split Second 360

Split/Second 360 fuels adrenaline with overblown destruction. More impressive is its simplicity - layer upon layer of great game design create a game that is fun, well paced and incredibly addictive. Not only that but an experience a could fit in around family life.

Modnation Racers PS3

Modnation Racers starts real race karting, then wraps it in a technically stunning customisation modes. Something so flexible that it feels so simple is testament to the amount of complexity the interface seamlessly deals with.

Superstars V8 Racing Next Challenge PS3

I ducked Superstars V8 Racing Next Challenge technical challenge and found just as much fun racing in terms with my family. For petrol heads the main game offers plenty of v8 detail, but for people like me there is still some competitive racing to be had - even if we had to take it in turns.

Modnation Racers PS3

Modnation Racers PS3 reserves its creative juices to create a game that is balanced and beautiful. But it's in the character, Kart and track creation tools that it really sings. Modnation Racers is a breath of fresh air amongst Kart racers - open, fun and high def.

Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing Wii

Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, on 360, PS3, Wii and DS, proves its kart racing worth alongside Mario Kart, Need for Speed and the upcoming Blur. This mirrors Sega's focus on action rather than exploration. But although it may lack the course detail of Mario Kart it manages to keep the focus more on the racing - ironically more like the N64 and SNES versions of Nintendo's game.

Scrap Metal XBLA

In a world of modern ultra-realistic racers, Scrap Metal harks back to the days of arcade racing mayhem. On the 360's XBLA it has a heavy emphasis on mayhem and complete disregard for reality. Memories flood back of 80s arcades, Super Sprint and Ivan Ironman Stewart's Super Off-Road.