The miles and miles of freeway that snake through Los Angeles make the West Coast’s glitzy mecca the perfect setting for a racing game. Even if you can’t stand Tinseltown, you’ll love rocketing dozens of souped-up cars and cycles through online versions of South Central L.A., Beverly Hills and Hollywood. Starting a race is as easy as flashing your brights at another driver, and you can bring special advantages, such as a short-circuiting electromagnetic pulse, to the battle, too. As you build a reputation, you’ll acquire new rides to speed through the increasingly difficult showdowns.
This slick new entry in the street-racing genre from the creators of the Grand Theft Auto franchise boasts robust online options as well, like user-created match-ups and the ability to sell your own auto designs to other players. Chances are you couldn’t afford these cars, so the game will be a bargain.