If you're a big racing fan, you've probably gone through all of the popular street racing games for PCs already. Now's your chance to race in the future on several fun, technologically advantage race tracks in Speed Racers.

In Speed Racers one of your main concerns is being faster than your opponents. That's just the start of it though. Speed Racers also requires you to avoid a myriad of obstacles that show up on and around your track, such as holes that'll throw you right out of the sky itself.

Speed Racers' graphics are pretty good. The cars are crisp and interesting to look at, although there could definitely be more defined details. In addition, some of Speed Racers' tracks will keep you at the edge of your seat until you make it to the finish line, assuming you actually do! The obstacles thrown at you make the tracks challenging and fun to try to make it through.

Unfortunately Speed Racers can get repetitive after playing it for awhile. Some of the modes you can choose to play in Career player are also a bit disappointing and dull, providing no real unique experiences you couldn't find in other racing games. There's also no real underlying story in Speed Racers like some of the more intense games provide for you to get behind.

Speed Racers is good, solid and futuristic racing fun, but doesn't bring anything extra to the table beyond that.

Download Speed Racers 1.18 in Softonic

This one-race demo is pretty hefty at just over a gigabyte, but for that you get a really impressive, high octane experience. Split/Second: Velocity has a story, that you are a contestant in an insane reality TV show, where you race around courses that are loaded with destructive events that can change the track as well as wreck vehicles.

In this Split/Second: Velocity demo the race is around an airport, with falling towers, bridges and even a plane crash to liven up the action. The speed is incredible in this game, and the cars and scenery look great as you career around the course. There are excellent camera effects that really increase the intensity of Split/Second: Velocity , like blurring, vibrating and some great slow motion crashes!

There are no setup options, so if your PC struggles with frame rates, there's nothing you can do unfortunately. With lots of cars and events on screen, it can get a bit hectic. Split/Second: Velocity brings back the quick thrill of arcade games from the past, which is a great prospect. If you enjoy the detailed realism of simulators, this over-the-top racer won't appeal to you.

Split/Second: Velocity is a racing game that puts high octane action centre stage, while throwing the real world out of the window. It's fantastic!

Download Split/Second: Velocity Demo in Softonic

The universe in which Nitronic Rush is set is futuristic, right down to your race car's ability to fly, if necessary. As such, it has a unique feel all its own compared to more traditional racing games.

The track layout in Nitronic Rush is very much like that of a rollercoaster, defying gravity and sending you on a wild racing ride. Ramps, loops and sections of the track that don't even have a solid road are some of the elements of Nitronic Rush that really make it stand out.

Nitronic Rush's circuits are also full of dangerous obstacles to avoid. Saws ready to cut you into a thousand pieces, walls that suddenly appear in your way, giant fans set to blow you off-course and more are all pitfalls in this game that you'll have to overcome in order to prevail and finish the race.

The cars in Nitronic Rush are also unconventional. Fortunately, there's a comprehensive tutorial that'll teach you how to jump, fly and propel the vehicle forward. Controlling your car can be a little challenging at first until you've memorized the commands.

It's also a shame there are only two car models to choose from. Nitronic Rush has such fantastic and engaging graphics that it would've been nice to get to peruse through a larger collection of cars to choose from.

If you're looking for a unique racing game, give the futuristic Nitronic Rush a try.

Download Nitronic Rush 2011.12.25 in Softonic

This top down racer has been brought back to life by a conversion to make it run in today's Windows. Why would you want to play an obscure 90s relic? Tough question, but assuming you can stomach the creaking sound effects and aged graphics, Death Rally is actually a pretty enjoyable game.

The name Death Rally sums up the game well. You start out with some cash, buy a car, do any upgrades you can afford, and then race opponents using both your driving skills, and machine guns. Dotted around the edge of each course are spectators, who often get caught up in the action, adding big bloody smears to the tracks. This is not a cute game!

Competitors can also be destroyed, and power ups appear on the course throughout the game. It's very simple, but works pretty well, and thankfully it's not too easy to win races. Win races to earn cash, buy better cars and rise up through the driver leaderboards. In game graphics are very blocky, and the sound effects aren't up to much, but the gameplay is good. Death Rally's menus are also really old fashioned, and have to be endured more than anything!

Death Rally is a violent blast from the past, it's pretty fun and not bad for free, but it's a real shock to the system going back to 1996.

Download Death Rally 1.0 in Softonic

Winning the race in terms of speed isn't the only way to win points and races when you're playing Ignite. The game also rewards the best tricks on the track, and the most stylish way you get over obstacles. Fun is guaranteed!

Game Modes

Ignite features three different game modes: "Run-Out," "Knock-Out" and "Race Mode". In the first, every mistake you make loses points, while in the second, the last car to complete each lap is eliminated. Race Mode is a traditional race where the objective is to arrive first and win the highest points.

Crashes and car types

Crashing into rival cars can be a good tactic to gain points in Ignite. But beware - with each collision, the car gets smashed up, loses power and becomes more difficult to control. Ignite features three types of car: "Muscle" (tuned vehicles), "Race" (special racing cars) and "Street" (the most common), each with its own acceleration, speed and control characteristics.

Step on the gas and get ready to smash everything off the road. With Ignite, everything goes.

Download Ignite Demo in Softonic

You control a ball that accelerates along a tube, which you can rotate, so your ball avoids incoming obstacles around the track. Hitting objects in Proun slows you down, so the way to win is to work out the right twists to get you around the track without any delays.

This beta only features one track, with a five-lap race, but it's great looking. Like the most famous futuristic racer, Wipeout, Proun gets better as you improve. When you can keep your speed increasing, it looks incredible and is a real rush to play.

At the end of each race your name and score are added to the overall and daily scoreboards, so you can see how you measure up against the best players. Proun is scheduled to be released for both Windows and Mac by the end of 2010, and it looks really promising, with its blend of cool graphics and high speed.

Proun is an original looking racing game which feels great once you've got the hang of it!

Download Proun Beta in Softonic