Top Demolition Derby Games to Smash and Crash

There is a peculiar satisfaction that often follows a chaotic display, and no other sport captures that feeling better than the demolition derby. The simple act of smashing two big hunks of metal against one another has delighted audiences around the world for years.

Lucky for the fanbase, the sport has been lovingly made and remade in the world of video games time and time again, usually with as much content as Rocket League. Some of these games try to recreate the sport in as much detail and realism as possible. Other games have taken the prospect of vehicles trying to destroy one another to its logical extreme. In either case, it can be a sight to behold.

Updated September 11, 2024, by Jason Wojnar: Those who come to racing games as car enthusiasts might not like seeing these beautiful automobiles being demolished. However, those who are into fast arcade action or the demolition derby culture come almost exclusively to see the cars thrash each other around. Crashes become more detailed as technology improves, but graphics alone do not make a good demolition derby game, as this list shows. In the update, we add a couple of games and expand upon what justifies putting these games on this list.

19 Grid 2: Autosport

A Tacked-On Demolition Derby Mode

Grid 2: Autosport is not the only game on this list that is not exclusively a demolition derby game. However, the other games on this list include crashes, and their derby modes are more than just an afterthought. The same can’t really be said here.

Though Grid 2 is a fine game, its demolition derby offering feels tacked on and does not add to the experience. The destruction and physics do not support a mode like this. All the same, it is still a diversion for players to temporarily enjoy if they want to spice up the gameplay.

18 Demolition Racer

A Racing Game That’s Not About Coming In First

This PS1 game is a close relative to the Destruction Derby series from around the same time. It perfectly mixes traditional racing with the down-and-dirty tactics of a destruction derby. Players not only need to come in first place during a race, but they also need to crash into other cars to accumulate enough points to claim victory.

Of course, players also need to pay attention to their own car, lest the vehicle be completely wrecked, losing the race instantly. It does not have the bells and whistles of later games that add more content and minigames, but it got the job done for PlayStation owners.

17 Armageddon Riders

Racing Other Drivers And Mowing Down Zombies

Armageddon Riders feels like a budget form of Carmageddon, with players competing in various events in a post-apocalyptic wasteland covered in zombies. Not only do players have to contend with other competitors in their vehicles, but they also have to make sure the undead don’t damage their vehicle too much.

The gameplay is not deep and events grow repetitive, but it is a perfect game to play with a friend together locally since the campaign can be played in co-op. Definitely more of a game to turn one’s brain off and enjoy some carnage than a title that challenges their racing prowess.

16 Cel Damage

Cel-Shaded Car Combat

Car combat games were more plentiful in the 90s and early 2000s, with Twisted Metal really leading the charge. Cel Damage takes a lot of cues from the Sony series, but adds its own twists and uses a unique cell shaded art style.

The original release was seen as a solid combat racer, and the HD version made a few tweaks to make the experience more enjoyable. The cartoon aesthetic also makes it more accessible for younger gamers who otherwise might not feel welcome by the darker aesthetic of games like Twisted Metal.

15 Crashday Redline Edition

Highly Customizable Demolition Derby Chaos

Players who love realistic racing games will enjoy exploring Crashday Redline Edition‘s vibrant and beautiful world. Thanks to Crashday Redline Edition, demolition derby fans can enjoy the explosive fun of the original while also exploring new and expanded features.

In Crashday Redline Edition, players can dive into a world filled with unbridled chaos and heart-pounding action, enjoy multiplayer arcade racing, and try to wreck, shoot, and smash their way to victory. Players can also try seven diverse game modes and can even share their own insane circuits. Since the game also embraces modding, players can download user-created content from the Steam Workshop or create their very own mods for endless customization. Gamers can also choose from a wide range of vehicles, weapons, and tuning options and can customize their ride for maximum chaos.

14 Destruction Derby Arenas

The Best-Looking Demolition Derby Game Of Its Time

Destruction Derby Arenas was the fourth installment of the iconic Destruction Derby series and is a great choice for players who enjoy retro games. This fun derby game has vibrant visuals with intense colors, making every smash and collision visually striking.

Thanks to this iconic game, players can engage in fierce derby battles while trying to destroy opponents’ vehicles and keeping theirs in working condition. During the battles, players can score points in various ways, including by ramming into opponents and wrecking their cars. While racing, players could also choose from a variety of vehicles, each with its own unique attributes, so decisions were made based on their strategic choices. Destruction Derby Arenas is an action-packed and fast-paced game filled with challenging opponents and chaotic arenas.

13 Carmageddon: Max Damage

Post-Apocalyptic Car Combat

Carmageddon: Max Damage is a perfect choice for players who love over-the-top demolition games with great graphics. This fun combat racer is one of the most action-fueled open-world demolition derby video games with many exciting vehicles, as well as hilarious characters. There are also a large number of tracks, and, thanks to its unique game modes, players get to experience high-speed collisions and over-the-top destruction.

Players can go on their adventures solo or try the multiplayer mode if they feel ready both online and offline. Carmageddon: Max Damage is not a simple demolition derby game since it has a wide range of environments, and players can also participate in hilarious challenges while exploring the game’s violent but surprisingly funny world.

12 Trail Out

An Especially Hectic And Unpredictable Level Of Destruction

Trail Out is one of the best fast-paced games with screaming drivers, explosive races, and, of course, lots of destruction. While this destruction racing game has dozens of big-city tracks, players can also try its fun derby arenas and other dangerous tracks with crossroads to challenge themselves. Thanks to Trail Out‘s unique take on vehicular combat and destruction, players can experience unpredictable, chaotic, but thoroughly entertaining demolition derby-style gameplay.

Trail Out is a great choice for racing game fans who love not only demolition derby games, but also playing with racers that have various game modes. Players can not only drive a wide range of cars, but also race in different eras, which makes the experience much more unique and engaging.

11 Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival

A Derby With Zombies, But It’s Also Cute

Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival is one of the most vibrant and fun family-friendly demolition derby games that can still be entertaining and challenging for players of all levels. Thanks to this hilarious racer, players will get to navigate through vibrant post-apocalyptic landscapes that are filled with not only generic obstacles but also deadly zombies.

During their adventures, players will get to test their driving and maneuvering skills, as well as use a wide variety of weapons to fight for their survival while eradicating the evil zombies and overcoming challenging obstacles. Since Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival not only has satisfying destruction mechanics but also successfully combines two of the most thrilling gaming genres, racing and survival, it provides players with a one-of-a-kind gaming experience while immersing them in a colorful and entertaining world filled with fast-paced action.

10 Flatout

Drivers Can Fly Through The Windshield

Bugbear Entertainment has several entries on this list, with Flatout being the oldest one. It is not the studio’s first game, but it is their first foray into more arcade-style sensibilities. Though the game received mixed reviews upon release, its dedication to hectic demolition derby action is undeniable.

The novelty of launching the driver through the windshield also does not grow stale throughout the hours of playtime, once again proving that ragdoll physics make everything better. Besides races, various minigames also take advantage of this mechanic.

9 Wreckfest

The Most Realistic Derby Game Currently Available

A modern derby for a modern audience, Wreckfest is the ultimate destruction derby for those interested in a more realistic approach to the concept. The extent to which a player can change their game is staggering.

No sane person in real life would think that a derby performed with super-charged lawnmowers would be a good idea, but Wreckfest has got that possibility covered. The game does still include races, but few are prepared for the figure-8 track and the inevitable carnage it unleashes. It truly is the best of its kind.

A Dark Take On The Iconic Sony Franchise

On the more outrageous side of the demolition derby spectrum, there is Twisted Metal. Among the many games in the franchise, Twisted Metal: Black can be considered the best.

With a souped-up vehicle full of weapons and a driver full of madness, players will work their way to the top by causing as much mayhem as they can, all the while contending with fellow competitors who will stop at nothing to do the same. The game hosts a variety of weapons that the player can utilize to blow up the competition in this dark, mad world.

7 Flatout: Ultimate Carnage

An Upgraded Version Of The Decade’s Best Demolition Derby

Those familiar with Wreckfest may remember the developer’s previous efforts in the Flatout series. All the familiar trappings are involved: races, destructible environments, and, of course, derbies. This game arguably has the better implementation of destructible environments.

Cars can go through some buildings and are generally more capable of knocking down much bigger structures. Overall, it has more arcade in its DNA than realism, but that doesn’t detract from the explosive crashes and wild speed that the game offers, so be sure to boost the nitrous and hit hard.

6 BeamNG.Drive

A Sandbox Of Destruction

BeamNG.Driveacts more like a sandbox to facilitate vehicular destruction than an actual driving or destruction derby game. That being said, the mods that are available for the game are more than enough to sate the appetite of any derby fan.

What gives BeamNG.Drive the edge over its contemporaries is its unmatched soft body destruction physics. The vehicles can sustain a level of damage that no other game dares to replicate. Because of this, it is often more entertaining to just throw a car into a grinder than to actually drive it.

5 Dirt: Showdown

Adding Derby Elements To An Established Series

Dirt: Showdown is considered by many to be the black sheep of the series. Its more recent entries at least have crossplay, but this takes a noticeably goofier approach than the rest of its more serious rally racing entries. As the name suggests, this entry has more of a focus on crashing into opponents.

Luckily for players, this includes a demolition derby mode complete with health, boosters, and points galore for vicious attacks. The only thing that keeps this game from greatness is a lack of content, but what is there is good enough to satisfy many derby fans. Those interested can also get games from the developer over on GamePass.

4 Test Drive: Eve Of Destruction

A Surprisingly Advanced Upgrade System For Its Time

An oldy but a goody, Test Drive is a series that every racing game fan knows, but few people think about today. This iteration has many of the hallmarks of a great Test Drive game, but now it has more emphasis on destruction. Massive crashes are common and often devastating, perfect to scratch that chaotic itch.

Related

The Best Sega Racing Games, Ranked

Sega’s catalog of racing games is impressive, but for those looking for truly exceptional titles, the following entries stand out among the rest.

It may be a little rough around the edges due to its age, but for those who can look past its issues, there lies an honest gem that promises to give a wonderful metal-crushing experience to those who take the leap.

3 Destruction Derby 2

Improves Over Every Aspect Of Its Predecessor

No series is more synonymous with vehicular carnage than the game that takes the name directly, with many of the modern conventions for the genre starting with Demolition Derby. The game is brimming with dynamic damage physics that affect car handling, how that damage was calculated, and just plain focusing on the demolition over the racing, though there still was racing.

The genre as a whole owes its existence to the series. After all is said and done, this game, like those that came after, promises the player crunchy crashes and sweet, delicious PS1 graphics that are sure to drown the player in nostalgia.

2 Destruction Allstars

Colorful, Zany, And Lets Players Leave Their Vehicle

One of the most modern takes on the genre, Destruction Allstars, has a distinctive feel to it that is far zanier than other games like it. It adds a whole host of new ideas to make the old, tired demolition derby experience feel brand new.

For one, players can now leave their vehicle and run around, avoiding enemies, mostly comprised of bots, as they scour the map for another vehicle to sequester before resuming their metal-infused rampage. Now, engagements are less about preserving the player’s car and more about dealing as much damage as possible, because the absolute destruction of one’s car is no longer the end it used to be.

1 Crossout

Players Build Their Own Vehicle To Bring Into The Demolition Derby

While Crossout is not exactly a demolition derby game, it does more than enough to fill players’ hearts with untold vehicular destruction. The game boasts the ability for players to construct their own mayhem-creating vehicles to conquer foes and face challenges. The level of creativity that the game allows is off the charts.

There exists the possibility for conventional tanks or Twisted Metal death machines, as well as unconventional abominations that either work to perfection or are only capable of catastrophic failure. There exists no in-between.