There is an inherent whimsy and heart-pumping infectious energy that has made kart racers some of the most approachable yet infinitely entertaining racing games out there. Distinctly different from realism-focused sim racers like Gran Turismo or Forza, kart racers are more defined by high-energy arcade gameplay, memorable characters and tracks, and using items mid-race to take down enemy racers and win the race. However, the truth of kart racing as a genre is that it's completely dominated and defined by the Mario Kart franchise. From the original Super Mario Kart's popularization of the franchise in 1992 to the latest prominent release in Mario Kart World, the franchise is so synonymous with the kart racing genre that every other attempted entry will inevitably be compared to Nintendo's gem. Many middling wannabe Mario Kart clones fall to the wayside and are ignored by gamers who could simply play the latest entry in Mario's series. However, a select few kart racers live up to the legacy of this iconic franchise and provide actual competition within the kart racing genre. 'Blur' (2010) From a purely visual standpoint, Blur doesn't exactly look like your classic kart racer, as it doesn't have the cartoony antics and instead has the look of your more traditional arcade racer. However, while the game may have the look of something like Need for Speed, its gameplay attempts to act as a bridge between real-world racers and the chaotic world of kart racers. The downloadable title uses the real-world cars and locations of grounded racers, but has a central gameplay more similar to a kart racer, with dynamic power-ups and weapons to use against other racers. The underrated video game is certainly elevated thanks to the expertise of the development team responsible, Bizarre Creations, who were behind both high-energy arcade games