32 Years Ago, Nintendo Released a Racing Game That Fans Still Love

On June 4, 1994, Nintendo released Stunt Race FX for the Super Nintendo console, changing the trajectory of racing games forever.

Released just two years after the hugely successful Super Mario Kart, Stunt Race FX took many of the racing mechanics that had become popular throughout the early '90s and developed them for a more entertaining, lighthearted game where users play as anthropomorphised cars.

The game introduced several characters with different stats and special abilities, giving a unique dynamic to the game where players could choose their favorite character and master their skills to play against their friends. At the time, the mechanics were reminiscent of classic fighting games, where different characters lent themselves to different skillsets.

Stunt Race FX also introduced several different game modes that separated it from typical racing games. There was solo training and multiplayer versus, as expected, but also obstacle courses and time trials for players to practice on their own.

Upon its release, Stunt Race FX received strong reviews from critics and gradually became one of the most popular games on the console. It was reported that Stunt Race FX was, at one point, among the best-selling SNES games ever made.

The game received a score of 86.25% on GameRankings, which was a massive accomplishment for Nintendo, which was trying to expand into new titles outside of Super Mario. In their review, Edge praised Stunt Race FX as "one of the best racing games currently available for any home system."

The influence of Stunt Race FX over the racing genre in the '90s was undeniable. The game's decision to introduce multiple game modes, implement unique character-based skills, and keep the gameplay mechanics simple and accessible ultimately made it a perfect entry-level game for new fans.

On IGN's ranking of the best SNES games ever released, Stunt Race FX placed at No. 86. For a game that's rarely discussed among casual fans, and has since become very outdated within the genre, such a high score is a clear indicator of its untouchable legacy and importance.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 6:01 AM.