Vroom

Vroom is a racing game that takes a fairly simple premise and pushes it toward a convincing sense of speed. Released in 1994 for DOS, it puts you behind the wheel of fast cars and expects you to master corners, braking, acceleration, and the delicate art of not turning a perfectly good race into an appointment with the scenery. The game emphasizes driving rather than elaborate management systems, so the pleasure comes from learning tracks and gradually becoming more confident with the controls. Its graphics are unmistakably from the era, yet the sensation of motion can be surprisingly effective. There is something wonderfully direct about it: choose a car, pick a track, and drive until either the race ends or your concentration does. It may lack the spectacle of later racing games, but Vroom captures the straightforward appeal of arcade-inspired computer racing with enough speed and challenge to keep things interesting.