Games for iPad: Top 10 Racing Games

It may not look like it, but Apple's iPad is a speed demon in disguise. To unlock its potential, you'll need to download the best racers for the platform, transforming the innocent looking tablet into a high end muscle machine that can go from zero to 60 in seconds.

Turn on the iPad, step behind the virtual wheel and burn rubber.

1. Real Racing HD


If you prefer the new hotness, go with the superior Real Racing sequel. Part 2, otherwise known as car porn, ups the proverbial ante with an experience optimized for iPad 2, allowing for superior graphics. Beyond that, the game has 30 licensed cars, 15 locations, a ten plus hour career mode and YouTube support, allowing you to upload races within minutes. Don't even hesitate. Buy this now.

2. Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD


We have to hand it to Gameloft. The company knows how to deliver an arcade quality racing experience on the iPad. Exhibit A- Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD. This over the top and positively gorgeous video game has 42 cars, a plethora of tracks based on real world locations (Bahamas, here we come) and some of the most spectacular looking effects we've seen on the platform, like cinematic blur, bump mapping and real time reflections. We can't say enough positive things about this stellar App.

3. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit HD


We lost track of the hours we invested in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of this game, and the iPad edition is almost as addictive. Like its console brethren, Hot Pursuit lets you command the highway as local law enforcement or a speeding criminal. The developers even took a page from the popular Burnout series, allowing you to take down rivals en route to the finish line.

4. Real Racing HD


No Gran Turismo on the iPad? No problem. You'll never miss Sony's real driving simulator, thanks to Firemint's Real Racing HD. This sim heavy speedster comes with a variety of licensed cars, detailed tracks and a variety of options, such as online multiplayer, leaderboards, vehicle customization and realistic engine sounds. This should be one of the first iPad games you buy.

5. Need for Speed Shift HD


Electronic Arts released a sweet version of NFS Shift on the App Store with iPad exclusive features, like eight new cars, physics based acceleration and manual controls. Test-drive these sexy mommas through 18 tracks set in such locations as Chicago, Tokyo and London, all the while marveling at the sweet cockpit view. Bottom line, you can't go wrong with this game.

Read the rest of the Top Ten iPad Racing Games on Modojo.

Modojo is a mobile games industry website, which primarily covers the iPhone games, iPad games, Android games and Windows Phone 7 games. Chris Buffa is the editor-in-chief.