Top 10 Best Racing Games of All Time

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - September 20th 2025, 15:00 GMT+2

10. Project CARS 2 (2017)

There’s something intoxicating about pushing a high-end GT car through rain-soaked corners in *Project CARS 2*. This sim racing gem leans hard into realism – dynamic weather, changing track conditions, tire wear – so you feel every slip and correction. The sheer variety of tracks and cars means boredom almost never sneaks in; from slick street circuits to off-road rallycross, there’s always a new challenge. It’s the kind of game where a bad race feels like a lesson, and a good race feels earned. If you're into setups, telemetry, and chasing perfect laps, this is your playground. | © Slightly Mad Studios

9. GRID Autosport (2014)

CM restored some racing cred with *GRID Autosport*, dialing back the arcade flair and putting “authentic competition” front and center. Whether you're battling in touring cars, endurance races, or open-wheel events, the handling and AI make it feel like you’re racing against competitors who don’t make dumb mistakes. The career mode has enough structure to keep you hooked, but also flexibility so you can race what you want when you want. Gorgeous lighting, tight tracks, and responsive controls help make every overtake or crash feel meaningful. It’s proof that racing games can be both accessible and satisfying for purists. | © Codemasters

DIRT 5 — 8. Dirt 5 (2020)

Off-road never looked (or sounded) so good. *Dirt 5* mixes high-octane racing with scenic landscapes, extreme conditions, and over the top tracks that make every race feel like an event. It lets you drive everything from rally icons to monster trucks on ice, snow, dirt, and snow-dusted city streets. The weather effects and track variety keep things unpredictable – in one race you’ll be planting tires in mud; in the next, dodging rocks in the desert. And despite leaning a bit more arcade than hardcore sim, its presentation, soundtrack, and sheer joy in speed make up for anything it gives up in realism. | © Codemasters

Cropped Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled 2019 — 7. Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled (2019)

Kart racers often trade depth for fun, but *Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled* hits a sweet spot where nostalgia meets modern gloss. The track design, the power-ups, and those iconic Crash Bandicoot characters all return, but with fresh visuals and extra content that make it feel like more than just a remake. Jumping ramps, sliding around corners, using boost crates, it all feels crisp and polished. Multiplayer (local or online) gives it a party vibe, while the single-player modes are surprisingly robust. When you want something fast, colorful, and pure joy on wheels, this one delivers. | © Activision

6. Wreckfest (2018)

Buckle up for carnage – *Wreckfest* throws the rulebook out the window and rewards chaos. Cars getting battered, panels flying off, full-contact mayhem mixed with real racing mechanics – that combination gives the game a raw, satisfying edge. It’s not just about wrecking; vehicle damage affects performance, so there’s a strategy in keeping your car together just enough to win. The variety of modes (including demolition derbies) means sometimes you just want to crash for fun; other times you want to actually finish first. And visually, the crashes look painful in the best possible way. | © Bugbear Entertainment

5. Burnout Paradise Remastered (2018)

If chaos on wheels is your thing, *Burnout Paradise Remastered* is the ultimate playground. Open-world racing lets you take over the streets of Paradise City, smashing through traffic, hitting ramps, and watching cars explode in glorious slow motion. The remastered version brings all DLC together with updated graphics, making the city more vibrant than ever. It’s addictive, fast, and somehow satisfying to destroy perfectly good vehicles over and over again. Multiplayer ramps up the fun with friends, while the solo events keep the adrenaline pumping. You don’t just race here – you wreak havoc in style. | © Electronic Arts

4. Need for Speed Heat (2019)

Daytime races in *Need for Speed Heat* are all about earning cash and mastering skill, but nightfall turns Palm City into a high-stakes playground where reputation – and risk – rule. You can customize your ride to insane levels, from neon underglow to turbo engines that scream for attention. Police chases, street rivalries, and heart-pounding corners combine to create a world where every decision counts. The city feels alive, the cars feel alive, and if you’re not careful, your ego will take a bigger hit than your suspension. It’s a game that captures the thrill of street racing without taking itself too seriously. | © Electronic Arts

Cropped Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 2017 — 3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)

Few games mix pure fun and competition like *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*. Rainbow Road never looked so stunning, and every track is packed with twists, turns, and enough hazards to make you scream at the TV. Using shells, bananas, and boosters to sabotage your friends feels oddly satisfying, even when you’re the one flung into a pit. The roster of characters is delightfully eclectic, and the sense of speed is perfect for both casual and hardcore players. Multiplayer races are chaotic in the best way, while solo challenges keep you sharp. This is a game that proves racing doesn’t need realism – just heart, skill, and a bit of mischief. | © Nintendo

Gran Turismo 7 2022 — 2. Gran Turismo 7 (2022)

*Gran Turismo 7* is the simulator you’ve dreamed of but never dared to touch – until now. The car roster is massive, the tracks are meticulously recreated, and the physics will make you feel every turn, every tire squeal, and every gear shift. There’s a satisfying progression system, but the real joy comes from mastering each car’s quirks and exploring different racing disciplines. VR support takes immersion to the next level, letting you experience speed like never before. It’s both a love letter to car enthusiasts and a challenge that keeps adrenaline junkies coming back for more. | © Polyphony Digital; Sony Interactive Entertainment

1. Forza Horizon 5 (2021)

Open-world racing has never looked or felt this good. *Forza Horizon 5* drops players into a stunningly vibrant Mexico filled with deserts, jungles, cities, and mountains – all ripe for exploration at full throttle. The car list is staggering, from exotic hypercars to rugged off-road monsters, and every event feels like a festival of speed and style. Dynamic weather changes the game constantly, keeping each race fresh and challenging. Multiplayer, solo events, stunts, and challenges make sure boredom never has a chance. If you want a racing game that’s breathtaking, limitless, and endlessly fun, this is it. | © Playground Games; Xbox Game Studios

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From arcade classics to hyper-realistic simulators, racing games have been putting players behind the wheel for decades. But here’s the twist: we’re only choosing one standout game per franchise. That means no repeats – just the single entry that best represents what each series brought to the genre. Some of these games defined a generation, others pushed the limits of technology, and a few simply nailed that addictive rush of speed. Whether it’s drifting through neon-lit streets, mastering perfect lap times on legendary circuits, or trading paint with rivals at 200 mph, these are the titles that left tire marks on gaming history and still get our engines revving today.