The video games industry is filled with countless genres and categories of awesome games from which to choose, but some of the most popular are racing games. Driving a wide variety of vehicles at speeds ranging from glacial to hypersonic, meticulously tuning and customizing every ride to exact specifications, going head-to-head with other racers from all over the world, and exploring beautiful worlds and tracks are all part of what makes racing games special. Fortunately, Xbox is an excellent platform for racing fans. Here are the 10 best racing games for Xbox right now.
Choosing the best Xbox racing games
Dozens of companies and teams have attempted to deliver their vision of a premium racing experience, to differing degrees of success. Xbox is often considered to be one of the best places to play for racing fans, if only because Microsoft has two powerful forces in the genre under the Xbox Game Studios banner: Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon. Third-party franchises also feature prominently on Xbox, giving players practically endless choices for facing fun.
Not all racing games are created equal, and many cater to entirely different categories of players. Are you looking for the most realistic simulation racer possible? An off-roading adventure? How about a casual yet expansive open world? There's a lot to think about, so we've compiled the absolute best of the best for any racing game fan. Some of these games have even risen to be considered on our list of best Xbox games.
The 10 games on this list are the best Xbox racing games right now, which means they may be available for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC. Some of these games are also available through Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, making it easy to jump in and play.
Forza Horizon 5
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S (Optimized), Xbox One, and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support
- Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming
Forza Horizon 4 held the title of "best Xbox racing game" for several glorious years, but it finally vacated its throne in favor of its more intricate and grand successor. Forza Horizon 5 is finally here, and it somehow manages the impossible by delivering on nearly every promise Playground Games has made. This time around, the Forza Horizon series heads to Mexico with the largest and most diverse map in the series yet. The Forza Horizon 5 car list also features well over 600 unique vehicles, and the number is still growing.
Forza Horizon 5 is not just bigger and better than its already-excellent predecessor in practically every way, it also benefits from the promise of years of constant support. The return of the Festival Playlist means FH5 will continue to grow and evolve over time. Like other entries in the Forza Horizon franchise, FH5 is a simul-arcade racer, so it's still not as realistic as its Motorsport counterpart or other series. However, Forza Horizon 5 is the most accessible and inclusive entry from Playground Games ever, so it's easier than ever to jump in and play no matter who you are.
In our Forza Horizon 5 review, FH5 proved itself as the unchallenged champion of open-world racers, and has helped elevate the entire racing genre with mainstream appeal and attention not paid to other options in the space. If you want to play an epic open-world racing game, genuinely look no further than the flagship title from Xbox Game Studios. There are several Forza Horizon 5 editions from which to choose, with various rewards, DLC, and more.
Need for Speed Unbound
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S (Optimized)
The Need for Speed franchise has existed for decades and is absolutely legendary, but it's undeniable that the modern era of Need for Speed has generally failed to garner widespread acclaim from critics and players. Need for Speed Unbound, the latest entry, turns it all around and delivers and all-around excellent open-world racer with stunning visuals.
Need for Speed Unbound's claim to fame is its unique visual style and art design, which is absolutely gorgeous. Apart from its meticulously rendered open world and vehicles on Xbox Series X|S, Unbound also features a vast variety of customizable visual effects and flourishes. There's a full-blown single-player campaign and endless customization options for each car, ensuring no two vehicles will ever look the same.
While Need for Speed may not differentiate itself much from Forza Horizon when it comes to the open-world gameplay, or shirk genre cliches with its narrative, it's still a ton of fun and one of the best Need for Speed games we've seen in years. It's exclusive to current-gen consoles, though, so you'll need the latest hardware in order to jump in.
DIRT 5
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S (Optimized), Xbox One, and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Xbox & PC) and Xbox Cloud Gaming via EA Play
The Xbox Series X|S current-gen consoles are beacons of power and advanced gaming features, and they need games to show off what they can do. One of the earliest games to launch on the consoles was DIRT 5, a continuation of the popular DiRT franchise from Codemasters (now a part of Electronic Arts) that went in a different direction for the series but still manages to deliver lots of fun to players and fans of intense off-roading action.
As the name implies, DiRT games are all about taking highly modified cars off the beaten path to create new trails, and the franchise has appealed to a large variety of racing fans over the years. DIRT 5 is absolutely a different, more casual game than its predecessor, but this doesn't hold it back. The game is ridiculously fun, easy to get into, and features a wide variety of game modes and races with a non-linear campaign and player-made "Playgrounds." There's also a diverse range of environments, complete with dynamic weather, that spice things up even more.
If you're looking for a more simulation-like, off-roading game, however, DIRT 5 is not that. The game is pretty simple and easy to get into, and even more serious difficulties probably won't be an extreme challenge for veteran racers. Visuals in DIRT 5 are also slightly inconsistent, ranging from pretty great to kind of "off." Finally, vehicles and vehicle customization are sadly lacking in DIRT 5, with the livery editor especially offering disappointing options and ways to design. Still, there's plenty of fun to be had in the mud in DIRT 5.
F1 22
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S (Optimized) and Xbox One
If you love F1 racing, then you'll already know about the long-running F1 series from Codemasters and Electronic Arts. The F1 simulation racing franchise has released a yearly entry since practically the dawn of time, and each entry has built upon its predecessor a little at a time. F1 series players know exactly what they're getting with these games, and F1 22 is no different.
F1 22 lets you live and race as an F1 racer, including building your own team to dominate the rankings and rise to the top of the F1 racing world. It's the best F1 game yet, with the greatest visuals (optimized for current-gen consoles), the most up-to-date roster of vehicles, teams, and drivers, and mountains of content to keep you occupied.
There's undoubtedly a new F1 game on the horizon, but F1 22 is currently the latest and greatest, with enough on offer to entertain any gamer for hours and hours. It'll also eventually land in EA Play, if you're not willing to shell out the admittedly large amount of cash to obtain it on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or both. If you already own an F1 game from the last few years, however, there may be little reason to upgrade to F1 22.
DiRT Rally 2.0
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Xbox) via EA Play
For those who desire a hardcore off-road racing experience with no holds barred, there's really only one great choice: DiRT Rally 2.0. The Rally half of the DiRT franchise is more simulation-focused than its non-Rally counterparts, and aims to test the skills of even the most experienced off-road drivers. Players should expect an authentic rally challenge when they step behind the wheel of a DiRT Rally 2.0 vehicle, with little-to-no handholding.
DiRT Rally 2.0 makes its claim to fame with excellent driving mechanics and physics, including surface degradation on tracks and tire wear, blisteringly difficult AI opponents and simulation-like racing, class-leading audio, and a decent selection of rally-grade vehicles to drive through six countries. DiRT Rally 2.0 still more than holds up today, especially with a ton of post-launch DLC and additional cards, and is a great choice for any rally fan looking for a challenge.
It's not all perfect, of course. DiRT Rally 2.0's tracks can become repetitive over time, with a pretty limited number of options to choose from, and that simulation-like racing and difficulty would be forgivable if not for the lack of tutorials to ease newer players into the series and the genre. DiRT Rally 2.0's singleplayer campaign, as well, leaves a little to be desired. Pick up the Game of the Year Edition if you want access to DiRT Rally 2.0's extensive DLC collection at a compelling price.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Xbox) via EA Play
Many people may think of the legendary Need for Speed franchise when they think "casual arcade racer," but the Burnout series was equally as infamous back in its prime. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a proper addition to the Burnout franchise since the incredible Burnout Paradise, which paired Burnout's glorious crashes and intense arcade races with an open world. Over a decade later, EA let players return to Paradise City with the arrival of Burnout Paradise Remastered, and it's one of the best racing game remasters.
Everything that was great about the original Burnout Paradise remains great in the remastered version, but EA of course modernized the visuals with support for up to 4K, better and more stable performance, upgraded textures and lighting, and much more. Players still get to drive around a beautiful open world and engage in several different race types all over the city. Crashes and collisions are still immeasurably satisfying, and are miles above many of the top racing games available today.
Burnout Paradise Remastered still features many of the same annoying menu and UI quirks of the original, which may be frustrating for some players. The cars are generic semblances of real-world vehicles, as Burnout Paradise lacks the official licensing of other racers, but they nevertheless look and drive great. Especially for fans of the original, though, Burnout Paradise Remastered is an excellent facelift and one of the best open-world racers available right now.
Assetto Corsa Competizione
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S (Optimized) and Xbox One
The Assetto Corsa franchise is one of the most popular simulation racer series on PC, and its latest entry is also available on Xbox consoles. Assetto Corsa Competizione is a superb racing game with impeccable driving physics, wonderful visuals, and a solid roster of both vehicles and racetracks. There's a lot to love about Assetto Corsa Competizione, and it's a worthy Forza Motorsport competitor.
Granted, Assetto Corsa Competizione was not loved at launch, as frequent performance issues detracted from the experience. After persistent support, Assetto Corsa Competizione is now one of the best Xbox racing games available, especially if you can play it on a current-gen console like the Xbox Series X|S. It's all the more tempting when you remember that Forza Motorsport (2023) isn't here yet, and Forza Motorsport 7 is no longer available to purchase.
Assetto Corsa Competizione also boasts plenty of optional add-on packs and DLC, although it'll cost you a pretty penny on top of the game's retail price in order to obtain everything the game has to offer. The base game still has plenty to offer, though, with sprint, endurance, and 24-hour races in both single-player and multiplayer modes.
GRID Legends
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S (Optimized), Xbox One, and PC
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (Xbox and PC) and Xbox Cloud Gaming via EA Play
If you're craving a casual on-road racing experience but don't care for the open world environments of Forza Horizon or Need for Speed, you may be surprisingly low on options. Fortunately, Codemasters and Electronic Arts have revived the iconic GRID arcade racing franchise, and the latest iteration offers a fantastic, linear racing experience.
GRID Legends is a very straightforward game. It supports online cross-play multiplayer with up to 22 players, features a variety of licensed vehicles and famous locations, and lets you create your own custom race events to squeeze even more out of the game than is already available.
It's not the most ambitious or interesting racing game, but GRID Legends delivers exactly what it promises: a linear arcade racer with hours of content, including the interesting Driven to Glory story mode and the franchise's largest Career mode ever. GRID Legends is also available via EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making it extremely easy to jump in and start racing.
The Crew 2
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
There's a relative shortage of proper competitors for Playground Games' genre-leading Forza Horizon series, but Ubisoft took a crack at the title with The Crew 2, an open-world racer that encompasses a shrunk-down version of the United States of America and a wide variety of different vehicles to drive — and players aren't limited to just cars.
At its core, The Crew 2 is about cars and a casual arcade racing experience, and in this aspect it mostly delivers with a decently sized roster of vehicles and pretty fun gameplay. However, Ubisoft wanted to deliver a more ambitious and encompassing experience than Forza Horizon, often to its detriment. It does mean that, if players desire, they can get behind the wheel of a bike, plane, or boat, in addition to all the traditional cars.
The Crew 2 is gorgeous, as one would expect from an open-world Ubisoft game, and it is a joy to explore this version of the USA that Ubisoft has built. However, The Crew 2 suffers from feeling too ambitious and ends up becoming messy and occasionally frustrating. If you're looking for another open-world racer that's a little bigger and a little more arcade-like than Forza Horizon, though, The Crew 2 can still offer hours upon hours of fun.
NASCAR Heat 5
- Available:
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
NASCAR is one of the biggest racing championships around, but many racing games leave the stockcars behind in favor of other vehicles and more variety. For NASCAR fans, there's only one great option and that's NASCAR Heat 5, the best stock car racing game and one of the better racing games on Xbox right now. NASCAR Heat 5 is the complete package for NASCAR fans, and features officially licensed real-world cars, teams, brands, and tracks, complete with a long career mode and plenty of options.
NASCAR Heat 5 also looks pretty great, even if it's not going to best some of the other great racing games out there (and lacks enhancements for more powerful consoles). Driving feels great, and you have a ton of circuits from which to choose, which all look amazing and detailed. There are also a lot of options for assists and settings, and a test mode to ease you into driving a new car, learning a new circuit, or taking control of a new team.
Where NASCAR Heat 5 falls apart is how it differentiates itself from its predecessor. NASCAR Heat 4 players will likely find very little reason to purchase the new game, as Heat 5 only includes a few relatively minor improvements and remains mostly the same in visuals, performance, and physics. It's also worth mentioning how the Heat series has technically been replaced by NASCAR 21 Ignition, which features major improvements in a variety of ways. However, NASCAR 21 Ignition has been mired in issues and flaws that have actually driven the community back to Heat 5, and still isn't in a good enough shape to be heartily recommended.
Endless options for awesome Xbox racing games
When it comes to racing games on Xbox, it's obvious fans of the genre have plenty of options. It might seem unclear at first glance which of the best Xbox racing games truly stands at the pinnacle, but Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games have proven their expertise and greatness repeatedly with the Forza franchise. Whether you're looking for a simulation-like arcade racer in Forza Horizon 5 or an in-depth simulation racer like Forza Motorsport 7 (now end-of-life), Forza is indisputably the king of Xbox racing games.
Codemasters, now under EA, certainly gives the Forza duo a run for their money, however, with a wide range of excellent racing games that cater to a variety of audiences. From casual arcade racers like DIRT 5 and GRID Legends to simulation racers like DiRT Rally 2.0 and F1 22, Codemasters is certainly a master of its craft. Of course, you can't go wrong with any of the racing games on our list of best Xbox racing games, as every title here has something to offer for lovers of cars and high speeds.
Many of the best Xbox racing games are also included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, or at least in some of the many services included in Microsoft's gaming subscription. There's no better place to be for racing lovers.
