Best Car Racing Games: Top Picks for Every Player
The top pick for most players is Forza Horizon 5—it blends arcade fun with realistic handling, offers a massive open world, and runs beautifully on both console and PC. Its sheer variety of events, cars, and online modes makes it the most complete package for anyone who wants to jump in and race immediately.
What to Look For
Before you buy, consider these four criteria that actually separate great racing games from mediocre ones:
- Handling model: Arcade (easy, drift-friendly), simulation (realistic physics), or something in between. Know which you prefer before you buy.
- Game mode: Do you want a career mode, online multiplayer, split-screen, or just quick races? Some games excel at one and ignore the others.
- Content and variety: How many cars, tracks, and events are included? A game with 20 cars will feel thin after a week.
- Platform and performance: Check if the game is available on your console/PC and whether it runs at 60 FPS or has cross-play. A great game at 30 FPS can feel sluggish.
Forza Horizon 5
Strengths: The best open-world arcade racer. Hundreds of cars, a gorgeous Mexico map, and events that range from street races to stunt jumps. The handling is forgiving but still rewards skill. Online multiplayer is seamless, and the game gets constant free updates.
Trade-offs: The story and progression are minimal—it’s more about collecting and exploring than climbing a career ladder. If you want a strict simulation, this is too arcadey.
Best for: Players who want a fun, accessible, and visually stunning racer they can pick up for 15 minutes or 3 hours.
Gran Turismo 7
Strengths: The gold standard for console simulation. Over 400 cars, laser-scanned tracks, and a deep tuning system. The new “Music Rally” mode makes it approachable, and the online Sport mode is competitive and fair. The PS5 version’s haptic feedback is a game-changer.
Trade-offs: It’s PlayStation-only. The single-player “Café” menu is a bit grindy, and the always-online requirement for some modes can be annoying.
Best for: Console players who want realistic physics and a car-collector experience without needing a high-end PC.
Assetto Corsa Competizione
Strengths: The most accurate GT racing simulator available. Official Blancpain GT series content, impeccable tire and weather models, and a robust multiplayer league scene. It’s the go-to for serious sim racers on PC.
Trade-offs: Extremely unforgiving—you need a wheel to enjoy it properly. The car list is limited to GT3 and GT4 classes, and the UI is barebones.
Best for: Sim racers with a wheel setup who want the closest thing to driving a real GT car.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Strengths: The most fun you can have with friends on a couch. Items create chaos, tracks are clever, and the new DLC adds 48 more courses. It’s easy to learn but has a high skill ceiling for drifting and shortcuts.
Trade-offs: It’s not a racing simulation in any sense—it’s a party game. If you want realistic cars or tracks, look elsewhere.
Best for: Families, parties, and anyone who wants a competitive but lighthearted racing game.
iRacing
Strengths: The most realistic online racing service. Subscription-based, with a safety rating system that actually encourages clean racing. The physics and tire model are top-tier, and the matchmaking is excellent.
Trade-offs: Expensive—subscription plus cars and tracks cost hundreds over time. The learning curve is brutal, and you’ll need a good wheel and pedals.
Best for: Hardcore sim racers who want competitive online leagues and are willing to invest time and money.
Need for Speed: Unbound
Strengths: The best modern arcade racer for street racing fans. Stylish graffiti effects, a decent story, and a good mix of police chases and customisation. The handling is more grounded than older NFS games, but still arcade.
Trade-offs: The always-online requirement is annoying, and the soundtrack is divisive. The single-player campaign can get repetitive.
Best for: Players who love street racing culture, car customisation, and police chases.
How to Choose
Start with your budget. If you want a one-time purchase, Forza Horizon 5 or Gran Turismo 7 are great values. If you’re willing to pay a subscription, iRacing offers endless content but costs more over time.
Next, consider your hardware. On PC, Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing shine with a wheel. On console, Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox/PC) and Gran Turismo 7 (PS5) are the best. The Nintendo Switch only has Mario Kart.
Finally, decide what you want out of the game. For a relaxing, varied experience, choose an open-world arcade racer. For competition, choose a sim. For parties, choose Mario Kart. The biggest trade-off is realism vs. fun—sims are rewarding but require practice; arcade games are instantly fun but may feel shallow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a racing wheel to enjoy these games?
No. Forza Horizon 5, Gran Turismo 7, and Mario Kart are perfectly playable with a controller. Only Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing are significantly better with a wheel.
Which game has the most cars?
Gran Turismo 7 has over 400 cars, and Forza Horizon 5 has over 600. iRacing has fewer but every car is meticulously modelled.
Can I play split-screen with friends?
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best for split-screen (up to 4 players). Forza Horizon 5 and Gran Turismo 7 have limited split-screen options—Forza only has 2-player split-screen on Xbox, and GT7 only has it in certain modes.
Which game is best for online multiplayer?
For casual online, Forza Horizon 5 is the most accessible. For competitive racing, iRacing has the best matchmaking and safety system.
Are these games available on PC?
Forza Horizon 5, Assetto Corsa Competizione, iRacing, and Need for Speed: Unbound are on PC. Gran Turismo 7 is PlayStation-only, and Mario Kart is Switch-only.
Which game is the most realistic?
iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione are the most realistic. Gran Turismo 7 is a close second for console.
Bottom Line
For most people, Forza Horizon 5 is the best choice—it’s accessible, gorgeous, and packed with content. If you’re on PlayStation and want a sim, get Gran Turismo 7. If you have a wheel and a PC, try Assetto Corsa Competizione. And if you’re playing with friends, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is unbeatable. Pick based on your platform and how much realism you want, and you’ll have a great time.
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