10 Best Racing Games to Play in 2026: Find Your Next Favorite

Forza Horizon 6 is my first recommendation for open-world driving on PC and Xbox. Gran Turismo 7 is the stronger starting point for PlayStation players who want to learn circuit racing, while Mario Kart World is the pick for a Switch 2 game night. If you would rather compete against the clock without buying a full game, try Trackmania's free Starter access.

The best racing game depends on what you want behind the wheel. Exploring a new road, improving a braking point, surviving a police chase, and beating your friends with a last-corner item all deliver different kinds of excitement.

These ten picks cover arcade racing, open worlds, rally, kart racing, and simulations. Each recommendation explains what makes the driving rewarding and what might make you choose something else. Let's go!

Best Racing Games at a Glance

Note: The platform column highlights useful versions to consider, rather than listing every compatible device. Check the specific edition and multiplayer requirements before buying.

10 Best Racing Games to Play in 2026

1. Forza Horizon 6 - Best for Open-World Driving

Choose it if: You want to explore, collect cars, and race without treating every session like serious practice.

Forza Horizon 6 is my first recommendation for players who want more than a sequence of races. Its Japanese setting makes the roads between events part of the attraction. You can follow your next objective, take a detour, or try a different car simply because the road ahead looks inviting.

When I first played, I kept getting distracted on the way to events. I would spot another road and follow it just to see where it went. That freedom ended up being as appealing to me as the races themselves.

That flexibility matters if your mood changes from one evening to the next. You can work through events when you want progress, then spend another session driving a favorite car without worrying much about results. I would choose it over a circuit simulator for that variety, although the number of activities can feel distracting if you prefer a clear motorsport schedule.

Forza Horizon 6 is available on PC and Xbox Series X/S. The standard PS5 release is scheduled for January 26, 2027, with Premium Edition early access beginning January 21. Check the edition and platform before buying.

2. Gran Turismo 7 - Best for Learning Circuit Racing on PlayStation

Choose it if: You enjoy learning a track and want your practice to lead somewhere.

Gran Turismo 7 gives small improvements a clear purpose. License tests and events encourage you to think about braking, positioning, and how you exit a corner. A faster car can help, but it cannot replace understanding what went wrong on the previous attempt.

My first instinct was to brake later whenever I wanted a faster time. Once I started braking earlier and getting a cleaner exit, I finally understood why pushing harder was not always making me quicker.

This is the game I would recommend when you want to become a more thoughtful driver without jumping straight into a dedicated PC simulator. Assists give you room to learn gradually, while collecting and tuning cars provide something to work toward between races.

The tradeoff is patience. Progress can involve repeating events, earning credits, and spending time with cars you would not immediately choose. Gran Turismo 7 is available on PS4 and PS5, and online multiplayer requires PlayStation Plus. If you would rather spend an evening roaming freely than improving a particular corner, Forza Horizon 6 is the more natural fit.

3. Mario Kart World - Best for Racing With Friends on One Console

Choose it if: You want a racing game that friends can join without learning realistic braking or car setups.

Mario Kart World is my strongest choice for a shared console. The basic controls are approachable, but items, shortcuts, and positioning keep everyone involved after they understand how to drive. A comfortable lead can disappear quickly, and a disappointing start does not necessarily decide the race.

My friends and I went through a stretch where we kept coming back for another race. Someone would lose a lead near the finish, immediately ask for a rematch, and suddenly none of us wanted to stop.

Knockout Tour adds a different kind of pressure. You have to survive each cutoff, so the immediate goal can shift from chasing first place to making sure you stay in the competition. That makes positioning matter even when winning the whole race feels out of reach.

Up to four players can play on one Switch 2. The unpredictability is part of the appeal, but it can also frustrate anyone who wants results to reflect driving precision almost entirely. Choose Trackmania for that kind of competition. For other games to keep on a shared console, these Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 recommendations offer a wider mix of multiplayer and solo options.

4. Trackmania - Best for Free Time Trials and Quick Improvement

Choose it if: You enjoy quick retries and want to see exactly where you gained or lost time.

Trackmania makes a fraction of a second feel worth chasing. A short course becomes a problem to solve: carry more speed into one section, take a tighter line through another, and see whether the change survives the rest of the run. The ghost gives that improvement a visible reference.

I would finish a run, see how little separated me from a better time, and restart straight away. What kept me trying was usually one corner I knew I could take more cleanly.

I recommend it to competitive players who enjoy learning through repetition. You can start with a controller and focus on timing, steering, and the route rather than buying a wheel or studying a complicated setup.

Starter access is free, while Club access unlocks more content. The main limitation is the repetition itself. If you want a story, a growing garage, or a relaxed road trip, the same short course may stop being rewarding before it does for a dedicated time-trial player.

Its focused format is also a useful starting point for making a small racing game: one route, a timer, and a restart button. SoonLab’s car game maker lets you explore your own browser driving challenge from that kind of brief.

5. The Crew Motorfest - Best for Themed Driving Experiences

Choose it if: You enjoy different sides of car culture and want some direction within an open world.

The Crew Motorfest sits between free exploration and a more guided racing experience. Its themed Playlists give you a reason to try different vehicles and driving styles, rather than always choosing the fastest car you already know.

That structure is why I would recommend it to someone who likes an open world but sometimes gets stuck deciding what to do next. Hawaii supplies the scenery, while the Playlists give each session a theme. The appeal comes from switching experiences rather than settling into one discipline.

The compromise is that the suggested activity may not always match what you want to drive. If you prefer choosing your own car and route with fewer interruptions, Forza Horizon 6 is likely to suit you better.

Motorfest is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch 2. Ubisoft’s Switch 2 announcement confirms that an internet connection is required. Check the multiplayer options for your platforms before buying it with friends. If you enjoy switching between different kinds of competition, our best sports video games guide offers more options beyond driving.

6. Need for Speed Unbound - Best for Street Racing and Police Pursuits

Choose it if: You want car customization, street competition, and something to lose after the finish line.

Need for Speed Unbound makes the car feel like part of your identity. Customization gives you a reason to care about what you drive, while police pressure adds another decision to the session: keep taking risks, or protect what you have earned.

I found myself caring about getting away from the police as much as winning the race. Once I had something worth keeping, taking one more risk suddenly felt much less casual.

I would choose it when you want tension around the racing rather than a clean sequence of events. The stylized effects also give it a distinct personality, although they will not appeal to everyone. Its handling supports a street-racing fantasy, so it is a less suitable choice for practicing realistic circuit technique.

Unbound is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. If exploring the city and getting into trouble sounds more appealing than the races themselves, these games like GTA cover a broader mix of driving, action, and open-world freedom.

7. Wreckfest - Best for Contact Racing and Destruction

Choose it if: You can enjoy a race even when your car reaches the finish looking considerably worse than it started.

Wreckfest gives mistakes a different meaning. Contact, damage, and traffic turn a race into a series of recovery decisions. You might lose a good position in a collision, then spend the next section finding a way through cars that are causing even more trouble.

One of the things I enjoyed most was how a messy race could still be entertaining. Even when I had little chance of winning, keeping a damaged car moving gave me a reason to finish.

That is why I would choose it for a more forgiving attitude toward results. A damaged car or badly judged opening can become the memorable part of the race, rather than proof that the whole session went badly.

The original Wreckfest combines conventional races with demolition derbies, damage modeling, and vehicle upgrades. It is a poor fit if being hit ruins the experience for you. For groups that enjoy turning mistakes into shared jokes, these chaotic multiplayer games to play with friends offer more of that appeal outside racing.

8. DiRT Rally 2.0 - Best for a Demanding Rally Challenge

Choose it if: You want finishing a difficult stage to feel like an achievement.

DiRT Rally 2.0 asks you to make decisions before you can see the whole road. Pace notes tell you what is coming, but you still have to judge how much speed the surface and corner will allow. Getting that judgment wrong can cost far more than a few tenths.

When I first played, I was too focused on the road directly in front of me and not enough on the pace notes. Slowing down and listening properly helped more than trying to recover from every corner at the last second.

I recommend it when you want a game that rewards concentration. A clean section has a particular satisfaction because it depends on committing to the right inputs and resisting the urge to push beyond the grip available.

Beginners should expect a demanding adjustment. Start with finishing stages cleanly before chasing faster times. Also note that the official Steam listing confirms that Racenet Clubs closed on July 8, 2026. Other listed online functions, including Time Trial and Quick Play Multiplayer, remain available.

9. Assetto Corsa Competizione - Best for Focused GT Racing

Choose it if: You want to understand one car and track in depth rather than keep switching activities.

Assetto Corsa Competizione turns consistency into the main challenge. Braking points, tire behavior, and smooth inputs give you specific things to work on. One quick lap is encouraging, but repeating it without mistakes is a different task.

I started paying less attention to my single fastest lap and more to whether I could repeat a clean one. That changed practice from chasing a lucky result into understanding what I was doing differently.

Its GT World Challenge focus is a strength if you want a clear discipline to learn. You can settle on a car-and-track combination and gradually understand why a corner worked on one lap but not the next.

I would recommend it to players ready for deliberate practice, particularly those with a compatible wheel. The narrow focus and setup learning are meaningful tradeoffs. If you mainly want casual cruising, frequent vehicle changes, or an arcade career, other games on this list will get you there with less preparation.

10. iRacing - Best for Organized Online Competition

Choose it if: You want racing other people to become a sustained hobby.

iRacing gives practice a destination. Learning a track matters because you will need to drive it consistently with other people around you. A braking point that works alone is only part of the preparation; leaving space and avoiding unnecessary risks matter too.

Having other drivers around me made a clean finish feel more important than a fast practice lap. I had to think about what I could repeat safely, not just what I could manage once.

I would choose it for someone who enjoys preparing for an event and gradually becoming a more dependable competitor. It is less inviting if you want to launch a game, switch activities freely, and stop without thinking about the next race.

The cost deserves attention before you join. iRacing’s official pricing explanation separates membership from additional car and track purchases. Start with the included content and decide which series you actually want to follow before expanding your collection. This is my recommendation for a long-term competitive commitment rather than a casual racing evening.

Which Racing Game Should You Play First?

1. Start With Your Platform and Controller

I would start with the platform you already own. Forza Horizon 6 is an approachable choice for open-world driving on PC or Xbox Series X/S. Gran Turismo 7 suits PlayStation players who want to learn circuit racing, while Mario Kart World is my pick for sharing one Switch 2 with friends.

Try your existing controller before investing in a wheel. Arcade racers and Trackmania offer plenty to learn with a controller. A wheel becomes worth considering when realistic steering feedback and consistent laps are what keep you coming back.

Choose the Kind of Racing You Enjoy

Choose Forza Horizon 6 or The Crew Motorfest if you want to explore, collect cars, and switch activities. Choose Trackmania if beating your previous time sounds more rewarding than unlocking another vehicle.

For focused practice, pick Assetto Corsa Competizione for GT circuits, DiRT Rally 2.0 for rally stages, or iRacing for organized online racing. Mario Kart World and Wreckfest are better choices when unpredictable races matter more than perfect technique.

Check How You Will Play Together—and What It Costs

Before buying with friends, check the exact mode and platforms you plan to use. Local multiplayer means sharing a console; cross-play means playing across platforms; cross-progression means carrying your progress between them. Support for one does not guarantee the others.

Compare the cost of the experience you actually want. Trackmania has free Starter access, with more content available through Club access. iRacing combines membership with optional car and track purchases. Console subscriptions, DLC, and edition differences can also affect what you need to spend.

How to Make Your Own Racing Game with SoonLab

Have an idea for a track, shortcut, or boost system? Use the SoonLab car game maker to turn it into a playable browser game without coding.

SoonLab is an AI game maker that builds games from text descriptions. Describe your racing rules, controls, and visual style, then play the generated game in your browser. You can request changes through chat, share your game by link, or download supported games as HTML files.

FAQs About Racing Games

What Is the Best Racing Game for Beginners?

Forza Horizon 6 is my first pick for relaxed open-world driving on PC or Xbox. Mario Kart World is an approachable option for racing with friends on Switch 2. For PlayStation players who want to learn circuit technique, Gran Turismo 7 offers a more structured starting point.

What Are the Best Racing Games for PC?

Choose Forza Horizon 6 for open-world driving, Trackmania for time trials, Assetto Corsa Competizione for GT simulation, or iRacing for organized online competition. DiRT Rally 2.0 is the rally pick, while Wreckfest suits players who enjoy contact racing and destruction.

Do You Need a Steering Wheel for Racing Games?

No. A controller is enough to get started with many racing games, especially arcade racers. A compatible wheel can provide more steering feedback in simulations, but it adds cost and setup. Check support for your game, platform, and wheel model before buying.

Are There Good Free Racing Games?

Yes. Trackmania’s free Starter access is a useful option for trying time trials, although the full experience requires paid Club access. Browser racing games are another option for quick sessions. Check whether a free offering is an ongoing tier, a trial, or a temporary promotion.

Is Forza Horizon 6 Available on PS5?

Not as of October 2026. Standard and Deluxe editions are scheduled for January 26, 2027, with Premium Edition early access starting January 21. The game is currently available on PC and Xbox Series X/S.

Can I Make a Racing Game Without Coding?

Yes. SoonLab lets you describe a racing game and generate a playable browser version without writing code. Start with a simple track, clear controls, and a lap or finish condition. You can then review the generated assets, test the game, and request changes through chat.

Conclusion

The best racing games offer different reasons to get behind the wheel. Forza Horizon 6 delivers open-world freedom, Mario Kart World makes racing easy to share, and Trackmania rewards every small improvement. Gran Turismo 7, Assetto Corsa Competizione, DiRT Rally 2.0, and iRacing suit players who enjoy focused practice. Choose by your platform, preferred driving style, and how you want to play with friends.

If these games spark an idea for your own track or racing rules, try the SoonLab AI car game maker. Start with one small racing challenge, playtest it in your browser, and refine it into something you want to share.