15+ Best Racing Games to Play in 2024: Pedal to the Metal

No matter if you prefer zipping through pixelated courses with your friends or testing your mettle with technical simulators, it’s hard to deny that some of the best racing games of all time have been released in recent years.

To help you find your next favorite, we’ve handpicked the best racing games of 2024, including gems from a variety of different platforms.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Racing Games to Play in 2024
3. More of the Best Racing Games to Play in 2024
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Racing Games to Play in 2024
3. More of the Best Racing Games to Play in 2024
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Best Racing Games to Play in 2024

15. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Unquestionably one of the best racing games for Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is vibrant, light-hearted, and overflowing with content. It’s fun and engaging, and it’s one of the most impressive iterations on a classic kart racer.

14. Art of Rally

This is one of the most visually unique games in this list. With a jewel-tone color palette and soft aesthetic, Art of Rally doesn’t look like your standard rally racing game. This game features well over 50 cars and 78 different stages to explore in career mode, along with a competitive, leaderboard-centered mode that lets you compete against other players. It’s easily one of the best racing games on Steam in 2024.

13. Dirt Rally 2.0

Standing out from the crowd as one of the best racing games for PS4 thanks to its frantic, off-road gameplay, DiRT Rally 2.0 is an essential pick for adrenaline lovers. Everything from the type of track to the weather will impact how your vehicle handles.

12. F-Zero X

Plenty of incredible racers and simulation games have come out in the last few years, but sometimes, you just can’t beat a classic. Despite its age, it’s still one of the best racing games on Switch.

The Nintendo Switch Online service offers emulated versions of iconic titles and F-Zero X can be played through its built-in N64 emulator. It’s the third entry in the F-Zero series and arguably one of its most memorable thanks to its variety of maps and fun characters.

While F-Zero X can be criticized for its handling and control sensitivity (the game is fast and it takes some time to master), it’s still a must-play for fans of classic arcade racers.

11. Riders Republic

Calling this a racing game might be somewhat of a stretch – after all, it features skis and snowboards alongside bikes – but Riders Republic features some of the most exciting racing gameplay on PC.

It’s a massively multiplayer extreme sports game that lets players dive into their favorite sports and compete against each other. Launching last year, it’s a relatively recent entry to the best racing games list, but it’s already made a lasting impression in 2024.

10. The Crew Motorfest

Fast-paced and packed to the brim with gorgeous cars. What’s not to love? The Crew Motorfest is one of the best arcade racing games to pick up if you’re a player who wants plenty of open-world, multiplayer content to sink your teeth into. It’s a vast improvement on the original game and well worth playing for fans of more casual racing experiences.

9. BeamNG.drive

Despite being in early access, this game has an unbelievable physics engine that makes its racing simulation gameplay incredibly fun to experience. Each car is completely customizable, too, with countless moving parts to tinker with. It’s one of the most realistic racing games with its advanced crashing and weights physics, making it ideal for those wanting a level of precision few other racing games can over.

8. iRacing

While it isn’t exclusively a virtual reality experience, iRacing is largely considered to be one of the best VR racing games on the market. It’s an exceptional simulator with smooth handling and a myriad of powerful cars, and it’s incredibly immersive if you choose to play it in VR mode.

7. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

Gran Turismo is one of the most iconic franchises in the racing world. This game is a completionist’s dream, with everything from license tests and tricky championships to add to the checklist. The racing itself is smooth yet punchy, with a good level of variety between courses and locations. It’s one of the best simulation racers even in 2024.

6. Project Cars 3

With an intricate physics system, beautiful visuals, and a good chunk of content to play through, learning Project Cars 3’s intricacies is worth the effort. Players are spoiled for choice here, with 120 dynamic tracks and close to 200 cars to pick from. It’s easily among the best racing games on PC, but it’s far from the easiest racer to play.

5. F1 23

Widely praised as one of the best Formula One games ever, F1 23 is a detailed sim with plenty of bite. The competitive angle is engaging and fun, with a global leaderboard to compete on, and there’s plenty for solo players, too, with an immersive story mode. It’s not the newest in the franchise, but it’s still well worth taking for a spin.

4. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered

Allowing you to take the wheel as either a cop or a criminal, this remastered gem is chaotic, fast-paced, and a hell of a lot of fun. With striking graphics, plenty of cars, and the inclusion of all the original game’s DLC, this is a must-have for fans of classic racers. One of the best arcade racing games ever is now finally playable again for modern audiences.

3. Forza Horizon 5

This gem is an open world, multiplayer-focused game with a variety of game modes and a mountain of cars to pick from. Alongside the multiplayer aspect, there’s a rich campaign. While there’s the newer Forza Motorsport (2023) to choose from as well, the latest in the spin-off series wins out here. It’s our pick for the best open world racing game to play in 2024 and also ranks as one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass, too.

2. Gran Turismo

This game shaped its genre and is still a masterclass in racing gameplay. Whether you play it in simulation or arcade mode, Gran Turismo handles well, looks solid, and offers hours upon hours of fun. It’s hard to get your hands on the game nowadays unless you boot up the genuine hardware through either a PS1 or PS2, but we highly recommend seeing the franchise’s roots.

1. Assetto Corsa Competizione

Beloved by critics and diehard racing fans alike, Assetto Corsa Competizione offers one of the most complete experiences in the world of racing games right now. It feels like a complete replica of a real-world championship, including everything from the cars to the tracks, and the performance across platforms is second to none. It’s our number one pick for the best racing game you can play in 2024.

More of the Best Racing Games to Play in 2024

The Bottom Line

Racing games are one of the most accessible subgenres in the sports game world, but that doesn’t mean they’re simple.

While some of the best racing games are laid back, like the Mario Kart franchise, others are technical, demanding, and infinitely rewarding for players who like to push themselves to the limit.

With equal measures of indie darlings and AAA titles, the world of racing games is packed to the brim with captivating gameplay. Whether you’re new to the genre or a seasoned pro, add a handful of our picks to your library and strap in.

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