of racing games: whether it’s a realistic racing simulation or a fun speedster: anyone who loves virtual car racing can’t go wrong in our review.
In our review we present a selection of the best racing games for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The list is long, and there’s something for every car enthusiast. It’s up to you whether you want to drift over gravel and dirt in Dirt Rally, explore the vast open world in Forza Horizon 3 or fly a plane for better lap times in Project Cars 2. For a fun party game, Pin Up is more futuristic; challenging challenges await you in Trackmania Turbo, an arcade race.
Of course, the list of the best racing games for PS4 and company also includes racing simulators. For example, Forza Motorsport 7, Gran Turismo Sport and F1 2017 are included. So, as you can see, car game fans will have plenty of fodder for console or PC. By the way: our favourites contain only the latest racing games. We’ve sorted the top 10 PC games by ranking. Need for Speed: Underground may be one of the best racing games, but the tuning racer has been around for years, so we’ve deliberately left it out here. Better add this article to your bookmarks: we want to update the top 10 regularly.
Outlook: Racing 2018
There are a few more releases in 2018 in the racing game genre. Fans can look forward to Forza Horizon 4 for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC . The car game will take you to the UK. Fast racing with sports cars, motorbikes and buggies await you again. New dynamic seasons – so you can race on the slopes in autumn and winter, for example. The engines are launched on 2 October. In addition, the release of F1 2018do. In this year’s edition, you’ll also get to drive F1 cars and race for the world championship. All current season licences are included. V-Rally 4 will take you around the dusty track Racer includes a career mode, networking options and a split-screen multiplayer mode. It starts in September. Check out our PS4 release list to make sure you don’t miss a single date – there are plenty of racing games for PS4. A list of PC game dates can be found at this link. Which games are you particularly looking forward to?
Racing for free: On PC on the slopes
If you’re looking for free racing games, grab Forza Motorsport 6: Apex for PC (Windows 10). This free Forza game has been specifically designed for Windows 10 PC and DirectX 12 – racing shines in 4K resolution. It’s also worth checking out Race Room. RaceRoom Racing Experience (R3E) is one of the best free-to-play motorsport simulators for PC, featuring racing series such as ADAC GT Masters, DTM and WTCC, as well as legendary race cars and world-renowned tracks. Additional content can be purchased for in-game currency. You launch the game on your PC. Which free racing games can you recommend? Post your suggestions in the comments section.
Forza Motorsport 7 – the best racing game for PC and Xbox One
Is fantastic, but it also plays beautifully. Like almost any other modern racing simulator, Forza 7 manages to strike a balance between realism and beginner comfort. If you’re looking for the most realistic racing simulator possible, you’ll probably like Project Cars 2 better, but Forza 7 is much more motivating for newcomers to the genre. This is partly due to the addictive career mode and Drivatar technology, which ensures that opponents with artificial intelligence adapt to your driving style. With more than 600 cars to chase across 32 tracks with numerous variations, Forza Motorsport 7 also wins in terms of scale.
Mario Kart 8 – an addictive party racing game on the Nintendo Switch
A racing game in a class of its own: anyone with a Nintendo Switch or Wii U definitely can’t avoid Mario Kart 8. Nintendo’s popular fun racing series includes both classic and new levels in its eighth edition for WiiU (and as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Switch). In online mode, you compete against players from around the world, and in split-screen mode with friends on the couch. With the patch, Nintendo has given the racing series a 200cc mode in Mario Kart 8 for the first time on the WiiU . Thanks to this, you can really warm up on the karts and bikes. Let’s get rolling!
Project Cars 2 – car racing for fans of realism 
Project Cars 2 is a good choice for those who place a high value on physical correctness when cornering in virtual car racing. Although the campaign is in its infancy, you can compete in various racing classes. Whether you race through the Nordschleife in supercars or let your opponents swallow the dust in a rallycross, it’s up to you. 170 vehicles and 50 routes promise plenty of fun for a long time. The different weather settings are particularly noteworthy. There aren’t many racing games that smash every conceivable weather condition against our windscreen, from sunshine to a snowstorm.
Forza Horizon 3 – a thrilling open-world racing game
While Forza Motorsport 7 has already convinced us as a beginner-friendly racing simulator, Forza Horizon 3 is perfect for the open-world racing genre. Whether on the beach, in the desert, in the jungle or in the big city: virtual Australia offers the perfect backdrop for exciting car racing. There are around 450 vehicles available that you can customise to suit your own ideas. Stunning graphics and an immersive game world make Forza Horizon 3 one of the most beautiful racing games ever made. Horizon 3 doesn’t come close to the realism of Forza Motorsport 7, but we don’t expect that from an open-world racer. If you’re looking for fast car racing and an open world game, Adventure in Australia is the best choice.
Dirt Rally is the best rally simulator on the market
Unlike the main Dirt series, which offers more of a mix of simulation and arcade gameplay, the Dirt Rally spin-off adds a level of realism. You can test your skills in three types of racing. You can expect traditional rallying, rally-cross and a hill-climbing mode, which is all about reaching the top of a mountain. With only 46 cars and 10 tracks, the rally simulator is much smaller than most other racing games on this list, but when it comes to the perfect rally experience, Dirt Rally is far ahead.
Dirt 4 – A varied rally game
Dirt 4 and Dirt Rally compete against each other. Dirt Rally is the clear winner in terms of realism, but Dirt 4 brings its own qualities. The fourth installment of the rally series offers significantly more content and is therefore a more diverse racing game. Thus, newcomers to the genre and casual racers would be better off picking up Dirt 4 than the by-product of a complex simulation. Which Dirt you choose is up to you. But you’re sure to get one of the best racing games out there.
F1 2017 – a racing game for F1 fans
As good as the aforementioned racing games are: if you want to feel like Sebastian Vettel, F1 2017 is a must . Every year, Codemasters gives us an updated version of their Formula 1 simulator. The result could not always convince us in recent years, but with F1 2017 the renowned company has hit the bullseye again. Great graphics, fantastic driving physics and a motivating career mode make the hearts of F1 fans beat faster.
WipEout Omega collection – sci-fi racing for speed enthusiasts
While other racing games flaunt realism, the WipEout Omega Collection (including Wipeout HD, Wipeout HD Fury and Wipeout 2048) is all about speed. At speeds of up to 1000km/h, you’ll hurtle along futuristic paths in streamlined gliders and blast your enemies with rockets and other gadgets. The principle of the game is as simple as it is fun, and offers the perfect experience for anyone who prefers speed over realism in racing games.
Trackmania Turbo is an arcade race with the potential for addiction
Trackmania Turbo is also a guarantee of arcade racing. In keeping with the tradition of the series, the current installment focuses on short, crisp timed races on unusual and sometimes very challenging courses. Most routes last less than a minute, so it’s incredibly motivating to strive for the best time until milliseconds determine your place. Trackmania Turbo reduces the racing game genre to its simplest form and thus reveals a surprising appeal. Anyone who likes to hunt for high scores will have a lot of fun with this arcade racing game.
Gran Turismo Sport is a racing game for PS4 with superb graphics
One of the best racing games for PS4: In terms of scale, Gran TurismoSport disappoints fans of the series one way or another. While its predecessor still had around 1,200 cars available, there are now only 162, and the career path no longer offers as many options as usual. With Gran Turismo Sport, developer Polyphony Digital dares to start a new life in its popular racing game series. Rather than relying on a giant fleet of vehicles and an extensive single-player experience, the focus is now more than ever on online multiplayer. Once on the racetrack, the game offers the usual quality that has made the Gran Turismo brand so popular. If you don’t mind the relatively sparse scale, Gran Turismo Sport is a visually impressive racing simulator with excellent gameplay.
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