Best Racing Games for PC in 2025

Racing games hit different when they get the basics right: fast cars, great tracks, tight controls, and music that makes you feel like you’re flying down the road. It doesn’t matter if you’re into hardcore sims, wild arcade racers, or colorful kart games - if a title nails speed, visuals, sound, and handling, it’s worth your time. The PC lineup in 2025 is packed with standout racers that deliver exactly that, whether you’re looking for over-the-top spectacle or laser-focused realism.

Best Racing Games for PC in 2025

What Counts as a Racing Game?

PC gaming libraries are filled with hundreds of vehicle-based titles, but not all of them qualify as true racing games. Rocket League may use cars, but it’s a sports game. EmergeNYC puts you behind the wheel of emergency vehicles, but it’s about saving lives, not crossing the finish line. For this list, a racing game means one thing: you’re competing to outrun rivals and claim first place. Simple as that.

Windows PC vs Steam Deck

If you’re playing on a Windows PC, installing these racers is straightforward. On the Steam Deck, it’s worth checking Valve’s compatibility list before diving in. A green checkmark means the game is fully verified, while a yellow checkmark means it’s playable but might take a little extra setup. Even if your favorite racer isn’t officially tested, chances are good it’ll still run. That flexibility makes the Deck a surprisingly strong option for taking racing games on the go.

Windows PC vs Steam Deck

Best Racing Games for PC in 2025

Burnout Paradise Remastered

Criterion’s Burnout Paradise Remastered is a polished revival of the 2008 classic. Paradise City’s open map is still a blast to explore, with stunts, events, and mayhem waiting around every corner. The remaster adds better visuals and the Big Surf Island expansion, giving PC players even more to do. Some quirks remain, like the jarring crash cam, but the fast handling and unlockable rides keep it fun years later.

Dirt 5

Codemasters’ Dirt 5 throws realism out the window in favor of pure spectacle. With vibrant tracks, big jumps, and rally racing chaos, it feels like a modern callback to Sega Rally and Colin McRae Rally. It’s all about high-speed fun without worrying about tuning setups or simulation accuracy, and it’s a great pick if you just want to drift through mud and push pedal to metal.

Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is still the gold standard for open-world racers. Set in a massive recreation of Mexico, it offers an enormous roster of cars, countless events, and the freedom to just drive for the sake of it. EventLab, which lets players create custom tracks and challenges, keeps the game fresh long after launch. With its mix of arcade accessibility and impressive depth, it’s hard to beat.

Horizon Chase Turbo

Horizon Chase Turbo takes heavy inspiration from ‘90s racers but modernizes the experience with sharp visuals and silky-smooth gameplay. You’re weaving through traffic, managing fuel pickups, and boosting past rivals across bright pastel tracks that shift into neon at night. It’s retro, but not stuck in the past, and it shows that simplicity can still be addictive.

Hotshot Racing

If you grew up on arcade cabinets, Hotshot Racing will feel familiar. Low-poly graphics, straightforward drifting, and a bright color palette make it look like it was ripped straight out of the ‘90s. While it lacks track variety compared to the best of its inspirations, it nails the pick-up-and-play feel that makes arcade racers so replayable.

Lego 2K Drive

Lego 2K Drive is pure imagination turned into a racing game. Your vehicle morphs between cars, off-road trucks, and boats depending on the terrain, and the open zones are filled with races and quirky events. Building cars brick by brick is a fun bonus, even if the microtransactions are frustrating. If you’ve ever wanted Forza Horizon with Lego bricks, this is about as close as it gets.

Need for Speed Heat

Need for Speed Heat blends daytime racing with dangerous nighttime street events, bringing back some of the energy that made the series famous. Palm City is stylish and varied, cop chases are intense, and the customization system is deeper than in recent entries. Its multiplayer doesn’t stand out, but the single-player content makes it one of the better modern NFS titles.

Ridge Racer Unbounded

Ridge Racer Unbounded shakes up the long-running series with destruction-heavy racing. Developed by Bugbear, it’s less about clean lines and more about smashing through Shatter Bay’s destructible streets to earn points and unlock new areas. The story is forgettable, but the chaos of blending Ridge Racer with Burnout-style mayhem makes it worth revisiting.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Collection

Kart racers thrive on personality, and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Collection delivers. You’re racing on land, water, and in the air, with a roster filled with Sega icons and surprise guest characters. The weapons are fun, the tracks are inventive, and it stacks up well even against Mario Kart. It’s one of the best kart racers available on PC.

Split/Second

Split/Second takes racing and mixes it with explosive set pieces. The hook is its PowerPlay system, where players trigger huge environmental hazards to take out rivals mid-race. From collapsing buildings to attacking helicopters, it feels like you’re racing through an action movie. The servers are long gone, but the single-player and local modes are still thrilling.

WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship

WRC 10 is KT Racing’s tribute to 50 years of the World Rally Championship. With updated tracks, realistic handling, and an expanded career mode, it’s packed with content for simulation fans. Some technical bugs hold it back, but for those who want a serious rally experience, it’s one of the stronger options on PC.

What’s Next for Racing Games?

The current lineup shows just how varied racing games can be, from arcade chaos and kart racing to hardcore sims. PC players also have more to look forward to, with simulation-heavy titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione, Automobilista, and Project Cars continuing to evolve. Whether you’re after high-speed stunts, colorful kart antics, or precise rally driving, the best PC racing games in 2025 prove the genre is more diverse and accessible than ever. Here’s the full list of all the racing games mentioned:

1. Burnout Paradise Remastered
2. Dirt 5
3. Forza Horizon 5
4. Horizon Chase Turbo
5. Hotshot Racing
6. Lego 2K Drive
7. Need for Speed Heat
8. Ridge Racer Unbounded
9. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Collection
10. Split/Second
11. WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best car games in 2025?

The best car games in 2025 include upcoming titles like Assetto Corsa EVO, Wreckfest 2, and F1 25, as well as popular ongoing games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Forza Horizon 5, and Gran Turismo 7. For pure racing simulation, look for titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing, while for arcade-style fun, Mario Kart and The Crew Motorfest are excellent choices.Rally enthusiasts can enjoy EA Sports WRC, and those seeking demolition-derby style action will appreciate Wreckfest.

What are the best racing games for PC?

The best PC racing games include open-world arcade experiences like Forza Horizon 5, realistic simulators such as Assetto Corsa and iRacing, off-road thrillers like DiRT Rally 2.0, and destruction-based fun in Wreckfest. The ideal game depends on whether you prefer arcade-style, open-world driving, realistic simulation, or destruction derby chaos.

Which new racing games are coming in 2025?

Major racing games confirmed or expected for release in 2025 include NASCAR 25, Assetto Corsa EVO, EA SPORTS F1 25, and MotoGP 25. Other notable titles on the horizon are JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Wreckfest 2, Endurance Motorsport Series, and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds.

What are the No. 1 car racing games?

There is no single "No. 1" car racing game, as the best game depends on whether you prefer realistic simulation (sim racing) like iRacing or Assetto Corsa Competizione, arcade-style fun like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, or an open-world experience like Forza Horizon 5. Other highly-rated and best-selling titles include the Gran Turismo series, F1 games, and Wreckfest.