Last Updated on June 2, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
Racing games are one of the most popular genres in video games. They allow players to get behind the wheel of sleek, high-performance cars and experience exhilarating speed and thrills. While there are many racing games to choose from, some rise above the rest by delivering truly immersive, polished racing experiences. This article will cover the 8 best racing games that provide top-notch thrills through incredible graphics, vehicles, tracks, game modes and replayability.
Need for Speed: Heat (2019)
Need for Speed: Heat breathes new life into the long-running Need for Speed franchise with its open-world setting inspired by Miami. Players take on the role of an up-and-coming street racer who has to build their reputation during the day and evade the police at night. The daytime races offer progression through six performance tiers, unlocking ever-more powerful vehicles and cash rewards. At night, players engage in illegal street racing while dodging aggressive police who will confiscate your car and bankroll if caught. Heat features extensive customization for over 100 cars, dynamic weather changes, a licensed soundtrack, and competitive multiplayer.
With its blend of progression, customization and tense police chases after dark, Need for Speed: Heat delivers continuous thrills. Its open world recreation of Miami is stunning, from the sun-drenched streets to the neon glow of the night. Mastering high-speed getaways from the police keeps the action constantly engaging. Overall, Need for Speed: Heat revitalizes the long-running franchise with its mix of legal and illegal racing.
Forza Horizon 4 (2018)
Forza Horizon 4 takes place in a massive open world representing Britain. Across diverse landscapes ranging from forest roads to coastal highways, the game lets players collect over 450 cars and experience the thrill of freely exploring gorgeous scenery at breakneck speeds. Racing includes competitve multiplayer modes or chill solo cruising with incredible graphicsshowcasing dynamic seasons that change every week.
Horizon 4 offers a huge variety of exciting cars to master, from rally monsters and supercars to retro classics and modern sports cars. Career progression involves collecting XP to level up and collecting money to spend on new vehicles and customization. Additional challenges and side activities like barn finds keep gameplay fresh. Forza Horizon 4 delivers endless fun through its excellent sense of speed, beautiful open world, massive selection of cars and seamless multiplayer.
Gran Turismo Sport (2017)
Gran Turismo Sport brings the realistic driving simulator experience of the beloved GT franchise exclusively to PS4. Its gameplay focuses on online competitive multiplayer, featuring ranked sport mode races against other players from around the world. Over 150 meticulously replicated cars can be carefully modified for different tracks and racing conditions. Driving feels truly immersive, with nuanced controls reacting to weather, surface conditions and vehicle handling characteristics.
Gran Turismo Sport continues the series’ tradition of breathtaking photorealism, making every car, track and weather feel authentic. Its competitive online adds constant excitement and motivation to hone driving skills. While solo missions and challenges provide fun practice, it truly shines in intense ranked races against other skilled drivers. Gran Turismo Sport delivers racing purity through its commitment to realism, stunning visuals and competitive multiplayer excitement.
F1 2020 (2020)
F1 2020 represents the pinnacle of Formula 1 racing simulation. Players experience the thrill and difficulty of competing in the FIA Formula One World Championship. All 22 circuits from the 2020 season are recreated in stunningly realistic detail. My Team mode lets players create their own team from the ground up over several seasons. Extensive customization options personalize cars, drivers, liveries and academy prospects too.
Driving feels raw and challenging, requiring precise control of traction, braking points and vehicle setup. Real driver-broadcast commentary and the adrenaline of desperately defending one’s position through the field make every race uniquely tense. Online multiplayer ramps up competition beyond the AI. With its authentic circuits, in-depth vehicle handling and heart-pounding racing, F1 2020 pulls players directly into the thrills of elite open-wheel racing.
Project CARS 2 (2017)
Project CARS 2 continues the realism-focused approach of its predecessor by including over 180 fully licensed cars from leading manufacturers and a staggering 180 circuit configurations from around the world. From LMP1 prototypes to Formula One cars, GTs to tin-tops, it features some of the most iconic vehicles in motorsport with exacting detail.
Weather patterns, tire wear rates and a remarkably tuned physics engine all combine to make every lap and race a new challenge requiring constant adjustment. Career mode grants in-depth progression from weekend racer to champion. Competitive multiplayer gives some of the most realistic online racing available. Overall, Project CARS 2 provides rich simulation for dedicated racing fans seeking authentic driving experiences across many formats.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017)
While not a serious racing simulator, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe deserves recognition for delivering endless fun and thrills through its wildly inventive racing. Building upon the success of Mario Kart 8 on Wii U, this Switch version features beautiful HD graphics, all DLC tracks and characters, and improved battle mode. Players choose from Nintendo’s beloved roster of characters like Mario, Link and Inkling, each with their own distinctive vehicles.
Races across inventive fantasy courses like Rainbow Road and Mount Wario bring classic characters to life at breakneck speeds. Power-ups adding strategy like green shells, banana peels and mega mushrooms keep races energized and unpredictable. Both local and online multiplayer make it a must-have party game. Despite being a kart racer, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe achieves exhilarating and uniquely enjoyable racing through its focus on fun, creativity and engaging competitive multiplayer.
GRID (2019)
GRID aims for excitement through accessibility and variety by including over 100 vehicles across multiple formats including GT, touring cars, stock cars and more. Events take place on real-world city circuits recreated with street racing in mind, from London to Paris to San Francisco. Handling ranges from wheel-to-wheel stock cars to high-performance GT beasts.
Career mode provides an enjoyable progression through tiers of licensed teams and sponsors. A livery editor customizes looks while a driver academy recruits and develops talent. Multiplayer supports up to 22 same-format racers online or locally with friends. GRID remains one of the most welcoming yet thrill-filled racing games, appealing to both hardcore sim racers and more casual players.
Dirt Rally 2.0 (2019)
Dirt Rally 2.0 brings the hardcore rally racing experience to a new level. Over 50 legendary rally locations from around the world offer diverse and picturesque terrain, from wet asphalt and muddy forests to snow and ice. A roster of officially licensed rally cars enables players to feel the raw power and handle each machine’s quirks across multiple eras.
This driving feels punishing yet thrillingly realistic, leaving no room for error on stages with deadly drops, crests and mud traps. A livery editor customizes looks while a crew management system hones car setups for specific conditions. Career championships test skills over multiple rallies. Online multiplayer rallies against friends provide endless competition. For purists seeking the most immersive off-road thrills, Dirt Rally 2.0 delivers the ultimate rally experience.
In conclusion, these 8 racing games rise above others in their genres by creating incredibly polished, high-fidelity experiences that truly pull players into the cockpit. Through stunning graphics, authentic handling, variety of vehicles and competitive multiplayer, each title delivers adrenaline-pumping thrills that satisfy racing game fans. Whether players prefer the broad accessibility of franchises like Forza Horizon and GRID or seek ultra-realistic simulations through Gran Turismo Sport, Project CARS 2 and F1 2020, these games push the boundaries of racing entertainment.