11 Best PC Racing Games: From Podracing to Mountain Biking
Vroom, vroom! The starting grid is set, and 11 contenders are revving their engines, ready to race. Will the realism-obsessed driving sims take pole position with their sophisticated physics? Could futuristic combat racers blast their way to victory with explosive rockets? Or will a snappy arcade racer zoom to the finish line, propelled by the roaring cheers of the crowd?
This grand prix is a chaotic affair, with few rules and even fewer regulations. So buckle up, as we delve into the 11 best racing games on PC.
A Note on Selection:
We've focused on games that prioritize racing, rather than simply driving. So no American Truck Simulator here. But we wanted to offer a diverse range, including everything from sci-fi speed demons to more realistic racers (and even a game without any motor vehicles at all).
Remember, this list isn't definitive. If you have a favourite racing game missing, please don't hesitate to share your love in the comments!
Ready, set... GO!
Here's a quick rundown in alphabetical order. No time for scrolling? Simply click on a game's title to jump straight to its entry.
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11. Star Wars Episode I Racer
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<img alt="A podracer from Star Wars zooms towards the camera on the desert planet of Tatooine." class="content_image" height="390" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-star-wars-episode-1-racer.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-star-wars-episode-1-racer.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-star-wars-episode-1-racer.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Lucasfilm / Disney</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: LucasArts
Release Date: 1999
Read More: One of our ten best Star Wars games
Where to buy: Steam, Epic
For fans of: Try the demo for Deathgrip, inspired by podracing.
Podracing was always cool. The Phantom Menace may or may not have its place in the annals of Star Wars storytelling, but for pure spectacle, the podracing scene is a blast. It's not only an entertaining spectacle of special effects and futuristic machinery, but also establishes a fresh cultural phenomenon within a universe often recycled for its own sake.
Star Wars Episode I Racer, released in 1999, lets you hurtle through the canyons of Tatooine and other planets (Baroonda? Ando Prime? Oovo IV? I'd never heard of them before either!). While the game doesn't offer much innovation in terms of racing mechanics, sometimes theme trumps novelty. Simply put, you can embrace the joy of a high-speed chase amongst the oil rigs of... Mon Gazza (I checked).
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10. Night-Runners Prologue
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<img alt="The player looks out from the front seat of their car, as three figures stand on the highway, waiting for an illegal race to start." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-night-runners-prologue.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-night-runners-prologue.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-night-runners-prologue.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Planet Jem</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Planet Jem
Release Date: 2024
Read More: Graham's thoughts
Where to buy: Steam
For fans of: JDM: Rise of the Scorpion, another old-school racer set entirely in Japan.
A demo for a game that isn't even fully released? That's certainly unorthodox. But Night-Runners Prologue makes up for any lack of polish with a ton of atmosphere. You buy your ride at a shady used car auction in the dead of night, poring over the car's paperwork - notes that range from innocuous ("low oil pressure", "nearly empty tank") to unsettling ("previous driver reported as missing", "licence plate linked to local crime organisations"). Soon, you're immersed in Japan's racing underworld, forced into debt by a faceless gangster. Everything here is steeped in the subculture of old-school street racing, with a tangible feeling of petrol and grit.
The actual racing involves exploring urban nightscapes of highways and rest stops to find other racers to bet against. Then, you blast down huge stretches of road and gentle curves at breakneck speed, hoping not to miss the right exit or crash into an oncoming lorry. Every win boosts your reputation.
The game has its idiosyncrasies that may frustrate casual racers. The map is challenging to read, and the street lighting is often too dim. However, these quirks add to the personality. For example, taking off before the "go" signal costs you reputation, but a win will earn you cash and a text message from a new rival: "dont let it get to ur head." With its quirks and unique design, Night-Runners won't appeal to everyone, but its strong flavour will undoubtedly attract some devoted fans.
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9. BallisticNG
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<img alt="A futuristic racing hovercraft speeds past the camera." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-ballistic-ng.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-ballistic-ng.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-ballistic-ng.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Neognosis</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Neognosis
Release Date: 2018
Read More: Graham's thoughts
Where to buy: Steam
For fans of: RedOut2, or for the ultimate WipeOut experience, get a PlayStation and play the original!
I mentioned to my brother we were compiling a "best racing games" list, and he diligently listed every PlayStation 1 racing game, starting with WipeOut. While I can't include those on our PC-only site, I can't fault his enthusiasm.
BallisticNG is a love letter to the sci-fi racers of yore, recreating the hovercraft combat of WipeOut in a way that remains futuristic despite its low-poly art style. Even the studio name - Neognosis - is a homage to Liverpool-based developer Psygnosis, the original creators of WipeOut.
Trance fans of a certain age will know what to expect, but there are modern conveniences. A "smart assist" helps players struggling with the anti-gravity controls, and there's VR support (for those who can stomach such speeds with a track so close to their eyes). The developers have also built in modding support, allowing players to create tracks using a spline-based editor. Despite its roots, BallisticNG is as close to a WipeOut experience as you'll get on PC today.
My brother was disappointed when I explained we couldn't include PlayStation games. He understood, but then suggested Diddy Kong Racing and left the room.
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8. Horizon Chase Turbo
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<img alt="A red sports car boosts into a brightly coloured retro world." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-horizon-chase-turbo.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-horizon-chase-turbo.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-horizon-chase-turbo.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Rock Paper Shotgun / Aquiris</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Aquiris
Release Date: 2018
Read More: Dominic's thoughts
Where to buy: Steam, Epic
For fans of: Super Woden GP for a top-down retro racer.
If you pause Horizon Chase Turbo, you'll notice a "3, 2, 1" countdown when you unpause. It's a clever design choice, preparing you for the incredible speeds you're about to experience. This throwback road racer is as thoughtfully crafted as it is nostalgic. The track "grows" into existence as you approach, accompanied by 80s synth rock that propels you forward alongside the nitro in your tank.
The simplified Out Run feel may not appeal to hardcore sim lovers. The car leans into corners and bends, correcting itself almost automatically, leaving you to control things at a more instantaneous level. This isn't about recreating car physics, but about capturing the arcade playfulness of a bygone era and making the racing feel as good as you remember (even if those memories are a bit hazy).
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7. BeamNG.drive
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<img alt="A large truck rams two police vehicles as they try to stop the driver." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-beamng-drive.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-beamng-drive.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-beamng-drive.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>BeamNG</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: BeamNG
Release Date: 2015
Read More: Our review
Where to buy: Steam
For fans of: Assetto Corsa and iRacing, which both lean heavily toward the sim side of the genre.
If you've been scrolling through this list with your driving goggles on, tut-tutting at each entry with the furious intensity of a motoring maniac, BeamNG.drive might be your catharsis. It leans heavily into "soft-body physics," which translates to "rally car go bounce good." It also means crumpling car bonnets and shattered glass when the police car pursuing you finally catches up.
While not strictly a racing game, the time trials and free roaming allow for a kind of vehicular freedom. You're not here to race, you're here to drive off a cliff and inspect each dent and crunch with monstrously high standards.
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6. Grip: Combat Racing
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<img alt="Four futuristic cars with chunky wheels drive into the flames of an explosion." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-grip-combat-racing.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-grip-combat-racing.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-grip-combat-racing.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Wired Productions</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Caged Element
Release Date: 2018
Read More: Our review
Where to buy: Steam
For fans of: BallisticNG for a modern take on WipeOut.
Where we're going, we don't need roads. Oh, hold on. I've just been told we actually need *more
roads. Roads on the ceiling, roads on the walls... With vehicles like those in Grip, you need all the road you can get.
Inspired by the PlayStation classic Rollcage, this arcade-style combat racer sees you clinging to the undersides of tubular tunnels, or sliding up the curved sides of rollercoaster-like racetracks suspended high above alien planets. The competition is deadly, with tire-shredding miniguns, HUD-disrupting EMP blasts, and missiles that target the leader with vindictive precision. Think sci-fi Mario Kart with a heavy dose of 1990s double-sided RC cars - and that's not a bad thing at all.
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5. Descenders
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<img alt="A mountain biker pedals downhill as two competitors come over the horizon behind him." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-descenders.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-descenders.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-descenders.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>No More Robots</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: RageSquid
Release Date: 2019
Read More: Alice0's impressions
Where to buy: Steam
For fans of: Both Riders Republic and Lonely Mountains: Downhill may scratch the mountain biking itch.
"Bicycles!?" I hear you cry. "Those don't have motors!" Please, be reasonable. There's room for all kinds of racing in this world. Descenders is about hurtling down a mountainside on a two-wheeled beast, trying not to fly over the handlebars and ragdoll into a tree. As a professional mud commuter, you'll backflip over trains, loop-the-loop, and navigate branching cascades of levels, investing in "mutators" to enhance your abilities with each run. The roguelike elements can feel a little unnecessary, but the feeling of controlling the bike is a perfect blend of challenge and intuitive handling. And, oh, is it ever funny when you wipe out.
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4. Trackmania
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<img alt="Many cars attempt to climb an obstacle in a bright course from Trackmania." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-trackmania.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-trackmania.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-trackmania.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Ubisoft</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Nadeo
Release Date: 2020
Read More: A comprehensive explanation of the many Trackmania incarnations
Where to buy: Steam, Epic
For fans of: Trailmakers, if you want to build your own car too.
In Trackmania, the cars take a back seat. Here, it's all about the tracks players create using an in-game level editor, channelling the inner child's love for Hot Wheels. There have been several Trackmania games, but the most recent, simply titled Trackmania (2020), offers the benefit (and burden) of being free-to-play. You can race on a selection of curated and official tracks for free, but a more robust version of the track editor requires a purchase. The same goes for accessing the full range of player-created tracks, including the notoriously difficult Deep Dip and Deep Dip 2 (which took dedicated players over a month to master).
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3. Wreckfest
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<img alt="Several old bangers skid round a corner and cause a dusty pile-up." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-wreckfest.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-wreckfest.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-wreckfest.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>THQ Nordic</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Bugbear
Release Date: 2018
Read More: John's impressions
Where to buy: Steam, Epic
For fans of: Burnout Paradise, for a different kind of smashing good time.
Get bashed hard enough in this destructive derby and a red message pops up, labelling the aggressive driver who hit you a "rival." You can then earn extra points by ramming them, leading to hilarious situations where you abandon your pursuit of the lead just to harass the off-brand VW Beetle that tried to punt you off the track.
There's something inherently hilarious about building an entire driving game around old bangers. The station wagons, Minis, and legally distinct Fiat 500s spin out with delightful abandon, messing everything up for the tightly packed competitors behind you (this is especially satisfying in online multiplayer). Wreckfest offers the usual car upgrades, suspension tuning, and customisable paint jobs, but no matter how you dress up your beastly bangmobile, it's the aggression and craziness that matter. Don't be afraid to shunt that bargain-bucket Ford Escort into a stack of tyres at the side of the road.
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2. Burnout Paradise Remastered
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<img alt="A green sports car speeds towards traffic signs in Paradise City." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-burnout-paradise-remastered.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-burnout-paradise-remastered.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-burnout-paradise-remastered.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Electronic Arts</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Criterion Games
Release Date: 2018 (originally 2008)
Read More: Our review
Where to buy: Steam, Epic
For fans of: Wreckfest, for destructiveness, or the Forza games for an open-world experience.
PC gamers never got to experience the intensity of Burnout 3: Takedown, but they found joy in 2008 with Burnout Paradise. Ten years later, the Remastered version made few changes, but it made the game more playable (though there are still some issues). There are many simple pleasures to Burnout's crashy careening: you spin your tires at traffic lights to start a race, you can dip into repair shops during a contest to refill your boost meter on the fly, and you can fling yourself through billboards with reckless abandon.
It's a hefty, powerful, and incredibly fun game. The cars are slightly more durable than in previous Burnouts, allowing you to occasionally "drive away" from a fender bender, but the destructive silliness remains, with the crossroads and hilly outskirts of Paradise City inviting you to hurl yourself into traffic.
The Remastered version has its share of problems. In the absence of official updates, it's fallen to the community to fix many of those technical annoyances. But even with these shortcomings, Paradise remains a paradise.
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1. Forza Horizon 4
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<img alt="A collection of vintage sports cars face off in a rural British town." class="content_image" height="388" loading="lazy" src="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-forza-horizon-4.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-forza-horizon-4.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp 1x, https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/best-racing-games-forza-horizon-4.jpg?width=690&quality=80&format=jpg&dpr=2&auto=webp 2x" width="690"/> </a>
<figcaption><span class="attribution">Image credit: <cite>Xbox Game Studios</cite></span></figcaption>
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Developers: Playground Games
Release Date: 2018
Read More: Our review
Where to buy: Steam
For fans of: Forza Horizon 5, or if you want to explore the US, The Crew 2.
When it comes to the "feel" of a racer, there's a sweet spot somewhere between arcade silliness and simulation-level precision. I don't know where that sweet spot is, but the creators of Forza Horizon 4 probably do. As Stirling wrote in our review, "This game isn't going to bother simulating tyre wear or brake temperature, it's just going to assume that your car is working as intended."
Beyond the slick, low-stakes drifting, there's a variety of zany events to participate in as you roam the British countryside in constantly changing seasons. Snow affects your car's handling as you race against a steam train, and rain creates a slippery surface as you pursue a hovercraft along muddy roads. Don't worry though, the game is set in Britain - it probably won't rain that often.
Forza Horizon 4 is well respected. Graham, our resident racing game expert, calls it "better than Burnout Paradise." Some of us disagree with such a bold statement, but Ed and Matthew agree that Playground Games are the pacemakers when it comes to perfect game openings and riotous hovercraft racing. Perhaps we Burnout loyalists can finally let go of the steering wheel and concede defeat. Forza Horizon 4 has overtaken the competition.
There's a sad caveat to all this praise: Forza Horizon 4 is getting delisted from Steam in December 2024. If you're reading this after that date, sorry! You can always try its successor, Forza Horizon 5, set in Mexico, but it doesn't offer the same autumnal charm of the Yorkshire Moors.
The Race is Over:
A champion has been crowned, and the losers must go home. But wait, there's a secret... *There are no losers.
All competition is an illusion, "better" and "worse" do not exist. We rank lists because the human brain is wired to make comparisons, but really, all these racing games are equally great! The same goes for the games missing from this list. Head to the comments section and sing the praises of your favourite racing game. Give it a ranking if you like, but remember, it means nothing. Every car is sacred.
