As we shift into the fast lane of 2024, we can enjoy an array of adrenaline-pumping experiences, especially Xbox racing games. Whether you’re a dedicated petrolhead, a casual speedster, or just an Xbox Game Pass subscriber seeking an exciting escape, the racing game genre has something for everyone. So, let’s explore the top 15 Xbox racing games that will ignite your passion for speed before we run out of racing puns.

If you also have a Nintendo 64, check out our top picks for the best N64 racing games.

1. Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 is the best arcade racing game available for Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One. This game took over that title from its predecessor, Forza Horizon 4. Playground Games promised numerous improvements to the game and somehow managed to deliver them all, including one of the largest and most diverse maps in the Forza series.

FH 5 takes the players to Mexico, where they can race with over 600 vehicles, although this number is still growing as new cars are added regularly. The regular developer’s updates are directly linked to the return of the Festival Playlist, a monthly rotation of challenges set by the Horizon Festival. These challenges give you a chance to win some amazing awards, but they also mean that Forza Horizon 5 will continue to grow and is here to stay for years to come.

2. Need for Speed Unbound

The Need for Speed franchise has been with us for decades, and it continues to be everyone’s favorite. Despite some of the newer games in the NFS franchise failing to deliver exactly what players hoped to get from racing games, the latest title, Need for Speed Unbound (released in 2022), managed to turn it all around and climb to the top.

NFS Unbound offers open-world gameplay and a fully developed single-player campaign. But the most stunning part of this new title is the visuals. Not only are there plenty of flashy vehicles available to players, but the art design is pretty unique and gorgeous. You can also customize the visual effects to your liking, but this game is exclusive to the latest-gen hardware, which means you can play it only with Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or PlayStation 5.

3. Dirt 5

Are you looking for a more casual racing game? Dirt 5 is not as flashy as NFS Unbound, and it doesn’t have many features of the FH 5, but it is an extremely fun racing game to play. Its charm lies in the fact that you’ll get to drive your highly modified car off the beaten path and create your own routes to win the race. Hence the name of the franchise. The game boasts a diverse range of environments, as well as dynamic weather that will influence your driving style.

This title is much simpler than its simulation-like predecessors, but it’s extremely easy to get into. Although intense off-road racing is its selling point, Dirt 5 also has a non-linear campaign you can follow, and it has a variety of racing modes to try out.

4. The Crew 2

Ubisoft gave it a go at creating the open-world racer that would be a competitor to Playground Games’ Forza Horizon series. The result is The Crew 2, a game that’ll have you racing through the smaller version of the United States. You’ll have the option to choose from a wide variety of cars, but you won’t be limited to them. You can also decide to race with bikes, planes, and boats.

One of the main aspects of The Crew 2 is the gorgeous landscape of the open world you’ll be racing in. However, the gameplay is completely arcade-like, which is not everyone’s cup of tea. Each vehicle you choose to drive has different physics, which means the gameplay can be vastly different. Aside from racing the set tracks, Crew 2 allows you to free-roam the map of the USA and explore on your own.

5. Forza Motorsport 7 and Forza Motorsport 8

If you’re on the lookout for a more serious racing simulation to play on your Xbox One console, give Forza Motorsport 7 a try. It’s the tenth installment in the Forza franchise, published by Microsoft Studios. However, if your choice of console is Series X|S, you can play the newest title from the series, Forza Motorsport 8, released in October 2023.

Forza Motorsport 7 features 700 cars, over 200 racing configurations, and 32 locations. The Forza Horizon series focuses on car culture, exploration, and freedom, but the Motorsport series is different. Its focus is on professional racing, competitions, and driving skills development.

6. Project Cars 2

When Project Car 3 was launched in 2020, it failed to deliver and the game was bashed both by players and the critics. But its predecessor, Project Cars 2 remains one of the top racing games to play on Xbox consoles. That’s because this game rewards its players generously after the race, and winning feels extremely satisfying.

When Project Cars 2 came out in 2017, it was one of the biggest racing games out there. It offers over 180 vehicles to choose from, and 140 tracks to race in over 60 locations. The game developers implemented a LiveTrack 3.0 system which brings different temperatures and dynamic weather to the game, making each race, and even each lap a different driving experience.

7. Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled

Back in 1999 Crash Team Racing came out as a spin-off of the popular Crash Bandicoot series. Although these games were exclusive to PlayStation, in 2019, the remastered version was published by Activision for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One consoles.

The cartoonish graphics might trick you into thinking this is a game for children, but the gameplay itself is hard enough for experienced gamers too. As you progress, you’ll find challenges, tracks, and obstacles on them more difficult to beat. Nitro-Fueled is filled with content such as car customization, different adventure modes, and new tracks as well as the ones from the previous CTR installments.

8. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered

The remastered version of Hot Pursuit, a timeless classic from the Need for Speed franchise, came out in 2021. The original content from the 2010 game remains, but the visuals were enhanced and some big updates were implemented for smoother gameplay. That made the remastered Hot Pursuit a true modern racing game that fits the needs of console gamers.

That said, NFS: Hot Pursuit Remastered doesn’t need an introduction. Go get your dose of nostalgia through street racing and exhilarating police chases.

9. Assetto Corsa Competizione

The Assetto Corsa Competizione is the official simulation of the Blancpain GT Series, with a heavy focus on GT3 and GT4 cars. This is a superb racer with amazing car physics, modern graphics, and enough tracks and races to keep you occupied for quite some time. Although the game wasn’t popular at its release due to constant crashes and bugs, it received lots of support from its developers and now is one of the most popular racing simulators out there.

ACC offers you racing against the AI if you play it offline, but you can also opt for multiplayer and race against other players in the online environment. Assetto Corsa Competizione also has lots of additional content in the form of DLCs, and add-ons. Don’t be in a rush to finish the basic game as it has plenty to offer in the form of sprint, endurance, and 24-hour races.

10. Hot Wheels Unleashed

Searching for a big arcade racing experience that you can enjoy with your whole family? Try Hot Wheels Unleashed, the game based on the Hot Wheels toy line. In Unleashed you’ll be driving a miniature toy car from the franchise collection, on over 40 different miniature tracks set in the everyday environment of a household. You can find yourself racing in a living room, kitchen, or even garage.

11. Wreckfest

Wreckfest is a demolition derby game in which you’ll get to drive all sorts of muscle cars, beaters, and even lawn mowers. You can choose to either eliminate your opponents or rely on your driving skill to avoid opponents and be the last man standing. This game offers much more fun than just winning the race.

Wreckfest is a racing game that uses soft-body damage modeling, a system that enables the localized damage on the vehicle to influence the physics and driving dynamics. That’s what makes this racing game extremely realistic.

12. Burnout Paradise Remastered

Burnout Paradise is a well-known casual arcade racer from 2008. The remastered version came ten years later when the players were eager to return to Paradise City and relive the glorious crashes and races this game had to offer in its open world. The audience got to relive the greatness of Burnout Paradise, but with modern visuals, new textures, and lighting, as well as some performance upgrades.

Although the main goal of this game is to win street races and progress, Burnout Paradise also rewards its players for crashing the car if they select to play in the Showtime mode.

13. NASCAR Heat 5

If you’re following racing sports you know that NASCAR is the biggest racing event in the world, and NASCAR Heat 5 is the best stock racing game to play on Xbox. This game features licensed car models from the real races, but it goes beyond and includes real-life tracks, brands, and teams.

Although this game doesn’t have the greatest visuals as some other modern racing games out there, the driving feels pretty realistic and enjoyable. The tracks and circuits are designed to reflect the real world which enhances the immersion into the racing experience.

14. WRC 10

WRC 10 is the official game of the World Rally Championship 2021, and it’s the tenth installment in the franchise. The game is a celebration of the 50th World Rally Championship and features 12 rounds of the season. Race the Croatia Rally, Estonia Rally, or Belgian Ypres Rally with some well-known historical and modern cars.

WRC 10 features a generous although slow-paced career mode, and a range of solo races as well as multiplayer options. The races are rich in details and exciting although the anniversary events are a bit underwhelming. Still, WRC 10 is fun and it’ll entertain the most die-hard racing game fans.

15. SnowRunner

Snowrunner is an off-road open-world simulation game, the latest title in the Spintires series. Although this is not your typical racing game, you’ll have immense fun trying to deliver cargo across diverse and unwelcoming environments. You’ll be driving different types of vehicles, such as 4×4 SUVs and heavy equipment trucks, across muddy, icy, or dirt trails.

All the trails you’ll have to cover are in deep wilderness that’ll put your driving skills to the test. Speed is important, but you’ll find yourself calculating precise wheel placement and going slowly more often than not. This game can easily drive some players nuts. If you don’t think hauling lumber over the frozen wastes can be fun, perhaps you should skip SnowRunner.

With so many fantastic titles to choose from, whether it’s mastering the art of drifting, conquering challenging tracks, or customizing your dream machine, there’s a game to suit every racing enthusiast’s preference. So, gear up, take to the virtual tracks, and immerse yourself in the thrill of Xbox racing in 2024.