While it lacks the first-party exclusives of the Xbox 360 era (we miss you, Project Gotham Racing), the Xbox Series X and S consoles have amassed a diverse library of driving games over the years.
From casual indie games to family-friendly kart racers and hardcore simulations, Microsoft’s console offers something for everyone.
Here, then, are our recommendations for the 10 best Xbox Series X|S racing games you can play in 2026.
Honourable mentions
These Xbox racing games are excellent in their own right, even though they didn’t make the top 10.
From the creator of Absolute Drift, Funselektor’s Art of Rally is a stylised take on rally racing, with its minimalist visuals, relaxing soundtrack and wonderfully curated car list.
For fans of futuristic racers, RedOut 2 is a worthy alternative to WipeOut, thanks to its striking art style, challenging controls and superb sense of speed.
If you’re a bike enthusiast, Ride 6 is the biking equivalent of Forza Motorsport, with hundreds of licensed motorcycles, a mix of fictional and real-world circuits and a comprehensive career mode.
It’s no secret that the Forza Horizon series has overshadowed Forza Motorsport, and the 2023 reboot only made this more apparent. At launch, what should have been a return to form for the franchise after a long hiatus was a major disappointment.
Despite Turn 10 bragging about the game being “built from the ground up” (a phrase that surely still haunts the studio), the visuals were underwhelming, the game was plagued with bugs and glitches and the career mode was woefully unbalanced. There was also a noticeable lack of new content, with most cars and tracks recycled from previous games.
Mercifully, post-launch updates have improved the experience. The visuals are more polished, the career mode’s points system was scrapped and the experience has expanded with new game modes, cars and tracks.
Its driving physics bridge the gap between fun and realism, and while the single-player career is still repetitive, the online multiplayer remains a strong point, with a variety of car classes, regularly scheduled races that are easy to browse and active lobbies. Its accessibility options for visually impaired players are also commendable.
It’s still not the genre-defining game it should be, but if you want to race road cars on real-world circuits, this is the closest equivalent to Gran Turismo on Xbox. It’s also often on sale and included with Game Pass Premium.
9. EA Sports WRC
EA Sports WRC sadly marks the end of an era for Codemasters’ rich rally game heritage, from Colin McRae Rally to the DIRT series, with the developer focusing solely on the F1 series for the foreseeable future. While it’s not quite the send-off it should have been, it’s a solid rally game.
Switching from the studio’s in-house Ego engine to Unreal Engine 4 was a misstep. Compared to DiRT Rally 2.0, the visuals are marred by technical glitches and blurry visuals. Aside from the surprise addition of a car creator, the career mode is also barebones compared to the F1 series.
Nevertheless, EA Sports WRC is an impeccable package for rally aficionados, with a car roster ranging from the latest Rally1 hybrids to Group B classics like the legendary Lancia Delta S4, as well as esoteric fan favourites.
Its stage list is unsurpassed, too, featuring over 200 routes across 20 locations, with the longest lasting nearly 35 kilometres.
8. Horizon Chase 2
Originally an Apple Arcade Exclusive, Horizon Chase 2 is a throwback to old-school arcade racers like OutRun, with supremely sharp vehicle handling and blisteringly fast racing. A World Tour campaign sees you race exotic cars across equally exotic locations, accompanied by a sublime soundtrack once again composed by Barry Leitch, who helmed the Top Gear game series’ music.
With its Horizon Chase Turbo predecessor being delisted this year, Horizon Chase 2 stands as one of the best pure, pick-up-and-play arcade racers on Xbox.
7. Screamer
Screamer is a bold attempt to revitalise the neglected arcade racing genre – and it mostly succeeds.
Developed by Italian studio Milestone, it blends twin-stick driving with a surprisingly lengthy story mode featuring animated cutscenes, a diverse character roster and a striking anime aesthetic.
It’s the combat system that stands out most, however. Inspired by fighting games, building up an energy bar allows you to execute attack and defence moves, requiring precise timing.
Screamer’s 2026 reboot lacks the universal appeal of the original Ridge Racer-esque series, but it’s one of the most unique arcade racers in a long time that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Simulating the official GT World Challenge Europe and Blancpain GT Series, Competizione features the championship’s full lineup of GT4, GT3, GT2 and TCX cars, alongside 11 tracks from the real-world series.
The original Xbox One issue was plagued with performance issues, but these have thankfully been ironed out in the Xbox Series X|S release. From tyre temperatures to dynamic weather conditions, its simulation elements are novel in a console racing game.
With Rennsport and Project Motor Racing falling short, Assetto Corsa Competizione is currently the best hardcore racing simulation on Xbox – at least until Le Mans Ultimate gets a console port.
5. F1 25
Codemasters’ F1 series has been inconsistent since EA’s takeover, failing to reach the heights of F1 2020. That changed with F1 25, which is a return to form.
Braking Point makes a triumphant return, featuring a surprising plot twist affecting the Butler family and the option to choose among different drivers in certain scenarios. Vehicle handling is also a noticeable step forward over F1 24, with vehicles behaving more naturally.
An even bigger step forward is the revamped My Team. For F1 25, the fan favourite mode has had a significant overhaul, with you taking the role of a team manager and managing two drivers simultaneously while juggling resources. This creates scenarios where favouring a driver can affect your team’s relationships.
F1 25 will also be the last mainline game until 2027. Instead of a sequel, it will receive a 2026 season expansion with the latest drivers, teams and new regulations, including the new energy management system.
4. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Mario Kart steals the spotlight when it comes to kart racers, but it’s exclusive to Nintendo platforms. For Xbox players looking for a family-friendly kart racer, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds takes the chequered flag.
While its similarities to Nintendo’s mascot racer are unmistakable, CrossWorlds also offers plenty of innovative ideas. Its titular mechanic teleports you to different locations by driving through giant travel rings in each lap. This makes every race unpredictable: one minute you’re racing through a shopping mall, the next you’re speeding past stomping dinosaurs.
Previously absent in its Sonic Team Racing predecessor, transforming vehicles return, allowing you to switch between land, sea and air vehicles. A gadget system, where you can equip an inventory of offensive and defensive abilities from extra speed boosts to quicker recoveries, adds an element of strategy alongside the randomised powerups.
With free and paid DLC updates adding new locations and characters, including cameos from Pac-Man and Mega Man, it’s easily the best kart racer on Xbox.
3. Wreckfest
Crashing in most modern racing games leaves a lot to be desired, with licensing restrictions limiting damage modelling. In Wreckfest, crashing is actively encouraged in full-contact races and last-driver-standing demolition derbies.
Despite its age, the soft-body damage modelling remains genre-defining, with vehicles reduced to scrap metal in spectacular wrecks.
A lengthy career mode sees you buy and upgrade a variety of vehicles, from MOT-failing rusbuckets to school buses and quirky drivable sofas. Smashing into opponents is even more cathartic in online multiplayer, too, which still boasts an active playerbase.
Currently in Early Access on Steam, the sequel is expected to crash onto consoles at some point, but the original Wreckfest still holds up when you’re craving some vehicular carnage.
2. The Crew Motorfest
When it was announced, The Crew Motorfest was criticised for being a Forza Horizon clone. While its car-themed festival is undeniably familiar, Ubisoft’s open-world racer manages to hold its own.
Curated playlists centring on different car cultures keep the campaign focused, and while the Hawaii location lacks the grand scale of its predecessors, it’s diverse and visually stunning. Since its 2023 launch, Ubisoft’s post-launch support has been outstanding, with not one but two map expansions, plus a track creator and licensed NASCAR racing in the recent Season 9 update.
Its car roster continues to thrive, too, with contemporary models such as the BMW M2 CS and Ferrari F80 debuting in The Crew Motorfest before Forza and Gran Turismo.
With substantial live updates and a compulsive Grand Race multiplayer elimination-style mode, The Crew Motorfest keeps going from strength to strength. It’s also frequently discounted and available to try in free weekend events.
1. Forza Horizon 5
Since its inception, Forza Horizon has set the benchmark for open-world racing. While the fifth entry doesn’t quite hit the same heights as some of its predecessors, it remains one of the most accomplished and accessible racing games on any platform.
Set in Mexico, the diverse open world sees you drive through dense rainforests, dusty desert roads and even up an active volcano. Visually, it still looks spectacular whether you’re playing on Xbox Series X or S, despite it releasing in 2021.
With over 900 vehicles, the roster remains unrivalled, from modern hypercars like the Mercedes-AMG One cover car to classic cars that will please aficionados, with hidden barn finds scattered across the map.
As a bonus, Game Pass Premium subscribers can access Forza Horizon 5 for no extra charge.
Time will tell if it’s surpassed by its forthcoming sequel, but for now, Forza Horizon 5 remains the pinnacle of Xbox Series X|S racing games.
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