Six of the best racing car video games of all time

What are some of the best car racing games of all time?

The car racing genre is one of the most competitive categories in gaming.

Franchises like Gran Turismo, Need for Speed and Forza have dominated the industry for years, releasing countless titles that keep petrol heads and casual gamers hooked.

But creating a compelling racing game is no mean feat. When done right, it can result in millions of sales and become a firm favourite for racing fans.

From hyper-realistic simulators to classics like Mario Kart, we're rolling back the years to relive some of the best racing games from the past two decades.

Let's dive in.

Driver (1999)

Available on: PlayStation, Windows and Game Boy Colour

Driver is reportedly the fourth best-selling car racing game franchise on the market, topped only by Mario Kart, Need for Speed and Gran Turismo.

When it comes to gameplay and visuals, Driver is very much of its time. But its storyline of an undercover NYPD detective had people hooked.

As a franchise, it went on to release several titles following the 1999 debut. But sometimes, you just can’t beat an original.

Need for Speed Underground 2 (2004)

Available on: GameCube, PS2, Xbox

Need for Speed Underground 2 raised the bar for car racing games.

A sequel to the first Need for Speed Underground, this title is often cited as the best in the entire franchise. Not bad for a game that was released over 20 years ago.

It has developed an iconic status among car racers for the groundbreaking levels of customisation it offered.

Need for Speed Underground 2 was also the first game to feature an open world that players could roam through, complemented by the game’s fantastic soundtrack.

Quality can often be overinflated when reminiscing about older titles, but Underground 2 paved the way for the future of open world car games.

It has developed an iconic status among car racers for the groundbreaking levels of customisation it offered.

Need for Speed Underground 2 was also the first game to feature an open world that players could roam through, complimented by the game’s fantastic soundtrack.

Quality can often be overinflated when reminiscing about older titles, but Underground 2 paved the way for the future of open world car games.

Gran Turismo 4 (2004)

Available on: PlayStation 2

Remembered fondly, Gran Turismo 4 is one of the most popular titles in the series.

Hailed for the depth of its single-player career mode, it set a high bar for future releases. It offered improved racing with a wide range of real-life tracks, including the Nürburgring. And for a 2004 release, the graphics were far ahead of their time.

GT4 was also the first in the series to feature Photo Mode, allowing gamers to capture their favourite vehicles against stunning backdrops. This would go on to become a signature feature, with the franchise developing a huge following among aspirational car photographers.

Such is the success of the series, it's been transformed into cinema. Gran Turismo, the movie, is one of our recommended car films to watch. Based on a true story, it follows an aspirational gamer who brings the game to life in his efforts to turn pro.

We wouldn't recommend trying to replicate Gran Turismo – or any of these games – in your new car lease though.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)

Available on: Xbox, PlayStation and Windows

With over 20 titles to its name, Need for Speed is a franchise that can’t be overlooked.

Among their most popular games is Need for Speed Most Wanted, the follow up to the aforementioned Need for Speed Underground 2.

In an open-world racing simulator, players are tasked with becoming the ‘most wanted’ street racer, with gripping police pursuits and vast multiplayer options.

The franchise was in its heyday in the early 2000s, with Most Wanted still, to this day, revered as one of the best releases.

Mario Kart Wii (2008)

Available on: Nintendo Wii

Mario Kart is one of the iconic racing video games enjoyed in many different formats across different platforms.

However, in 2008, the release of the Nintendo Wii took things to a whole new level.

Mario Kart Wii captured the hearts and imaginations of millions – over 37 million to be precise. It’s the franchise’s second best-selling title and the second best-selling Nintendo Wii game.

It offered fun for all ages and abilities with some of our favourite Super Mario characters.

In no other racing game is lobbing a banana peel at your mate considered fair play – but try telling Yoshi that as you're tearing around Coconut Mall in first place.

And don't even get us started on the dreaded blue shell just as you're about to cross the finish line.

Forza Horizon 5 (2021)

Available on: Windows & Xbox

Forza is one of the biggest names in the car video game scene and its franchise can be divided into two segments: Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon.

We’re focusing on the latter, specifically Forza Horizon 5. It’s the most recent release in the Horizon genre (although Forza Horizon 6 will be released in 2026!) and it wasted no time in establishing itself as one of, if not the best game in the franchise.

The open world, set in Mexico, offers stunning visuals and a new level of car gaming experience.

The list of cars available, including the Mercedes-Benz AMG Project One, is just as impressive and it doesn’t take you long to see why Forza Horizon 5 was named IGN's Game of the Year when it was released.

Race to your next lease

From pixel-perfect simulators to banana-throwing chaos, these racing games have kept us glued to our screens for decades. Whether you're chasing the perfect lap time or just trying to avoid that blue shell, there's a racing game out there for everyone.

Of course, real-world driving is a bit different – no shortcuts through the living room, and definitely no speed boosts from mystery boxes. But if these games have got you itching to get behind the wheel of something new, we can help with that.