10 Best Racing Games on Xbox Series X|S (2026)

Plenty goes into becoming a pro racer. Lots of patience and endurance. You’ll master lots of tracks, how you can maximize speed around the corners, and apply just enough pressure on the brakes. 

The best racing games on Xbox Series X/S take it a step further, testing your ability to adapt on the fly, whether it’s avoiding obstacles or making the most of speed boosts. Let’s go over the best titles to hit the bullseye on mastering speed.

What is a Racing Game?

A racing game tests how fast you can maneuver an automobile around a variety of tracks, optimizing circuit design and vehicle control against AI or player-controlled opponents.

Top Racing Games on Xbox Series X/S

For pristine graphics that boast high fidelity and breathtaking views, as well as smooth and fluid response and controls, check out the best racing games on Xbox Series X/S below.

10. Wreckfest

With Wreckfest, you’ll wreck your cars on purpose. No, really. It’s a demolition derby about slowing down the opponent by ramming into them as brutally as you can. And you’ll have the liberty of pimping your car to your taste, but more importantly, for combat motosport.

Features like reinforced bumpers, roll cages, and side protectors are a much-needed upgrade for your car customization. At the same time, engine optimization and fuel systems matter just as much.

9. EA Sports WRC

The car you’re driving in EA Sports WRC, on the other hand, is already pre-built for you, optimized to handle dirt and snow with gusto. They are real-life WRC cars of a variety of 70 historic vehicles. Though you can further tweak the livery and design in the Builder mode. 

From then on, you’ll compete in major championships, traveling around the world from Kenya to Japan and Monte Carlo. Every race brings its own challenge, with some nostalgic races and highlights from previous WRC championship events included.

9. WRC 10

The World Rally Championship has its own racing game, with WRC 10 among the best titles currently available. It lets you veer off-road, in some of the toughest tracks in WRC history.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary, you’ll relive the most iconic moments in WRC history from 1973 to date. In History Mode, you’ll relive 19 historical events, each with unique, challenging racing conditions, depending on the time period.

Moreover, you’ll enjoy 20 legendary cars, compete in four new rallies, 120 special stages, and access 52 official teams.

8. GRID Legends

For the aspiring pro racers, you can challenge yourself to master GRID Legends. It’s fully-featured, with global motorsport events, live multiplayer races, and legendary cars to unlock. 

As many as 21 players can compete at the same time, with crossplay functionality enabled. This is a game that can become the connective tissue of your new friend group, perfecting your craft over and over again across Elimination rounds, Drift challenges, and Boost races.

7. Hot Wheels Unleashed

Wanna race purely for entertainment? Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is the go-to, with a good variety of cars, from monster trucks to motorbikes and ATVs. The tracks are fun, experimenting with mini-golf courses in the Wild West and the backyard of a house in the suburbs.

New terrains have been added that create more challenges using grass, sand, and more tracks. And these influence your car choice and strategy, with some vehicles handling better in certain tracks than others.

6. Art of Rally

The best racing games on Xbox Series X/S aren’t always realistic simulators. They can be stylized arcade experiences like Art of Rally. Don’t let the bright colors fool you or the top-down perspective, though. This is still very much a fully-featured racing game.

Car variation is immense, with WRC vintage cars included. You also race across 72 stages, pulled from worldwide WRC locations. While newbies will find the steering and turns accessible, experts can still enjoy pulling off neat tricks and flicks opponents don’t see coming.

5. DIRT 5

Off-road racing can’t get any better than DIRT 5. The series has mastered the art better than any other, paying attention to the finer details of style and culture. It has 70+ unique routes worldwide that take you from the Northern Light in Norway to Christ the Redeemer in Brazil and closer to home on the frozen East River in New York.

While you’ll find some iconic rally cars, the variety goes far beyond, with unlimited trucks and muscle cars perfect for off-road racing. Meanwhile, you have the incentive of sponsorships and unique rewards to keep challenging rivals in Career mode, multiplayer, or even create your own challenges.

4. Assetto Corsa Competizione

Host your very own GT3 motorsport championship right at home, with Assetto Corsa Competizione leading the charge in licensed drivers, teams, cars, and tracks. Plus, photorealistic visuals, just the same, whether day or night, capturing slick animations that simulate incredibly accurate tyre grip and vehicle damage.

3. Need for Speed Unbound

I’d be remiss not to include Need for Speed Unbound among the best racing games on Xbox Series X/S. Especially with its balance between serious street racers and fun cop chases. Lakeshore City holds lots of street racing events that you can hop into or challenge rivals in PvP mode. 

The cars are fully customizable, from Porsche to Ford Mustangs. Meanwhile, driving tests your drifting, dragging, and more skills that you fine-tune over weekly qualifiers in preparation for The Grand Finale.

2. F1 25

For a more structured professional racing game on Xbox Series X/S, you can try out F1 25. Those who prefer a story-driven playthrough will enjoy Braking Point. Otherwise, you’ll build teams, designing their liveries and customizing the driver numbers.

You do actively control the drivers, but also spend a decent amount of time in the managerial role. The online co-op events do spice up the competition, although the AI drivers you can race against also do a fantastic job of keeping you on your toes.

1. Forza Horizon 5

Open-world racing is best experienced in Forza Horizon 5, where once you hop into the driver’s seat, you’re free to drive anywhere you want across the vast landscapes of sun-scorched Mexico. 

Practically limitless driving, while you switch up cars and their design. And with hundreds of cars, you’ll find it pretty exciting to experiment. Just be careful not to lose your finely-tuned car to battle royale rivals in the Eliminator mode when they beat you in spontaneous head-to-head races.