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10 Best Racing Games on Xbox Game Pass (December 2025)

Two red sports cars race along a mountain road

Looking for the best racing games on Xbox Game Pass? Xbox Game Pass is packed with exciting racing games. Some focus on fast cars and smooth tracks, while others take you through wild landscapes and stunt-filled courses. Each game brings something special. With so many great options, choosing can take time, so here is the updated list of the top Game Pass racing games available right now.

What Defines the Best Racing Game?

When I look for a racing game that really hits, it needs more than just fast cars. I want something that keeps me coming back after hours of play. Fun gameplay comes first, then a mix of different race types, good car variety, and something that feels fresh every time. Some games should let you drive across open areas, others should give tight tracks with high tension. I also look at how the game feels during long sessions, how the cars react, and how much there is to do. The games on this list bring different styles of racing, but all of them deliver pure fun.

List of 10 Best Racing Games on Xbox Game Pass in 2025

Each pick brings its own kind of fun. Some focus on open exploration, others on close competition. All of them are worth a shot.

10. Descenders

Extreme downhill races packed with jumps, tricks, and crashes

Descenders - Launch Trailer

First up, we have Descenders. It’s a fast-paced mountain biking experience where you ride through randomly generated downhill courses filled with ramps, slopes, and jumps. The focus stays on speed and reaction as you move through forests, deserts, and valleys. You control how aggressive or cautious you want to be, since a wrong move can send your rider tumbling down. Tricks earn reputation that helps unlock new bikes and gear.

The bikes respond with real weight and movement, so you always feel in control when racing downhill. You pick routes that suit your pace, and the terrain shifts between forest paths, rocky stretches, and open slopes. Once you get used to how the bike handles, the world opens up. Whether racing solo or with others, Descenders gives endless room to prove skill through speed, precision, and bold moves.

9. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

Intense kart racing that never slows down for a second

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled – Gameplay Launch Trailer

Does it get any more nostalgic than blasting through wild kart races with Crash and friends? This one revives the classic kart racer but adds sharper visuals, more content, and fierce competition. You pick a racer, customize the kart, and dive into races packed with boosters, ramps, and crazy shortcuts. Power-ups play a huge role here. You’ll get different items, from rockets to bombs, during races, and timing them right can flip everything in your favor.

Then comes the online side, where things heat up fast. Competing with real players changes everything since no two opponents drive the same way. You can challenge friends or join public matches for quick races that stay tense until the last lap. The mix of drifting, boosting, and using power-ups creates nonstop, edge-of-the-seat action.

8. Trials Rising

Physics-based stunt racer packed with tricky obstacle courses

Trials Rising: E3 2018 Announcement Trailer | Ubisoft [NA]

If you’re in the mood for something that challenges balance and precision, Trials Rising delivers it in full force. You hop on a dirt bike and ride through obstacle-filled courses packed with ramps, barrels, and moving platforms. The action is side-scrolling, with a focus on timing jumps and landings just right. A small mistake can flip your rider, so keeping steady is the real trick. Courses get crazier as you move ahead, bringing explosive setups and gravity-defying jumps. The faster you reach the finish line, the higher your score climbs.

The real depth appears once you start improving your runs. You can study how your ghost compares with the best players and tweak how you handle jumps and slopes. There are local and online events where riders race side by side to prove who controls their bike better. Plus, the game also features a builder mode where players design wild obstacle runs that stretch imagination to its limit.

7. The Crew 2

Open-world racing across land, air, and sea vehicles

The Crew 2: E3 2017 Cinematic Announcement Trailer | Ubisoft [NA]

Ever imagined jumping from a speeding car straight into a plane mid-race? That’s exactly what The Crew 2 lets you do. It’s an open-world racer where land, air, and sea share the same playground. You can cruise along highways in supercars, soar above cities in stunt planes, or slice through waves on powerful boats. The switch between vehicles happens instantly and completely changes how the race unfolds. Events are spread across different disciplines such as street, off-road, pro racing, and freestyle. You can also change styles anytime.

This variety is what makes The Crew 2 one of the best racing games on Xbox Game Pass. The world stays open for exploration, with challenges waiting in every corner. You can roam solo or join friends to compete in events that stretch across massive routes. The map connects rivers, cities, and open fields into one continuous environment. The Crew 2 delivers complete variety for players who crave constant action.

6. Riders Republic

All-in-one extreme racing game with wild competitive energy

Riders Republic - Official Gameplay Trailer | Ubisoft Forward

Riders Republic is an extreme sports world where bikes, wingsuits, skis, and snowboards share the same space. The world is packed with events that shift between mountain descents, air races, and snowy slopes. You pick what suits your style, and the game never limits your choice of gear. The switch between sports happens fast and smooth, which helps you stay in the flow as you move from biking to flight or snow runs. Massive races fill the screen with riders rushing across cliffs and forests.

Multiplayer turns this freedom into pure competition. Dozens of racers join the same session, all chasing victory through huge arenas built for action. You can customize your gear, upgrade your rides, and show off in events built for skill. In short, Riders Republic gives constant drive through its fast transitions, big events, and packed arenas that never lose momentum.

5. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered

Cops vs racers in a nonstop speed showdown

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered – Official Launch Trailer

This game brings back that classic cop vs racer action that never gets old. You can either play as a racer escaping sirens or as a cop shutting racers down. Both sides have special gadgets like spike strips and EMPs that shake up the chase. The focus is on open-road racing, where every event gives you a new way to experience high-speed mayhem. What hooks players is the rush of dodging near misses and catching that perfect overtake. The sense of speed is insane, and the way the cars roar past traffic just pumps you up.

You can switch sides, so one moment you’re the hunter and the next you’re the target. That back-and-forth system gives endless variety. Multiplayer adds even more energy with friends racing or chasing across wild routes. It’s a solid pick for anyone who loves high-speed competition and wants a taste of those golden arcade racing days within the Xbox Game Pass racing games lineup.

4. The Crew Motorfest

An open-world festival built entirely around racing culture

The Crew Motorfest: Gameplay Premiere Trailer | Ubisoft Forward

In The Crew Motorfest, racing happens across a massive open world filled with cars from different eras and styles. You move through themed playlists centered on street cars, off-road rides, and supercars. These playlists function like festivals where you join events focused on speed, drifting, and stunts. The design celebrates car culture with plenty of customization options. Players can switch between categories and jump into fresh challenges without long waits.

Here, the atmosphere is energetic, with bright visuals and constant events across the map. It’s designed to let players move freely between competitions and explore alongside others in the same world. Vehicles can be upgraded with parts that enhance specific aspects such as speed and handling. Overall, the visuals, sound, and scale turn it into a true celebration of modern car culture.

3. DiRT Rally 2.0

Precision rally racing that demands total control

DiRT Rally 2.0 - Official Launch Trailer

This racer puts you behind the wheel of powerful rally cars on rough terrain. Mud, gravel, and tarmac change how your car moves through a stage. The main challenge comes from reading the road ahead and staying consistent through long runs. Cars react differently depending on weather and surface, so understanding grip and weight balance matters a lot. Damage carries through events, so one crash can affect steering or engine power later. The whole system pushes you to stay accurate through long routes that test patience more than speed.

The detail is what gives DiRT Rally 2.0 its edge. The car interiors are fully detailed, the weather shifts dynamically, and visibility changes as the track gets messy. You listen to a co-driver who calls out directions that guide your next move. Each call matters because there’s no time to stop or check maps mid-race. It’s easily the best rally racing game in the Game Pass library, built for players who love precision and commitment behind the wheel.

2. Wreckfest

Vehicular combat where speed and destruction rule the track

Wreckfest Console Release Trailer

If you’re tired of traditional racing that sticks to clean laps, here’s Wreckfest to break the rulebook. It’s a full-contact racer where metal crushes, bumpers fly, and cars crumble in real time. You’re not only racing to the finish but also smashing through opponents who stand in your way. Each car reacts to damage with visible dents and broken parts, giving every impact real weight. You can choose between classic cars, muscle beasts, or even wild rides like lawnmowers.

Heavier cars crush lighter ones with ease, but smaller vehicles can slip through the chaos faster. The physics engine gives collisions a realistic edge that few racers can match. Online matches double the thrill, with live opponents ramming and defending like mad. Thanks to its unique mix of destruction and driving skill, Wreckfest remains among the most exciting racing games ever made.

1. Forza Horizon 5

Ultimate open-world racer offering hundreds of cars and events

Forza Horizon 5 Official Announce Trailer

The final game on our Xbox Game Pass racing games list has to be Forza Horizon 5. It’s a massive open-world racer that gives players the freedom to explore, compete, and experiment with hundreds of cars. The map is filled with long highways, dirt routes, and wide-open stretches designed for speed and stunts. You can pick any car from your garage and jump into events spread across different terrains. The races range from quick sprints to long-distance challenges that push you to adapt to changing road conditions.

The structure works beautifully for both solo and shared play. You can form convoys with friends, take part in shared events, or compete in massive seasonal tournaments. Customization runs deep as well, allowing you to modify cars with visual upgrades, performance parts, and custom paint jobs. The freedom to explore, compete, and improve creates endless reasons to return. Forza Horizon 5 perfectly captures what modern racing should be: fast, accessible, and full of life.

Amar is a gaming aficionado and freelance content writer. As an experienced gaming content writer, he's always up-to-date with the latest gaming industry trends. When he's not busy crafting compelling gaming articles, you can find him dominating the virtual world as a seasoned gamer.

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