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BestRacing Games for PCWindows Central2020

Jan 16, 2020  These are the best Steam games 2020 on offer, from bona fide classics to new slices of gaming gold, that will keep you entertained for hours on end. Find out which made our best Steam games.

Whether you're looking for serious sim racing or more casual four-wheeled action, there are some really terrific games to whet your appetite on the PC. There really is something for everyone, and these are the racing games you should be playing on your PC.

Video footage of Forza Horizon 4 gameplay taken from Xbox One X at 1080p, 60FPS.

★ Editor's Choice: Forza Horizon 4

Staff favorite

Forza Horizon 4 is the series' most ambitious release yet, with an always-connected open world full of real-life players, weekly season changes, fresh challenges, ranked multiplayer, and a whole lot more. The latest expansion pack even adds Lego to the mix, and while it's hardly realistic racing, it's one of the most fun racing games you'll ever play. And if you also own an Xbox One, it's Play Anywhere-enabled for cross-play and cross-progression between PC and console.

From $30 at Microsoft

GT dreams: Assetto Corsa Competitizione

Staff favorite

Following an early access program, ACC has now properly launched complete with its Blancpain GT license. Like the original Assetto Corsa, it's a stunning-looking game with realistic physics, full wheel support, and a dedicated competitive community. The license is a little niche, but the game is absolutely superb.

$41 at GMG

Ultra realistic: iRacing

iRacing is about as close as you can get to real racing without putting a helmet on. Its ultra-realistic physics is backed up by a great selection of real-life cars and circuits, and there's a massive community of competitive racers to face and series to enter. It's even a favorite of current F1 racers, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, so it can't get a much better endorsement!

From $13/mo. at iRacing

Beginner friendly: Project Cars 2

Project Cars 2 hits the track from a sim-like angle with real tracks, cars, and physics bundled with a thriving competitive scene and excellent VR support. The choice of cars is broad, and for beginners to sim racing, it's one of the more approachable games around.

$14 at GMG

Free to play: Raceroom

Raceroom is another sim with realism at the forefront in a crowded space, but it has plenty to set it apart from the rest. For starters, it's completely free to play, with a selection of cars, tracks, and events available to play without paying. It's a great way to get a feel for sim racing, and with licenses for DTM, WTCR, and WTCC, there are some great series to sink your teeth into.

Free at Steam

Left over crest: DiRT 4

DiRT 4 is a true gem for fans of off-road racing, with different classes of racing to try. It looks incredible, the vehicles behave in a pretty realistic way, and it's a riot, whether playing solo or in online multiplayer. There's even an official esports World Championship if you're really feeling racy.

$7 at GMG

Smashing good: Wreckfest

Racing games always involve crashes, but in Wreckfest, they're encouraged! It's a demolition derby-style racer that also has traditional style racing. Vehicle bodies deform, the physics are surprisingly good, and there's a pretty deep vehicle upgrade system to dive into. Above all, it's massive fun.

$36 at GMG

Full throttle: Forza Motorsport 7

Forza Motorsport 7 isn't a full-on serious sim, nor is it an arcade funfest. Instead, it pulls from some of the best aspects from each genre to create an incredible track racer. The physics are fairly realistic, and thanks to the Race Regulations program, there's now a growing competitive mode for the more serious players. It's some serious eye candy, too.

$40 at Microsoft

Electrifying: rFactor 2

Another serious sim for serious racers, rFactor 2, has been around for several years, getting updates and fresh content to expand its appeal. Particularly good is the force feedback and the physics, and it has also been optimized to make use of multiple CPU cores for maximum performance. It's also the best place to race virtual Formula E if you're looking for that in particular.

$32 at Steam

Open wheel: F1 2019

The official game of the F1 World Championship, F1 2019, is the latest in the series to date with all official drivers, teams, circuits, and liveries from the 2019 season. Customizable liveries have joined the core single-player and multiplayer modes for your online play and the 2019 season F2 cars for an additional challenge.

$16 at GMG

Utterly simtastic

For serious sim racing fans, the place to be is the PC, but it's not all serious all the time. Forza Horizon 4 is utterly stunning and an insane amount of fun, and it supports racing wheels if you want to get a little more immersive. It gets weekly content updates, and there's always something to keep you occupied.

But if you are looking to get serious, there's plenty to choose from. The newest contender, Assetto Corsa Competitizione, should be towards the top of any aspiring sim racers list. The scope of cars and tracks is a little limited compared to some, but with the Blancpain GT license and a blossoming competitive scene, it's one you'll easily pour hundreds of hours into.

The old stalwart, iRacing, is also still worth checking out. The pricing model may suit you, or it may send you running, but at the very least, you need to check it out with the base content. The realism is almost unmatched, there's a neverending collection of competitive series to enter, and it's a favorite of two current F1 drivers, which is a pretty strong endorsement.

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Buyer's guide

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When the weather's too gray to go for a drive, kick it in this collection of recent racing Mac games featuring slick rides and unusual twists and turns.

1. Spectra

Best Steam Racing Game Machine

This twitch racer showcases one of Chipzel's latest albums, allowing the player to experience each of the chiptune tracks on offer by way of luminescent neon fast-paced levels. It's not as complex as Audiosurf, but it has the same joyful spirit and unstoppable vibe.

• $7.49 - Download now

Car Racing Game Download

2. Coffin Dodgers

As far as Mario Kart-inspired games go, Coffin Dodgers has got to be one of the more original takes on the concept. If you've played Mario Kart, then you already know the mechanics in play, but the conceit — elderly folks race on customizable scooters in order to evade the Grim Reaper — is adorable enough to help the game stand out from the crowd.

• $10.99 - Download now

3. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015

If your favorite aspect of racing games is leveling up cars, looking at cars, fixing cars, and thinking about cars ... then this is the 'racing' game for you. Car Mechanic Simulator does exactly what it says on the tin; you'll finally be able to focus on fine-tuning as many vehicles as you want, or at least as many as you can afford. DLC purchases abound, but at least you'll be getting a bang for your buck if this type of game scratches your car collector itch.

• $3.99 - Download now

4. Crash Drive 2

Multiplayer racers that encourage players to ram cars and destroy monster trucks abound, but Crash Drive 2 is one of the few that nails the mechanics without mucking up the carefree simplicity of the demolition derby premise. You can find the game for free on iOS and in browsers, but the $5 Steam version includes an extra copy for a friend, so why not kick the developers some cash?

• $4.99 - Download now

5. Audiosurf 2

I've saved the best for last: Audiosurf 2 is the priciest racer on this list, and with good reason. This rhythm game allows you to import your own music library, after which it will build a racing-themed rhythm track based on your songs' climaxes and cool-downs. New to Audiosurf 2 is a 'surfing' mode that allows players to intentionally distort bits and pieces of songs as they play.

• $14.99 - Download now

Your favorites?

Which racing games have you played on the Mac recently? Share your favorites below.

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