Top 8 Car Racing Games to Master in 2025 (And How to Get Started)

I am Detelpa Sumaro, Racing Game Addict. 2025 is stacked with car games that’ll make your heart race faster than a Bugatti on nitro. But with so many options, where do you even start? Don’t sweat it. I’ve spent way too many nights glued to my screen (RIP my sleep schedule) to curate this list. These 10 games will test your skills, blow your mind. Oh, and stick around for the pro tips. I’ll show you how to dive into each game without face-planting on the first lap. Buckle up!

1. Forza Horizon 5

If you haven’t tried this yet, what are you even doing with your life? You’re tearing through sun-soaked Mexican jungles in a neon-pink Koenigsegg. Dodging llamas, and catching air off volcanic ridges. Yeah, it’s as ridiculous as it sounds and I’m here for it.

Why 2025? The devs just dropped a Rally Adventure DLC that’s pure chaos. Perfect for adrenaline junkies.

How to Start?

Steal my strategy: Grind the “Goliath” race early. It’s a 50km monster, but the payout buys you your first supercar. Trust me, it’s worth the cramping thumbs. Don’t sleep on tuning! Slap a rally suspension on that Aston Martin unless you wanna bounce like a kangaroo on steroids.

2. Gran Turismo 7

Not everyone wants to yeet a Ferrari off a cliff. You’re the type who polishes virtual brake pads? Gran Turismo 7 is your holy grail. The physics here are so real. I swear my couch starts vibrating during rain races.

Why 2025? The PSVR2 update. Dude. Strapping that headset on feels like stealing a racecar IRL. Keep a bucket nearby if you’re prone to motion sickness.

How to Start?

Start with the Music Rally mode. It’s low-stakes and weirdly hypnotic. Like Guitar Hero, but with a Toyota Supra. Don’t blow all your credits on a McLaren right away. The used car lot has hidden gems (hello, 2002 Subaru Impreza!).

3. Drift Boss

Alright, let’s take a breather from the hardcore sims. You wanna drift without memorizing gear ratios? Enter Drift Boss. This browser-based gem is my go-to when I’m too lazy to boot up the PS5.

The concept’s simple: tap to drift, don’t crash. But oh man, it’s addictive. The longer you slide, the higher your score. I’ve lost hours trying to beat my buddy’s high score.

Why 2025? It’s the ultimate “5-minute break” game. Boss breathing down your neck? Tab over to Drift Boss, nail a few drifts, and pretend you’re working on spreadsheets.

How to Start?

Focus on timing over speed. Wait for the turns to tighten before tapping. It’s the difference between a smooth slide and a fiery wreck. Chain drifts on straightaways by lightly tapping. It feels like cheating, but hey, all’s fair in love and drifting.

4. F1 23

F1 23 is a full-blown workout. My arms ache after nailing Monaco’s hairpins. My ego? Bruised after spinning out on lap 1. But man, when you nail that perfect pit strategy? Chef’s kiss.

Why 2025? The Red Flags update finally lets you restart races after crashes. Thank you, Codemasters, for saving my controller from another wall-shaped dent.

How to Start?

Crank up the Braking Assist until you learn the tracks. Your future self will thank you when you’re not DNF-ing every race. Play with a wheel if you can. My Thrustmaster setup made me feel 10% more like Max Verstappen (and 100% more like a dork).

5. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2

Remember your mom’s living room into a Hot Wheels death track? Unleashed 2 is that childhood fantasy dialed to 11. We’re talking loop-de-loops on skyscrapers. Yes, they jump through exploding volcanoes. Ahhh freaking velociraptor car. It’s unapologetically silly, and I’m obsessed.

Why 2025? The new “Create Your Own Car” mode. I built a monstrosity shaped like a pizza slice. It handles like garbage, but do I care? Nope.

How to Start?

Master the boost economy. Save your nitro for uphill sections. Gravity’s a cruel mistress here. Don’t sleep on the story mode. The cutscenes are goofy AF. The unlocks are worth it.

6. Need for Speed Unbound

Alright, let’s switch lanes to something that’ll make your inner rebel scream, “Cops? Pfft, catch me if you can!” Need for Speed Unbound is like Fast & Furious meets a graffiti artist’s fever dream. The cel-shaded effects? Chef’s kiss. Your car leaves neon trails, characters drop anime-level one-liners, and the cops? Let’s just say they’ve upgraded from donuts to helicopters.

Why 2025? The Underground Legends DLC dropped last month. Adding classic rides like the ’99 Skyline. Cue the Tokyo Drift nostalgia.

How to Start?

Steal my starter car: the Honda Civic Type R. It’s cheap, zippy, and drifts like it’s on buttered ice. Don’t get greedy with heat levels. Outrun cops at Level 5. Its like trying to fistfight a tornado.

7. Wreckfest

Wreckfest isn’t a racing game. It’s a demolition derby disguised as one. Imagine a combine harvester plowing through a field of Mini Coopers. Or a school bus racing… on ice. It’s gloriously unhinged. My friend Dave once yelled, “I’M DRIVING A SOFA!” during split-screen. We haven’t stopped laughing since.

Why 2025? The modding community is wild. Last week, I raced as a literal shopping cart. 10/10, would crash again.

How to Start?

Play the 24-player demolition servers. Pure chaos. Pure joy. Don’t waste upgrades on speed. Armor up! Surviving the first lap is a flex.

8. Trackmania

Trackmania is the game you play when you want to feel like a genius… until you realize you’re 0.001 seconds behind the global leader. It’s a time-trial obsession with tracks that defy physics. Lloops, jumps, and magnetic walls. I’ve restarted the same map 87 times. 87.

Why 2025? The new Stadium Remix season has tracks designed by streamers. Shoutout to the one that looks like a DNA helix. Science, baby!

How to Start?

Bind “restart” to a mouse button. Your F key will thank you. Watch the top replays. Their lines are smoother than a jazz saxophonist.

Reference: https://driftbosscc.blogspot.com/2025/02/top-8-car-racing-games-to-master-in.html