Racing games is the genre that has been present since the beginning of the gaming industry. At first, those were simple sprites with obstacles coming their way every few moments. Nowadays, it’s a giant industry with super-realistic cars, tuning, performance modifications, and lots and lots of fuel-based fun!

This article will review the best open-world racing games on the market. Each has many different game modes to enjoy; you can roam freely through the giant maps, choose races you want to interact with, have some 1v1 online challenges, or just simply…drive. Sometimes, it’s the best fun you can ever have.

So, if you like some excellent racing games to enjoy in your spare time and want to find some great picks for you to enjoy, check out our list! Let’s dive in!

• Release Date: November 2019

• Developer: Ghost Games

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

• Meta Score: 74/100

First, we have one of the most extended running series ever introduced to gamers – Need for Speed. It’s also one of the most popular series, with millions of gamers worldwide. Today, we’ll focus on Need For Speed: Heat, one of the best examples of the open-world racing game ever. It has many multiplayer game modes and city streets for you to explore, and it’s just a great game all around.

So, what exactly are we looking at with Need For Speed: Heat? Well, it’s where you can become an open-world racer in an arcade-style fashion, with massive car customization to change your vehicle and some of the most exciting cars ever driven on the streets. Street racers dance during the night races or in the morning – it doesn’t matter; the only thing that does is style and the first-place prize!

Additionally, as the racing genre enjoys anniversaries, it’s the 25th anniversary of the Need for Speed saga, so you can expect much additional content. A lot of time has passed since the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit games that put the series on a map and Underground/Underground 2 that reignited the passion for street racing.

Regarding gameplay, the game offers a massive map, open-world driving, and races where you can earn money to get new cars. Apart from the usual sprints and circuits, you can use police chases and modify your favorite car to become the menace of the streets you have always envisioned. 

So, if you have to choose only one game from the Need for Speed series, this is a great choice. It sure is worth recommending.

• Release Date: November 2021

• Developer: Playground Games

• Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

• Meta Score: 91/100

Next, we have the Forza Horizon 5, the latest addition to the Forza Horizon game family. Well, at least at the moment of writing this article. The fifth installment is bigger, better, and even more engaging. The Forza Horizon games hit that sweet spot between arcade-like Need for Speed driving and Forza Motorsport professional simulation. In this installment, you have multiple open-world racers from all over the world that you can challenge, many different race types, with some special events coming up every month, and, well, a fictional version of a Mexican city that is stunning visually.

This game is great for casual players and the more advanced ones. You can enjoy some brand new machines, classic cars, multiple customization options, and a beautiful open world that you can enjoy by simply driving on the open road. 

Many players have praised the game for the driving aspect, visuals, and realistic portrayal of the cars. Compared to the previous games, there are plenty of new vehicles, even those that you would not expect in the racing game, such as the 1972 Reliant Supervan III used for food delivery or the 1962 Peel P50, the 0.048-liter single-cylinder engine making four horsepower. It’s a bike at this point.

So, if you want a game that will test your abilities while allowing you to enjoy yourself quite a bit, Forza Horizon is a beautiful game with tons and tons of content that only grows with time.

• Release Date: February 2011

• Developer: Eden Games

• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360

• Meta Score: 72/100

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is another game on our list, and what a title it is! It’s a sequel to the beautiful Test Drive Unlimited, arguably the best and one of the first open-world racing games on such a scale. And – it even has a plot!

You are The Player (you can name yourself however you want; no one will refer to you by name), working as a valet in Ibiza. Your employer is Tess Wintory, who hosts Solar Crown, one of the most significant racing events ever. One day, you come late, so she wants to fire you, but – PLOT TWIST – Tess sees your passion for cars and asks you to drive her to the Sant Antoni de Portmany club. Additionally, one racer could not make it, so you enter the competition in their place. And so – it begins!

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is an incredible experience because it takes place on two beautiful islands of Ibiza and Oahu, with different landscapes and many environments.

Additionally, you get to drive during the day, and there’s a pretty cool night mode where you can compete in the more “underground” version of the usual races. And – you have plenty to drive with, as the game has over 100 cars from the most well-known manufacturers in the world. You have your Aston Martins, Ferraris, Mercedes-Benz – everything you could have imagined – it’s all in there! 

So, if you like exploring and just driving top-of-the-top cars – this game is undoubtedly for you. It may not be as demanding as Forza Horizon, but it has some classes you can’t overlook.

• Release Date: May 2021

• Developer: ​​Saber Interactive

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series One, Nintendo Switch

• Meta Score: 82/100

And now, for something completely different – Snowrunner. You thought it would all be fun and games in this article, right? Well, welcome to the hard work of Snowrunner! When it comes to realistic driving – it’s as close as you can get. Well, if by realistic, you mean getting through snow masses, driving to deliver cargo, and just putting lots and lots of hard work into getting even 100 meters forward.

There are plenty of missions for you to explore in this open-world experience. It’s a beautiful simulation at the start and even more fun when you get into the details. In this game, you will not only be able to see beautiful landscapes and breathtaking scenarios, but you will also drive big trucks and actual heavy vehicles that you may not have seen before. There are 40 cars in this game, with brands like Ford, Freightliner, and Chevrolet famous in the heavy machinery industry.

Your job is to complete the objectives of each mission, go through mud and frozen lakes, and fulfill your contracts. You can upgrade your cars, get new parts, and even entirely new vehicles with the money earned. It may not be a racing game per se, but it’s a vast and fantastic world for you to explore, and considering how many critics praised this game for its real-life approach and demanding gameplay – it’s a great choice if you want to try something new and unusual.

• Release Date: May 2018

• Developer: Ivory Tower

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia

• Meta Score: 69/100

And now, let’s get into something less “simulator-like” – The Crew 2. This racing game is different from everything you have seen on this list. You will be able to use cars to become the best driver on the map and motorcycles, planes, and even boats. This is an all-rounder, as it allows you to utilize many different types of vehicles across fictional representations of the United States. It’s a free-roaming game with an open world, where you can do pretty much anything you set your mind to.

There are plenty of different physics types for off-road, street racing, flying, and swimming, so be sure to match all of those equally. The most crucial aspect, of course, is to create a crew. Similarly to what we have seen in the first title, you will create a group of multiple players with different abilities to maximize your chances of winning. 

You can go for co-op play or fight against real-life drivers worldwide in a multiplayer cooperative session. In addition to the four disciplines you have in the game – Street Racing, Off-Road, Freestyle, and Pro Racing, you also have multiple boss-like events that you can go for together and get all the benefits as a team.

The game has a Need for Speed-esque storyline, where you just need to be the best like no one ever was, so if you like this kind of racing drama – there’s much more where that came from.

When it comes to the vehicles – you’ve got yourself a treat. You have the greatest, the strongest, the most advanced cars to ever see the light of day, all in one game. Famous Bugatti, Porches, and many, many more!

• Release Date: August 2013

• Developer: BeamNG GmbH

• Platforms: PC

• Meta Score: N/D

Snap back to reality with BeamNG.Drive, another simulator on our list. It is considered the single best game regarding the soft-body physics of the car that has ever been created. It’s the ultimate driving experience, and there are plenty of reasons to try it out! Of course, it would be much better with some steering wheel and pedals, but a gamepad is also a good choice.

Although it came out in 2013, it’s still considered one of the most advanced body physics-based games in history. The dynamics of the road visibly influence every car component, and you can easily see how this realism can translate into a wonderful gaming experience!

This immersive simulation offers boundless possibilities. With plenty of diverse game modes, you can put this theory to the test in countless ways! For starters, you have your time trials free roams to explore the map. Additionally, there are multiple campaigns for you to finish, bus mode to find if you would like to be a driver, or you can create your very own track. The possibilities are endless!

An interesting addition to the experience is how weather impacts your driving experience, whether it's the basic effects of gravity and wind or the more advanced challenges posed by rain and snow. It's a true-to-life representation, so there is no sliding the railroads in this one. And, if you play against other players – you can even use cannons in order to destroy your opponents' vehicle. Bet you did not see that coming, did you?

BeamNG.drive may still be an early access kind of game, and the full version is being developed in the meantime, but it can still be a great one that many people enjoy worldwide!

• Release Date: August 2011

• Developer: Ubisoft Reflections

• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X

• Meta Score: 80/100

And finally, we have the Driver San Francisco. It used to be a series competing with Grand Theft Auto, but nowadays – it’s lost its touch. Nevertheless, going back to the gold ages of the Driver Series – this is definitely a gem.

You assume the role of FBI agent John Tanner, tasked with pursuing the notorious Charles Jericho. After Jericho escapes a Turkish hospital and returns to the United States, you and your partner, Tobias Jones, successfully arrest him in San Francisco. However, the plot takes an unexpected turn when Jericho manages to break free from the prison convoy, setting the stage for an adrenaline-pumping chase through the vibrant and dynamic city of San Francisco.

When it comes to the gameplay itself, there are a lot of similarities between this title and Criterion Games, especially with special powers and effects. In this one, you use something called Shift, where you can teleport from one car to another.

After not-that-well-received Driv3r, the game went back to what made it popular in the first place – driving, doing missions, and racing other players in a street-race kind of fashion. Of course, there is always a good reason to start playing this game, as you have many fantastic cars to choose from, unlike its main competitor, GTA. Here, everything is licensed and available for you to enjoy. The staple brands for this one are definitely Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Cadillac, Chevrolet, DeLorean, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hummer, Lamborghini, Lincoln, McLaren, Pagani, Ruf, Shelby, and Volkswagen.

Driver San Francisco is not your everyday racing game, as there is a lot more going on in this title than just simply going in circles, trying to get the best time. As we have mentioned before, it’s a highly narrative-driven story, with lots and lots of game features being connected to what you need to do in order to catch the bad guy. In our book – it’s a definitive plus!

And here we are, at the end of our road! We have been high and low, we flew planes, we had fun with friends, and overall – had a lot of driving around! When it comes to exploration aspects of those games, physics, simulation style, or more arcade – you will find all of it and more!

The best aspect of those titles is definitely the diversity. There are plenty of things to discover, multiple roads and highways – from Mexico, through the United States, and even Europe – those open-world racing games are some of the most breathtaking titles we have ever seen! And, if you like to race with cops or do some missions as an FBI agent, maybe listen to some exciting music during a pursuit – you will find something for yourself for sure.

We did not include some games we deemed too out of the ordinary, like Burnout Paradise or My Summer Car, but there are plenty of other ones for you to enjoy. We hope that you find something for yourself among those fantastic titles, all of which are available at Royal CD Keys for a great price!

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