The Xbox Series X has some insanely powerful components under the hood, so it’s only appropriate to showcase its capabilities with stunning racing games. Although the titles currently available for the console are few, these games give us a glimpse into the future of driving simulation.
This article highlights some of the best racing games for the Xbox Series X. While some of these titles are from the previous generation, they have been optimized to take full advantage of current-generation hardware.
We intentionally excluded racing games that are playable on the console but aren’t optimized for it. These include Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and Forza Motorsport 7. On the other hand, we included some future releases that are sure to get your engines revving.
Contents of this Page
| Preview | Product | Publisher | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | DIRT 5 | Codemasters | |
 | Forza Horizon 4 | Microsoft Studios | |
 | WRC FIA World Rally Championship | Nacon | |
 | Monster Energy Supercross 4 | Milestone | |
| RIDE 4 | Milestone | |
 | Monster Truck Championship | Nacon |
Best Racing Games on Xbox Series X
DIRT 5
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Codemasters
Release Date: November 6, 2020
ESRB Rating: Everyone
DIRT 5 caught a lot of attention when it was first announced as a launch title for the Xbox Series X. This game lets you take a road trip around the world, featuring nearly a hundred routes across ten global locations. Take on opponents on the stunning off-road tracks of cities like New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Cape Town!
DIRT 5 has a diverse roster of vehicles that can conquer the toughest terrains and create highlight-reel moments, including rally cars, sprint cars, muscle cars, buggies, grand tourers, and trophy trucks. Build the ultimate garage for off-road racing and beat all your opponents in online multiplayer!
The comprehensive career mode puts you under the tutelage of an icon as you move up the ranks to become the new star of off-road racing. You can earn sponsorships and unique rewards throughout the journey as you take on fierce rivals.
Forza Horizon 4
Developer: Playground Games
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: October 2, 2018
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Forza Horizon 4 is an online open-world car racing game that revolves around an illustrious automotive festival held in Great Britain. The world updates weekly and is populated by real players, so when the time of day, weather, and seasons change, everyone experiences it at the same time.
Although Horizon 4 is primarily an online game, it has an open-ended campaign where everything you do affects your progression. Indulge in breathtaking sceneries while taking on fierce competitors on the road with a massive roster of cars from licensed manufacturers.
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship
Developer: KT Racing
Publisher: Nacon
Release Date: September 8, 2020
ESRB Rating: Everyone
WRC 9 is an off-road simulation based on the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship. It features official drivers and cars in three different categories with improved physics, redesigned environments, and new pacenotes to get you immersed in rallying.
WRC 9 introduces three new international locations, over a hundred stages, and a host of classic rally cars to celebrate the history of the sport. It also has new game modes designed to accommodate the demands of the community, including a club system that allows players to create their own events and compete in them online.
Monster Energy Supercross 4
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
Release Date: March 11, 2021
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Monster Energy Supercross 4 is the official game of the AMA Supercross Championship. It features a career mode that lets you experience rising from the amateurs to the professionals. You can learn riding abilities, earn sponsors, and challenge the toughest adversaries in the 250SX and 450SX categories.
Supercross 4 has an editor that enables you to build unique tracks and share them with the world. It also includes over a hundred official brands for customizing your bikes and riders.
This game features a new compound where you can explore, train, and challenge your friends to a competition. Choose from over a hundred official riders over different categories and race in stadiums and tracks of the season!
RIDE 4
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
Release Date: October 8, 2020
ESRB Rating: Everyone
RIDE 4 offers an exciting and realistic gaming experience for motorcycle enthusiasts. This game features hundreds of licensed bikes and dozens of detailed tracks from all around the world. It also introduces a revolutionary neural artificial intelligence system based on machine learning that significantly improves the competitiveness of opposing riders.
The comprehensive career mode lets you carve your own path from the regional events up to the professional leagues. Compete in challenging races, ability tests, and other events to gain the attention of fans and fellow riders. You could even become an official tester for licensed manufacturers!
RIDE 4 features a dynamic weather conditions system and a complete day and night cycle. Race in varying conditions and prove that you can win under any circumstance. If you want to compete against other riders in online multiplayer, RIDE 4 has dedicated servers to provide a complete and lag-free experience.
Endurance mode is arguably the most thrilling aspect of RIDE 4. It puts your strategy and stamina to the test as you participate in extensive races with adrenaline-charged pit stops.
RIDE 4 has a graphics editor that supports plenty of official brands for your bikes, suits, and helmets. You can even share your creations online! While it may lack certain sponsorships compared to licensed MotoGP and Supercross games, it has more than enough designs to keep your creative juices flowing.
Monster Truck Championship
Developer: Teyon
Publisher: Nacon
Release Date: October 20, 2020
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Monster Truck Championship lets you get behind the wheels of colossal machines and compete in drag races and freestyle competitions. This game features plenty of monster trucks that you can tune and customize before pulling off donuts, wheelies, and bicycles in the arenas.
Monster Truck Championship faithfully reproduces the unique demands of learning to drive a monster truck. That means you have to master technical skills like independent front and rear wheel management, mass transfer anticipation during bends, and bounce prediction after jumps.
This game features three leagues and a multitude of arenas where you can participate in online competitions against up to seven opponents for some tense white-knuckle thrills!
Upcoming Racing Games for the Xbox Series X
The future is looking excellent for racing simulation enthusiasts as a few titles of the genre are slated to be released very soon. Check them out below, and start saving some money!
F1 2021
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Release Date: July 16, 2021
ESRB Rating: Everyone
F1 2021 is the official video game of the 2021 Formula One World Championship. It introduces new features to the series, including a thrilling story mode, a multiplayer career mode, and three new circuits (Portimão, Imola, and Jeddah). It also has a new mode called Real-Season Start, which enables you to begin at any point in the season with real-time constructor standings.
The story mode lets you experience the highs and lows of life as a racing driver. It reintroduces Devon Butler as your fiercest rival after making his debut in F1 2019.
F1 2021 features an authentic lineup of drivers and teams from the current season and is now available for pre-order at the Microsoft Store. Immerse yourself in the greatest racing spectacle on the planet!
MotoGP 21
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
Release Date: April 22, 2021
ESRB Rating: Everyone
MotoGP 21 is the official video game for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship. It is touted as the most realistic and immersive installment of the franchise and features over a hundred official riders and various adrenaline-pumping tracks.
MotoGP 21 offers plenty of game modes to get you immersed in the experience. It gives you full control of your crew in career mode as you find the winning strategy to dominate the tracks. If you’re feeling competitive, you can create your own events and play with your friends in online multiplayer. You can even relive the history of the event with historic riders and their iconic motorcycles.
On the racetrack, your decision-making has a significant effect on the outcome of the race. You must keep an eye on your fuel level, brake temperature, and tire wear and decide to make a pit stop based on your riding style and race conditions. Every second counts, so you must get back on the bike as fast as possible if you crash!
The improved graphics editors let you customize your helmet, suit, stickers, racing number, and livery, allowing you to conquer the tacks in style. MotoGP 21 is now available for pre-order at the Microsoft Store.
Forza Motorsport
Developer: Turn 10 Studios
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: TBA
ESRB Rating: Pending
Forza Motorsport has been announced for the Xbox Series X, bringing the acclaimed racing series to the latest gaming generation. The game is currently in development, and very few details have been revealed. It is expected to take full advantage of the console’s powerful hardware and utilize ray tracing technology.
The announcement trailer was captured completely in-engine, and it looks absolutely stunning. The initial release date is yet to be disclosed, but speculations suggest that it should be available sometime next year.
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
Release Date: September 30, 2021
ESRB Rating: Everyone
Hot Wheels Unleashed is a fast-paced arcade racing game that provides fun and chaotic gameplay for the whole family. You can collect the most sought-after cars, build thrilling tracks, and participate in breathtaking races. It integrates arcade mechanics like charge, boost, and loops to create some of the wildest races.
Unleashed features an exclusive livery editor that lets you customize your cars and stand out from the pack. If you want to compete with your friends and family at home, it has a split-screen multiplayer mode to provide fun during gatherings.
The enormous environments are interactive and have distinguishing features. Surrounding objects can affect the outcome of the race, so you must be extra careful!
If you’re feeling creative, Unleashed lets you build your own track with its comprehensive editor. You can set traps, place loops, boosters, obstacles, and other special elements to keep your opponents guessing. Create mesmerizing layouts inside and outside the racecourse! You can also share your creations with the online community.
Unleashed is currently available for pre-order at the Microsoft Store. Grab it now to get a free pack with two vehicles.
Quick Recap
The 6 Best Racing Games for the Xbox Series X
- DIRT 5
- Forza Horizon 4
- WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship
- Monster Energy Supercross 4
- RIDE 4
- Monster Truck Championship
Best Upcoming Racing Games for the Xbox Series X
Final Words
That concludes our comprehensive review of the best racing games for the Xbox Series X. Whether you prefer rough roads or race tracks, there’s a title on this list for you. Which games are you most excited to experience yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
