We absolutely love playing racing games here at GameIndustry.com, so we have decided to write a list of our favourite racing games of 2020 to help you see if there are any great games that may be missing from your collection.
We have included video trailers and summaries for every game so you can decide at a glance if that game is right for you.
Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4, wow, what can we say – this is one of our favourite racing games of all time.
The latest iteration of the Forza Horizon franchise brings the Horizon festival to the sleepy English countryside. Offering the latest in state-of-the-art graphics, wonderfully forgiving arcade gameplay, excellent soundtrack, beautifully detailed cars and a whole lot of that Horizon attitude we have come to know and love – Forza Horizon 4 is a must for your collection whether you are a PC or Xbox gamer.
If you have already got number four, then you might want to check out the latest details on its successor: Forza Horizon 5 Release date, trailer and more.
IGN summarized the game well:
“I’ll always have a massive soft spot for the down under delights of Forza Horizon 3, but open-world racing has never looked as good as it does in Forza Horizon 4. It combines a beautiful world that’s really four hugely distinct maps in one with a constantly rewarding and self-renewing racing experience and I really can’t tear myself away from it. Playground Games hasn’t just upped the ante once again; it’s blown the bloody doors off.” – IGN
F1 2019
Building on the success of the formidable F1 2018 racing game, Codemasters pulled out all the stop with F1 2019. With incredibly detailed graphics, sounds, tracks, team structures and real-life drivers, F1 2019 is the perfect way to play out your Lewis Hamilton driver fantasies.
PC Gamer reviewed the game at launch and their highlights were:
“This isn’t a tangible leap forward in the fundamentals of the F1 series—the handling and visuals remain roughly where they were last year, which is to say: excellent. What Codemasters have managed to add into the series in an impressively short span though is a wealth of new solo content that enriches career mode and offers a totally different challenge outside it. Many more hours of online racing will be needed before the strength of its infrastructure can be commented on—but at release, F1 2019 is generous, stable, and thrilling as ever.” – PC Gamer
Assetto Corsa Competizione
Let’s start off by saying that the Assetto Corsa series isn’t for everyone. It is a game that has indie roots and that does show in its lack of polish, however, if you are after a serious driver simulator, then Assetto Corsa Competizione is for you.
This is a game that is designed for SIM rigs, the physics engine is fiendishly accurate and if you think the Forza series is for kids, then Assetto Corsa Competizione is going to blow you away.
Eurogamer gave a pretty harsh review of the game on launch, citing a myriad of development issues and bugs but summarized it positively:
“Work at it, though – and have some faith that this port will have a bit more work put into it over the coming weeks – and there’s something pretty special here, though it’s worth knowing what you’re getting yourself into. If crawling around a track on your outlap as you gingerly get heat into the tires and brakes before really committing, or trawling forums for ideal force feedback settings or camber rates for certain tracks doesn’t sound like your idea of fun, you might want to steer clear. Assetto Corsa Competizione is a proper sim, for better and for worse – and for its many faults, it may well be the finest sim that’s ever found its way to a home console.” – Eurogamer
Project Cars 2
Project Cars 2 is an excellent racing game that cuts a neat line between the more arcade based gameplay of the Forza Horizon series, and the SIM friendly Assetto Corsa. It is a game that adheres to realism, but, it wants you to excel behind the virtual wheel.
There is a huge selection of cars to chose from, a solid single player mode, excellent multiplayer options and the icing on the cake is the weather system. This highly detailed weather engine is going to definitely keep you on your toes!
Luke Reilly from IGN gave the game a glowing review, summarized by:
“Project CARS 2 is really the best kind of racing game sequel: one that’s improved so meaningfully it’s hard to go back to the previous instalment. The handling is utterly remarkable on a wheel or a pad, the expanded track selection is unmatched and boasts dynamic time and weather on every one, the much-improved car selection hits a whole host of fan-favourite beats, and the sound is seriously stunning. For solo players there’s an absolute ocean of content, and the multiplayer suite seems well-poised to pick up where the original Project CARS left off – while adding a pile of esports-friendly set-up options and broadcast-style flourishes to boot.” – IGN
Dirt Rally 2
Dirt Rally 2 is a very interesting game, it is not so much a pick-up-and-play type of racing game, but, if you are a true rallycross fan, you will love this game.
You are going to need to work closely with your co-driver while piloting state of the art rally cars around punishing special stages/tracks. A sophisticated damage model will quickly show you any driving mistakes and be warned, you will be doing a lot of those!
Once you master the basics, this is an incredibly rewarding game, whose minute details will delight any rally fan.
The latest in Codemaster’s Dirt Rally franchise launched to great applause, as summarized by this Eurogamer review:
“And when the driving is of such exceptional quality I’m more than willing to overlook Dirt Rally 2.0’s faults. Go beyond that core and Dirt Rally 2.0 can feel like it’s held together with tie clips and gaffer tape, and after some of the glitzier entries in the series’ past it certainly feels more like a clubman racer. Anyone who’s ever braved a rainy Sunday to watch a 750MC meeting will tell you that’s where the really good stuff happens, though, and Dirt Rally 2.0 is part of the new Codemasters – the one that brought us the equally brilliant F1 2018 – that indulges its passion for motorsport. It’s deep, involving and crafted with love, and you can’t help but love it back in turn. The original Dirt Rally made a convincing claim at being the best off-road sim to date. I think its sequel can lay claim to being one of the best driving experiences available right now.” – Eurogamer