Best driving and racing video games of 2025

Ever wanted to tear along city streets like Lewis Hamilton, or drive up a volcano while throwing banana peels at other motorists?

It may sound like an impossible dream, but all you need is the right video game.

So, whether you’ve got an Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch or a PC, we look at some of the best car games for the driving enthusiast in your life!

Exo Rally Championship

From the creator of the breakout hit Exo One comes a bold new adventure: Exo Rally Championship - the galaxy’s most extreme off-road racing competition. Welcome to the final frontier of motorsport - remote, uncharted exoplanets where danger and speed collide.

Take control of high-tech rovers equipped with advanced RCS thrusters in a brutally authentic racing simulation. Navigate treacherous alien terrain on procedurally generated stages packed with punishing weather and unpredictable surfaces.

Compete in a career mode inspired by the great rally traditions of Earth, customsing, tuning, and repairing your vehicle to withstand the harshest environments the universe has to offer.

Challenge your skills, defy the elements, and push your machine to the limit as you race toward the coveted Exo Rally Championship title. Start as an underdog, rise through the ranks, and go head-to-head with elite teams in the most intense rallying event beyond Earth.

Ride 5

RIDE 5 is the latest installment in Milestone's acclaimed motorcycle racing series, and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

The game offers over 200 bikes from renowned manufacturers and more than 35 tracks across four continents. Enhanced physics and dynamic weather systems deliver a realistic riding experience.

New features include a narrated career mode, cross-play multiplayer, and a customisable Race Creator. 

RIDE 5 elevates the motorcycle sim experience with lifelike visuals, detailed bike models, and refined handling mechanics.

Its dynamic weather and time-of-day transitions affect racing conditions in real time, demanding strategic adaptation. With robust single-player content and competitive online features, RIDE 5 is the definitive two-wheeled racing simulation for next-gen consoles.

MOTOGP 25

MotoGP 25, also developed by Milestone, is the latest installment in the series, and features all riders and tracks from the 2025 MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 seasons, including the return of Brno and the debut of Balaton Park.

This year's career mode has been enhanced with a new system, allowing players to influence their path, objectives, and rivals throughout the season. 

Built using Unreal Engine 5, MotoGP 25 delivers stunning, accurate visuals and realistic bike sounds, enhancing the immersive racing experience.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master

JDM: Japanese Drift Master blends realistic simcade physics for a seamless experience, whether you’re using a controller or sim racing hardware. Explore hundreds of kilometers of open-world roads in the fictional Guntama prefecture, inspired by Honshu, with dynamic weather and a day-night cycle.

Customise licensed cars from iconic brands like Mazda, Nissan, and Subaru at the paint shop and tuner. Perfect your drifting skills across various events, including races and drift battles.

Dive into the story of a foreigner aiming to conquer Japan’s drifting scene, told through manga-style pages. Enjoy authentic car sounds and a fitting soundtrack for every drive.

And for 2026...GTA VI

Coming in May 2026, perhaps the most anticipated game of all time - GTA VI.

Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) is the next entry in Rockstar Games’ iconic open-world crime series. Set in a modern reimagining of Vice City, the game promises a vast, dynamic world with evolving storylines, immersive characters, and cutting-edge graphics.

Featuring a dual-protagonist narrative and expanded criminal underworld gameplay, GTA VI pushes boundaries in scale, realism, and storytelling.

Fans can expect a groundbreaking experience that redefines the future of open-world gaming.