It's the most wonderful time of the year and almost the end of the year too. 2021 has produced some fantastic racing games. It's been another great 12 months for the racing genre, particularly on Xbox. Both the One and the Series X/S have had some fantastic titles to write home about.
So, with all that in mind, we've selected the best racing games that were released on Xbox in 2021!
#5 - WRC 10
It's no secret that real-world sports have been limited in where they can travel to over the last 18 months. The full original 2021 calendar is absolutely intact in this game.
That's certainly the case with WRC 10, as the multiplayer and competitive online modes have gone to the next level. Every cloud has a silver lining though, and the one in this case is that esports have been able to flourish.
Our sole criticism of WRC 10 is that it has evolved quite as much from WRC 9. What remains though, is a full and engrossing Career Mode. This also includes additional historical content like classic rally cars. Because it's also available on Series X, WRC 10 is the best-looking rally game we've ever seen as well.
#4 - Riders Republic
While MXGP 2020 is a solid contender for offroad bike game of the year, we're going to stick our necks out and go for Riders Republic. There simply aren't enough extreme sports games out there, but Rider Republic helps plug that gap in the market. Riders Republic also includes content for snowboarding, cycling, skiing and even wingsuit gliding.
Some of the controls may be clunky at times and it isn't the easiest to get to grips with at first because of it.
If you want an all-out action-orientated arcade racer though, this is the place to be. Riders Republic has brilliant replay-ability and a fantastic amount of content to try, it just doesn't get old. Definitely give this a go for both Xbox One and Series X!
#3 - Microsoft Flight Simulator
While this isn't a racing game in the traditional sense, Microsoft Flight Simulator is definitely a game that qualifies for this list. This game rewards skill and vehicle control, all while being a race against time and the elements.
As the name suggests, this is the ultimate flight simulator experience, all from the comfort of your own home. Earlier this year, and for the first time ever, MFS was released on console.
Out of all the simulator games, MFS is the most realistic out there. It's sim model is something to be marvelled at and one that even Gran Turismo 7 will have a hard time matching.
#2 - F1 2021
Codemasters somehow find a way to keep raising their own bar with the official Formula 1 games. F1 2021 is yet another impressive title in this series and we think it's one of the best racing game of the year.
The graphical and audio presentation are better than ever on the next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X. Furthermore, the amazing Braking Point story mode has also been a very welcome addition.
Meanwhile, previous game modes like the Career Mode and My Team feel as fresh and polished as ever. This is in part thanks to additions such as legendary drivers and the recent Formula 2 2021 update. Impressively, circuits such as Jeddah and Imola have been added post-release, keeping the game fresh even going into the new year.
#1 - Forza Horizon 5
The next Forza Motorsport still doesn't have a release date, but Xbox players haven't missed out on a Forza game on the Series X. That's thanks to Forza Horizon 5, the latest in a series that just keeps on delivering. Horizon is a series that's completely unique, as it's both a racing sim and has a huge sandbox to explore.
Those elements give Horizon 5 the perfect blend of simulator and arcade to make a fun and realistic experience. Mexico was chosen as the location for Horizon 5 and it's absolutely beautiful. Mexico has a vast array of environments to explore, from jungle to desert, to even snowy mountains.
There's a massive number of cars and events to take part in, all of which are fun and exciting, just like the previous iterations were. Put simply, this will be the best racing games on Xbox for some time to come. Unbelievably too, if you have Game Pass Gold, you can try Horizon 5 for absolutely free! Get downloading, you won't regret it.