Besides action & adventure, first-person shooters, and RPGs (role-playing games), one of the most popular video game genres that players still can’t seem to get enough of is the racing genre.
If you enjoy playing racing games on a PC, mobile device, traditional gaming console, or handheld console, and want to know if there are any new games worth checking out in 2025, you’ve come to the right place.
Other things we will be discussing on this page are why racing games are so popular, how they are leading innovation in the wider video game development sector, how car-themed online casino games are growing in popularity, whether car racing games and gambling can co-exist on the same platform, and what the future may hold for gaming and gambling crossovers in 2025.
What’s Fuelling the Popularity of Racing Games in 2025?
Car racing games have been a firm favourite with gaming enthusiasts ever since those early titles, such as:
- Out Run
- Pole Position
- Micro Machines
- Rad Racer
- Pitstop,
- Super Mario Kart
When you look back at the world’s oldest racing video games, the gameplay was rather basic, and the graphics, sound effects, and animated sequences were rather crude, but they were (and still are) immensely enjoyable to play.
The reason why racing video games have and always will be popular is because of the thrill of the race/competition, the fast-paced action, the immersive and engaging experience of being in control of a vehicle, and the sense of satisfaction when finishing races ahead of other players.
These games have come a very long way over the past three decades, and today, many of the blockbuster racing games are well-known in the gaming world for their high-end, hyper-realistic graphics and animations, which have made the experience of playing them even more thrilling.
Improved game engines, as well as far more powerful PCs, mobile devices and consoles, cutting-edge live streaming capabilities, cloud gaming/computing technology, advancements in simulation technology, generative AI, and many other technological innovations have helped push the boundaries of what is possible in this gaming genre.
Forza Horizon 5 and Gran Turismo 7, for example, are two of the racing genre’s most graphically demanding and hugely popular titles that every petrol head should check out. Others include Assetto Corsa Competizione, F1 24, EA Sports WRC, and Le Mans Ultimate, to name a few.
Besides hardcore simulation racers, you can also find plenty of arcade-style racers and many other types of car racing-themed video games to suit all types of players.
Are Racing Games Leading Innovation in the Wider Gaming Market?
Yes, vehicle/car racing games are a significant contributor to fuelling innovation in the wider gaming market. They are a huge part of the eSports scene, and they are also proving to be successful in the virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) gaming sectors.
How Car-Themed Casino Games Are Following Suit
Several top-tier, market-leading online casino software providers have produced a handful of popular car/racing-themed online slot machines, which are proving to be a hit with millions of iGaming players.
Games like this are now widely available to play in the free-play and real money modes on a handful of fully licensed and regulated US online casinos, like the ones that have been analyzed via Casino.org, which show swathes of different games with a range of themes.
Hit titles worth checking out include Racing for Pinks from Games Global, Drive: Multiplier Mayhem from NetEnt, and 24 Hour Grand Prix from Red Tiger Gaming.
Can Racing and Gambling Genres Coexist on the Same Platforms?
The answer to this question is that car racing and gambling genres already coexist on the same platforms. The examples mentioned above show us that there is a demand by players for racing-themed online slot machines that offer players the chance to win real money.
These games are quick and easy to play. They have wide betting ranges that cater to everyone from low rollers to high rollers, and the fixed coin jackpots you can play to win on any lucky spin in them can be worth up to 50,000x times your stake or more, which makes them even more appealing to play.
What’s Next: Predictions for Gaming and Gambling Crossovers in Late 2025
According to some experts, two of the biggest gaming and gambling crossovers that could hit big by late 2025 are the mass adoption and integration of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and provably fair technology in markets that haven’t yet embraced crypto, plus the integration of VR technology at live dealer casinos.
We may see even more car-racing-themed online slot machines arriving, and we will likely see traditional car racing video game development studios introducing more ways for players to make in-game purchases so they can customise their cars, unlock new courses/tracks, and so on.
Finally, some of the hottest new car racing video game titles that you might like to keep an eye out for in 2025 are Assetto Corsa EVO, Wreckfest 2, Endurance Motorsports Series, Over Jump Rally, Project Motor Racing, Forza Motorsport 6, Fatal Run 2089, JDM: Japanese Drift Master, and Exo Rally Championship, to name just a few.