Racing games have dominated gaming for years. The rush of speed and car customization keeps players coming back for more, whether you prefer street racing or hitting the track. While good racing titles are somewhat limited right now, we've identified the six best racing games worth playing in 2025:

1. Forza Horizon 5

2. Need for Speed Heat

3. The Crew Motorfest

4. Need For Speed Unbound

5. Forza Motorsport

6. Gran Turismo 7

Each offers unique features from realistic physics to arcade-style gameplay that racing fans will appreciate.

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1. Forza Horizon 5

• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and announced for PS5

• Retail Price: $59.99 / Available on Game Pass

• GameBoost Price: Forza Horizon 5 | Deluxe Edition — $38.03

Forza Horizon 5 is an open-world racing game published by Xbox Game Studios | Xbox. Set in a fictionalized Mexico, it offers a vast environment featuring an active volcano, dense jungles, beaches, ancient Mayan temples, and cities like Guanajuato.

The game includes over 800 licensed vehicles and introduces dynamic weather systems with localized events like dust storms and tropical storms. Currently ranked as the best racing game available due to its expansive open world, massive vehicle roster, and stunning visuals.

2. Need for Speed Heat

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S

• Retail Price: $59.99 / Available on Game Pass

• GameBoost Price: NFS Heat Standard Edition — $9.69

Need for Speed Heat brought back the fan-favorite franchise to its glory as the twenty-fourth installment, celebrating the series' 25th anniversary. Set in Palm City, a fictionalized version of Miami, the game creates a dual racing experience - sanctioned daytime racing events and illegal nighttime street competitions.

The game features 127 cars from 33 manufacturers, notably including Ferrari's return after licensing issues kept it from the previous title. Customization stands out as a major highlight, allowing players to modify nearly every aspect of their vehicles from performance parts to visual components. The "Heat Level" system adds intensity to night races, with police pursuit difficulty increasing based on how notorious players become.

Although some missions feel repetitive, Need for Speed Heat successfully recaptures what made the series popular - fast cars, intense police chases, and extensive customization. Despite its $59.99 standard retail price, GameBoost offers Need for Speed Heat for just $9.69, a massive 84% discount that makes this title particularly accessible to racing fans on a budget.

3. The Crew Motorfest

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

• Retail Price: $69.99 / Available on Ubisoft+

• GameBoost Price: The Crew Motorfest Key — $20.88

The Crew Motorfest is Ubisoft's sequel to The Crew 2 and the third game in the series. Set on a condensed version of O'ahu, Hawaii, the game centers on a car culture festival. Players explore diverse Hawaiian landscapes from Honolulu's city streets to volcanic terrain. The game features themed "Playlists" campaigns that showcase different automotive subcultures and racing styles.

With over 700 vehicles including cars, motorcycles, planes, and boats, The Crew Motorfest maintains the series' multi-vehicle approach. The Hawaiian setting provides varied racing environments from coastal highways to off-road mountain trails.

Vehicle customization remains extensive, letting players modify performance specs and visual elements. The game connects to the larger Crew universe while offering a more focused experience than its predecessors. GameBoost offers The Crew Motorfest at $20.88, a 70% discount from its standard $69.99 price tag, making this premium racing title much more affordable.

4. Need For Speed Unbound

• Platforms: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S

• Retail Price: $69.99 / Available on Game Pass

• GameBoost Price: NFS Unbound Origin Key — $10.04

NFS Unbound represents the latest entry in the long-running franchise, featuring a unique visual style that combines photorealistic cars and environments with animated graffiti-style effects and tags.

Set in the fictional Lakeshore City (based on Chicago), players compete in street racing while evading police. The game maintains the day-night cycle from Heat but focuses on a four-week tournament structure leading to "The Grand."

Customization remains a key feature with detailed performance tuning and visual options. Character customization joins vehicle personalization, allowing players to create their racing identity. GameBoost offers Need for Speed Unbound at $10.04, an 86% discount from the $69.99 standard price - one of the best deals in racing games right now.

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5. Forza Motorsport

• Platforms: PC and Xbox Series X|S

• Retail Price: $69.99 / Available on Game Pass

• GameBoost Price: Unavailable

Forza Motorsport reboots the track-focused series with realistic physics and a roster of over 500 vehicles. Unlike its open-world Horizon counterpart, this title focuses on circuit racing across 20 environments with multiple layout configurations.

Microsoft positions the game as a technical showcase with ray-traced reflections and 4K resolution at 60 FPS on Series X. Despite these technical ambitions, player reception has been mixed. Critics reviews were generally positive, but the community highlighted performance issues, bugs, and graphical compromises.

6. Gran Turismo 7

• Platforms: PS4 and PS5

• Retail Price: $69.99

• GameBoost Price: Unavailable

Gran Turismo 7 serves as PlayStation's flagship racing simulator, offering meticulous vehicle physics and detailed car models across 400+ vehicles. The game features a structured progression system that guides players through automotive history.

Despite its technical achievements, Gran Turismo 7 draws criticism for its restrictive progression compared to Forza Horizon's open-world freedom. The game requires online connectivity for most modes, causing frustration among players during server maintenance periods.

The microtransaction model remains controversial, with high-priced virtual cars pushing players toward spending real money to access premium vehicles. These monetization decisions have damaged player perception despite the game's strong simulation foundation.

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Final Words

Racing games continue to deliver high-speed thrills across various platforms in 2025. For the best value, both Forza Horizon 5 and Need for Speed titles offer excellent experiences through Game Pass and GameBoost discounts respectively.

Track racing purists should consider Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo 7 despite their higher entry costs, while players seeking variety will appreciate The Crew Motorfest's multi-vehicle approach. Each game offers distinct strengths – from Forza Horizon's expansive open world to NFS Unbound's unique visual style. Consider your preferred racing style and platform availability when making your choice.

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