Summary

  • Rally games offer thrilling experiences with a variety of tracks and environments.
  • Wreckfest and Old School Rally provide fun off-road experiences with unique features.
  • Forza Horizon 5 stands out as a top rally racing game with arcade-style enjoyment.

Racing games are among the most popular video games ever, and for good reason. Chasing other players or a group of NPCs, around racetracks is a thrilling experience, and even better, it's highly accessible, so players with any skill level can have a go. Rally racing is a niche within the genre, as the sport itself is not as popular as other motorsports, but the games that do include it often shine because of it.

(Left) Motorbike in the air (Right) Car in the air
Best Open-World Racing Games Of All Time

There have been plenty of excellent open-world racing games over the years, but which among them are the greatest of all time?

2

Rally games are varied in what they include, so it can be hard to sort through and find the best ones. Players seeking a great rally racing game should look no further than the games listed here.

Updated on March 10, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat: With an abundance of racing games available, it can be quite difficult to pick up a game that suits one's preference, even if it's a unique niche like rally racing. There have been many indie and AAA titles simulating rally races in recent years.

Of course, it is not a bad thing at all, as there is more than one game now for every major approach to rally, but it could be overwhelming to choose from dozens of top-rated games without prior knowledge about their gameplay loop or available features.

17 Wreckfest

An Arcade Racing With Amazing Physics

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Wreckfest Tag Page Cover Art
Wreckfest
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
June 14, 2018
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Bugbear Entertainment
Genre(s)
Vehicular Combat, Racing
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

While Wreckfest does not strictly focus on rally races, the game has received more than a few off-road tracks with the post-launch content updates. Wreckfest is by no means a simulator when it comes to car handling, but it does feature amazing car physics, which makes collisions quite fun.

Off-road races are usually even more chaotic due to the loose braking system and a lot of ups and downs on the track, which makes cars bump into each other and causes a massive chain of collisions. For anyone looking for light-hearted off-road fun, Wreckfest is a great option to consider.

16 Old School Rally

A Retro Rally Simulator With Small Doses Of Arcade

  • Developer: Frozen Lake Games
  • Release Date: July 18, 2024 (Early Access)
  • Platform: PC

For any gamer that misses the good old days of playing Colin McRae Rally on PlayStation or PlayStation 2, Old School Rally is probably a god-sent gift. The game's main purpose is to revive the nostalgic feeling of playing a rally simulator on modern systems with the original PlayStation visuals while also adding some arcade-y touches to make it accessible for a wider audience.

Old School Rally is still in development, but the Early Access version does offer enough content to keep the player base entertained for a while. The game comes with a good variety of cars and tracks, with more to be added down the road. The best thing about Old School Rally is that it supports split-screen co-op as well, which helps even more with the nostalgic feel of the game!

15 Dakar Desert Rally

One Of The Great Rally Events Gets Its Own Game

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Dakar Desert Rally Tag Pag Cover Art
Dakar Desert Rally
Display card tags widget
Racing
Display card system widget
Systems
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
October 4, 2022
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Genre(s)
Racing
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

Dakar Desert Rally is one of the biggest rally games currently on offer for players. With all four seasons represented and a dynamic weather system in a desert environment, this game offers something different from usual rally racing games. Based on the real-life Dakar racing, there are thirty tracks included from three years of the competition, offering enough changes in each one to prevent the game from feeling stale.

Dakar Desert Rally offers players the thrilling experience of driving in the desert. Players seeking a wider variety of environments should look elsewhere, however.

14 Xpand Rally

A Jaw-Droppingly Beautiful Rally Game

  • Platforms: PC
  • Release Date: 2004-09-24
  • Developer(s): Techland, TopWare Interactive
  • Metascore: 82

Xpand Rally is a beautiful rally game that allows players to experience driving high-speed rally cars through the roughest terrains. Players begin with a junk car and must be successful to earn money, which will then allow them to upgrade the car into a faster and better machine. With a highly accurate damage system, the car's condition can rapidly decline, and the player must repair their car to continue winning races and attempt to become the biggest name in the rally scene.

Xpand Rally is a great option for players looking for an intense career mode with a lot of factors affecting success, but for players seeking simplicity, look elsewhere.

13 WRC Generations – The FIA WRC Official Game

A Highly Realistic Rally Game With Detailed Car Physics And Extensive Content

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
WRC Generations Tag Page Cover Art
WRC Generations
Display card tags widget
Racing
Sports
Simulation
Display card system widget
Systems
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
November 3, 2022
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Franchise
WRC
Genre(s)
Racing, Sports, Simulation
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

WRC Generations - The FIA WRC Official Game is a realistically demanding rally simulation that holds the official license for the 2022 World Rally Championship. WRC Generations features a wide range of content, including 750 km (466 miles) of unique special stages spread across 22 countries, 49 teams from the 2022 season, 37 iconic cars with bonus vehicles, and 165 timed special stages.

With such extensive content, realistic vehicle physics, hybrid vehicles and one of the most in-depth Career modes, WRC Generations - The FIA WRC Official Game is truly one of the best rally racing games out there. If that wasn’t convincing enough, WRC Generations features a Leagues and Clubs mode, where players can compete against each other in custom championships.

12 DDI Rally Championship

An Old-School Inspired Arcade Rally Racer

  • Platforms: PC
  • Release Date: 2024-01-13
  • Developer: Dangerous Derk Interactive
  • Metascore: TBD

DDI Rally Championship is a brand-new rally game with an old-school feel. Inspired by the arcade racing games of the 90s, this game is an exciting and authentic rally experience for both veteran fans of the genre and players who have never played a rally-based racing game before. The game is still in early access, but with more track types being added and more features in the pipeline, players won't feel like they're playing an unfinished game.

DDI Rally Championship is a fast-paced and thrilling rally experience, but players seeking a more fleshed out experience might not love this pick, at least until it reaches a 1.0 release.

11 TrackMania Turbo

An Arcade-Style Rally Game That Prioritizes Speed

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
TrackMania Turbo Tag Page Cover Art
TrackMania Turbo
Display card tags widget
Racing
Display card system widget
Systems
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
March 22, 2016
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Platform(s)
Xbox One, PS4, Microsoft Windows
Genre(s)
Racing

TrackMania Turbo is a head-spinning racing game with more than 200 tracks available across four iconic locations. The game is arcade-style and extremely fast-paced, making it a brilliant option for players seeking some high-octane fun. The rally sections of the game are well-developed with a heavy focus on stunts, similar to other games in the TrackMania series.

TrackMania Turbo is a good option for players looking for a simple and fun rally experience. However, for players seeking a more focused rallying experience, look elsewhere.

10 V-Rally 4

A Reboot Of The Classic V-Rally Series

  • Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
  • Release Date: 2018-09-06
  • Developer: KT Racing

V-Rally 4 is a legendary off-road racing game where players can experience the adrenaline rush of dangerous roads, hostile conditions, and the constant need for more speed. The best thing about V-Rally 4 is that it features five different racing disciplines: Rally, Rallycross, Hill Climb, Buggy, and Extreme-Khana. Not only that, there are over 50 car models for players to test drive, collect, upgrade and customize to their liking.

There is an online multiplayer mode with up to eight players or an offline mode with a split-screen, and a detailed V-Rally Career Mode with realistic car physics. There’s even a quick race option for players who want to test vehicles and get used to them before the rally. V-Rally 4 perfectly captures the excitement and intensity of off-road racing, offering a thrilling experience for both casual and hardcore racing fans.

9 Dirt 5

The Fifth Installment In The Dirt Franchise Takes Rally To A New Level

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Dirt 5 Tag Page Cover Art
Dirt 5
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
8 /10
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
November 6, 2020
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Codemasters
Franchise
Dirt
Genre(s)
Racing
OpenCritic Rating
Strong

Dirt 5 carries on the legacy of the Dirt series as another fantastic racing game focused on off-road rallying. A wide selection of track types is available, from ice-based tracks to more typical rallycross environments. The game also offers a career mode for players seeking a narrative and progressive experience and a multiplayer mode for playing with friends.

Dirt 5 is a fully-fledged rally game with a lot to offer for players new to rallying as well as players with a lot of knowledge about the motorsports world.

8 The Crew 2

A US-Based Rally Game With A Twist

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
The Crew 2 Tag Page Cover Art
The Crew 2
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
May 31, 2018
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Ubisoft Ivory Tower
Franchise
The Crew
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Microsoft Windows, Stadia, Xbox Series X/S
Genre(s)
Racing, Action, Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Fair

The Crew 2 is an open-world racing game that takes place across the USA. Ideal for playing with friends, the game has many different vehicle types that can be controlled, including planes and boats. There are four distinct hub worlds, each with different styles of racing available. The real star of the show is the driving, especially the rally races that players can compete in.

The Crew 2 is a fun and expansive racing game offering more than rallying, making it a great fit for players looking for a wider racing experience.