Racing games traditionally represent the tip of the spear in gaming visuals, standing among the most impressive on the market. Developers constantly try to push boundaries and deliver the most realistic graphics with authentic car models, believable lighting, and real-life racing tracks recreated in the smallest detail.
While usually quite demanding in terms of hardware, some racing games came close to photorealism almost a decade ago. As years go by, nearly every new entry in popular series like Need for Speed, Forza, F1, or Gran Turismo becomes a new benchmark for visual fidelity in the genre.
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Today, there is no shortage of visually stunning racing games, both open-world arcade titles and track-focused racing sims. From older releases that still hold up remarkably well through constant updates to lesser-known games built with Unreal Engine 5, here are the racing games with the best graphics as of 2025.
Only the visuals of the games below are considered, not their overall quality as racing titles.
Honorable Mentions: Need For Speed (2015) & DriveClub
Despite being over a decade old, two racing games still deserve a mention on a 2025 list for their graphics alone: Need for Speed (2015) and DriveClub (2014). Both deliver almost unbelievable levels of visual fidelity considering their age, and by utilizing techniques such as cinematic lighting and flares, detailed car models, and impressive weather effects, they can at times outshine even modern racing releases. A true testament to their respective teams' artistic vision and smart use of the relatively moderate hardware (PS4) of their era.
Forza Horizon 5
Stunning & Diverse Open World
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Forza Horizon 5 enjoys its last year before the already-announced Forza Horizon 6, set in Japan, will take its crown. Despite being released four years ago, few other racing titles can still match the visual quality of Forza Horizon 5, powered by ForzaTech, which is even more impressive given that it's an open-world game with an enormous map to explore freely.
From stunning car models (and there are hundreds of them!) to the vibrant world of Mexico with dynamic seasons and varied weather conditions, Forza Horizon 5 remains the ultimate open-world racer, this year also bringing the series to the PlayStation family for the first time.
Gran Turismo 7
More Than Just A Driving Simulator
Gran Turismo 7
- Released
- March 24, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Alcohol Reference, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Racing
Gran Turismo 7 represents the pinnacle of PlayStation racing games with an emphasis on realism. It's a monumental and ever-evolving racing world that gets better with each new update, as Kazunori Yamauchi and his team at Polyphony Digital are known for their pursuit of perfection when it comes to representing motorsport and car culture.
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For visual and audio quality, as well as the available car roster, it's almost impossible to compete with Gran Turismo 7. The team utilizes groundbreaking techniques for sound design, physical simulation, and authentic recreation of cars and tracks, supported by years of expertise and collaborations with manufacturers and racing disciplines across the globe.
F1 25
Culmination Of Codemasters' Racing Technologies
F1 25
- Released
- May 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone: Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Racing
A notable step up from its predecessor in terms of technology, F1 25's visuals are simply stunning, brought to life by Codemasters' current rendition of the ever-evolving EGO Engine. For this latest entry, the developers finally abandoned the old-gen consoles that had been holding them back for over a decade, starting with F1 2014.
Following this decision, F1 25 emerged as one of the most beautiful modern racing games, equally convincing with its detailed racecar models, environments, and realistic lighting. For any Formula One lover, this is a worthy pick, both for the incredible technology at its core and the revamped handling model.
Forza Motorsport
A Racing Reboot With Ever-Evolving Visuals
Forza Motorsport (2023)
- Released
- October 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Racing
Forza Motorsport embodies a full reboot of the iconic series, and while not everything was ready at launch, thanks to a constant stream of updates from Turn 10 Studios (over twenty released in two years), the game is finally approaching its goal of becoming the ultimate motorsport destination, rivaling the series' own legacy.
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What's more, the devs continue improving the game's graphics, especially the lighting and weather systems, which is why two years later, Forza Motorsport looks and feels notably better than its launch version. Adding its flexible handling models, rich accessibility options, and plenty of content to the mix, Forza Motorsport stands as one of the most impressive racing games of today.
Need For Speed Unbound
Style Above All
Need for Speed Unbound
- Released
- December 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Probably the most divisive entry due to its artistic style, racing fans either love or hate Need for Speed Unbound's look — but it's certainly unmistakable. Powered by Frostbite, NFS Unbound marries realistic car models and city environments with anime-inspired effects and sketchy characters, serving as a breath of fresh air amid the ocean of strictly realistic racing games on the market.
However, some fans still prefer the game without its bold personality, with PC mods disabling such effects being among the most popular. Despite that, it's hard not to wish for more racing games to experiment with visuals from time to time, and hopefully, Unbound won't be the last of its kind to break the mold.
The Crew Motorfest
A Virtual Vacation In A Tropical Paradise
The Crew Motorfest
- Released
- September 14, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
A direct competitor to Forza Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest aims to capture the same celebratory festival mood on a tropical island, moving away from the open-world America of the first two entries. Even though The Crew Motorfest is also available on last-gen devices, it's still a giant leap from its predecessors in every regard and stands as one of the most stunning open-world arcade racing games.
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Graphically, The Crew Motorfest is undeniably pretty, elevated by the sheer variety of its environments, two huge explorable maps, a dynamic weather system, and the ability to soar into the sky by plane or explore the waters on a speedboat. At times, the game almost begs players to open photo mode to capture unforgettable sunsets over the Hawaiian islands.
Assetto Corsa EVO
Already Surpassing Its Legendary Predecessors
Assetto Corsa EVO
- Released
- January 16, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Genre(s)
- Sports, Racing, Simulation
The next step in the series evolution, Assetto Corsa EVO represents a new ever-evolving hardcore autosimulator with a promising future. While it's too early to judge fully, given that the game launched in early access this year, it's already a confident step up from Assetto Corsa Competizione in terms of technology, with KUNOS Simulazioni delivering something truly special here.
Just like Forza Motorsport, Assetto Corsa EVO started rough, but with each new update, the game gets better and better, both in graphical quality and handling model. In less than a year, EVO has already become a much more impressive title, so if the game's support matches Competizione, there's little doubt that one day Assetto Corsa EVO will outshine that legendary game in every regard.
Wreckfest 2
Physics-Based Havoc Like Nothing Else
Wreckfest 2
- Developer(s)
- Bugbear Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Vehicular Combat, Simulation
A strong contender for one of the most fun racing games thanks to its physics-based havoc and the ability to create total mayhem on the track, Wreckfest 2 also impresses with its graphics, despite launching in early access just a few months ago. The first entry was already among the most technically impressive racing titles available, but with the sequel built entirely for modern platforms, it reaches a whole new level.
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Wreckfest 2 looks great at all times, with detailed car models and tracks, but the real highlight is its best-in-class car destruction powered by a rich physics simulation engine. With even higher crash fidelity and more intricate component damage, Wreckfest 2 carves out its own niche while delivering a visual treat for modern players.
Rennsport
A Promising Step For Unreal Engine 5-Powered Racing
RENNSPORT
- Released
- November 13, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Simulation
Rennsport is yet to fully launch this November, but the game has already been playable for almost a year in early access on PC. An incredibly ambitious racing simulator with photorealistic graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5, laser-scanned tracks, and uncompromising audio fidelity, Rennsport aims to capture the highest standards of modern racing sims and become a new major player on the market.
The developers closely collaborate with car manufacturers, real-world drivers, and racing communities to ensure the authenticity of the driving experience. The team is especially proud of their handling technology, as each car in Rennsport is designed to feel distinct and fine-tuned for racing, bringing realistic driving sensations to complement its visual quality.
Torque Drift 2
A Graphical Punch Above Its Weight
Torque Drift 2
- Released
- November 28, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Action
Another lesser-known early access racing title, Torque Drift 2 is hard to ignore given how impressive the game already looks. Like Rennsport, it's an upcoming Unreal Engine 5-powered release set in a fictional, modern-day Japanese city. This combination of cutting-edge visual technology with a distinct urban style gives Torque Drift 2 its jaw-dropping and sleek presentation.
Detailed car models with deep customization, natural lighting, and richly designed urban environments all contribute to the game's outstanding image quality, with some photomode captures looking almost indistinguishable from real-life photos. Sure, there is still a long road ahead for Torque Drift 2 to truly make a splash, but hopefully, Grease Monkey Games can bring this promising title to its fullest potential with future updates.
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