Best PC games of all time: Our top picks you should play in 2024
If you haven't played these PC games then you really ought to.
Best PC racing games
Some of the very best racing wheels are available for PC, which is why many fans prefer to play on computer. Not to mention, it often feels more natural to place a steering wheel on a computer desk than it is to use one with a console.
At any rate, these are the kinds of games that tend to show off the very best graphics, and in recent years, the best ray tracing of any other genre. There's something to enjoy whether you're in it for the competitive race itself, the chance to drive the realistic vehicles of your dreams, the ability to listen to awesome music, or so you can watch those amazing crashes. Without further ado, here are the best PC racing games.
Forza Horizon 5
As our own Zachary Boddy said in our Forza Horizon 5 review, this is the unchallenged champion of open-world racers. It performs incredibly well and has some of the most impressive visuals ever to come to PC games. It's a joy to play and the world beckons you to explore it.
Players can explore the open-world map of Mexico in this latest installment. The landscapes are absolutely gorgeous with incredible attention to detail. The same can be said for the long list of customizable cars that include real-world brands. You can play on your own or connect with other players in one of the multiplayer modes.
Forza Horizon 5 | $59.99 at Steam
Explore the beautiful landscapes of Mexico while racing with the virtual versions of real-life vehicles. The graphics are sublime with impressive attention to detail to each car you drive.
DiRT Rally 2.0
While Forza Horizon 5 is lauded as catering to more open-world exploration, DiRT Rally 2.0 is more like a rally racing sim. You visit several iconic locations around the world while carving out a path for yourself as the best racer. However, you have to play carefully and with calculation as one wrong move can seriously bump you down in a race.
It builds off of the foundations that the DiRT series is known for and looks absolutely excellent while doing it. Everything runs smoothly and the vehicles you get to drive look awesome. It's a great game to sink some time into.
DiRT Rally 2.0 | $18.59 at CDKeys (Steam)
Employing gorgeous visuals, excellent vehicle handling, and plenty of interesting locations from around the world makes DiRT Rally 2.0 not only the best game in the series but one of the best racing games of all time.
Burnout: Paradise Remastered
The original Burnout: Paradise released back in 2008 and was a instant classic thanks to its amazing soundtrack and varied locations. This Remastered version released in 2019 and includes all add-ons from the Year of Paradise along with an all-new district and nine additional vehicles.
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While not the most graphically intensive racer anymore, the controls are incredibly fun and the mixture of busy city landscapes mixed with more natural settings gives a lot of variety. It also helps a lot that this game offers some of the most epic car crashes of any game, which is fun on its own.
Burnout: Paradise Remastered | $20 at Steam
With an excellent soundtrack, gorgeous cars, and some of the gnarliest crashes available in games, Burnout: Paradise Remastered is a classic that any racing enthusiast should play.
Self-professed gaming geek, Rebecca Spear, is one of Windows Central's editors and reviewers with a focus on gaming handhelds, PC gaming, and laptops. When she isn't checking out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass, PC, ROG Ally, or Steam Deck; she can be found digital drawing with a Wacom tablet. She's written thousands of articles with everything from editorials, reviews, previews, features, previews, and hardware reviews over the last few years. If you need information about anything gaming-related, her articles can help you out. She also loves testing game accessories and any new tech on the market. You can follow her @rrspear on X (formerly Twitter).