Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- #20 Dakar 18
- #19 MX vs. ATV All Out
- #18 FlatOut 4: Total Insanity
- #17 Overpass
- #16 Gravel
- #15 V-Rally 4
- #14 Monster Jam Steel Titans 2
- #13 MudRunner
- #12 The Crew 2
- #11 Grand Theft Auto V
- #10 Mad Max
- #9 Riders Republic
- #8 MX vs. ATV Reflex
- #7 Dirt 5
- #6 Wreckfest
- #5 Art of Rally
- #4 Forza Horizon 4
- #3 Dirt Rally 2.0
- #2 SnowRunner
- #1 Forza Horizon 5
Racing games have become increasingly common in the past decade, which is great for car enthusiasts and gamers. There’s plenty of variety, with various games and franchises exploring different avenues from realistic rally racing to urban open-world arcade racing. This list specifically namedrops some of the noteworthy offroad games that are playable on Xbox Series X/S
#20 Dakar 18
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Even among the realistic rally racers on this list, Dakar 18 sticks out thanks to its namesake. It revolves around the real-world Dakar Rally, which is held once a year. The event spans anywhere from 10 to 15 days, with a total driving distance of a few thousand miles. This becomes the focal point for an expansive, harsh racer in which stages can last upwards of an hour. You’re also given the option of five different vehicle types ranging from trucks to quads.
#19 MX vs. ATV All Out
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Much like its franchise namesake suggests, the heart of MX vs. ATV All Out involves competitive events in which motorbikes and ATV’s duke it out. The series dates back to the PlayStation 2 era, with All Out delving into a more expansive open world-like setting, which the later MX vs. ATV Legends would continue to run with. There’s also plenty of tuning and customization for those that are heavily invested in these kinds of racers.
#18 FlatOut 4: Total Insanity
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
While the first two FlatOut games are widely considered the best installments, FlatOut 4 is still a worthy investment on a modern Xbox console. Klyotonn, best known for the WRC series, almost salvages the FlatOut name after an abysmal FlatOut 3. Due to the modern focus on simulation and real-world licensing, not many racers explore the sort of destruction offered in FlatOut 4. If you’re looking for a change of pace, you could do worse.
#17 Overpass
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Overpass is a true offroad experience, with tracks dominated by a mix of natural and artifical obstacles that would present roadblocks for any normal vehicle. Unlike some other offroad racing games, Overpass demands a balancing act between speed and careful maneuverability around precarious situations, with factors such as vehicle type and terrain influencing your approach. This likens tracks almost to challenge levels rather than traditional race tracks.
#16 Gravel
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Gravel is a nice change of pace from the previous spot on this list, with its looser handling and exotic tracks. There are options to make it slightly more demanding, but at the end of the day, Gravel is an arcade racing game that revels in its varied scenery, speed, and stunts. If you’ve had your fill with games like Dirt 5, it might be worth looking at Gravel.
#15 V-Rally 4
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developed by the masterminds behind the lucrative WRC series, V-Rally 4 offers more of an arcade-like driving experience. It features multiple event types such as traditional rallies, rally crosses, and hill climbs. There’s also extreme-khana, tasking players with completing wild stunts and traversing obstacles while attempting to wow a crowd of onlookers. The fewer the mistakes, the better. If you ever played Stuntman, it’s the closest analogue.
#14 Monster Jam Steel Titans 2
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 is an officially licensed title of the Monster Jam, in which specially designed monster trucks compete across different event types including races, donut competitions, and even a freestyle event involving exciting stunts. Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 lets you experience that thrill across 12 stadiums, with game modes that are inspired by the real-world Monster Jam.
#13 MudRunner
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
MudRunner fills a niche few offroad titles on this list lay claim to. It is a hardcore simulation in which all-terrain vehicles are used to transport logs to a required destination. It isn’t as simple as it sounds because you’ll have to contend with fuel and vehicle damage, meanwhile making it through harsh, often muddy terrain. The open environments task you with carefully finding an efficient route, while making note of rest stops. This game will satisfy a very specific audience.
#12 The Crew 2
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
The Crew 2 takes the same basic concept from its predecessor, allowing players to race across a scaled-down recreation of the United States. It expands the scope with more vehicle types such as boats and planes. There are also motorcycles, which were previously relegated to The Crew: Wild Run expansion. The Crew 2 addresses the original’s most common criticism, featuring improved vehicle handling. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X owners can also play the game at 60 frames per second, adding even more responsiveness to what was already a better controlling racer.
#11 Grand Theft Auto V
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
While Grand Theft Auto V isn’t a pure driving or racing title, it does feature plenty of vehicles and driving. It may not have the most precise car handling that matches up to dedicated racing games, but it gets the job done. Luckily, due to the gargantuan Grand Theft Auto Online portion of the experience, in which users are able to create and join custom races, there’s plenty of opportunity for inventive offroad racing.
#10 Mad Max
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
In a similar manner to Grand Theft Auto V, Mad Max doesn’t rely exclusively on driving. With that said, much of its game design does revolve around vehicular combat and transportation. The protagonist’s car, the Magnum Opus, can receive various performance upgrades in addition to cosmetic alterations. This progression system adds a sense of ownership to the moment to moment gameplay. The vehicle in question is used to travel across the open world map, which invariably gets wrapped up in altercations between each mission. Because of this, you want to continue building out your Magnum Opus.
#9 Riders Republic
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Riders Republic is essentially a spiritual successor to Steep, which itself featured various extreme sports in a single game. Whereas Steep immersed itself in its snowy landscapes, Riders Republic features the sort of natural forest-like environments you’d expect from an offroad game in addition to snow-filled mountains. The game features mountain bikes, skiis, wingsuits, and snowboards.
#8 MX vs. ATV Reflex
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PSP
MX vs. ATV Reflex is the oldest title on this list, but there’s a reason for it. Over a decade later, it remains one of the most acclaimed entries in the franchise. The Reflex subtitle references its trick system, which utilizes both analog sticks while in the air. This reflex system also plays into general vehicle handling, allowing precision with regard to turning and weight dsitribution. This in-depth control system mixed with arcadey physics makes for an exciting time.
#7 Dirt 5
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Dirt 5 launched in a rough spot on Xbox Series X/S with a less than favorable upgrade over last-gen consoles, especially highlighted by deficits compared to the PS5 version. In the time since, it has been patched, making it an excellent version of an already good game. Hardcore fans may be put off by its direction, which ditches previous entries’ simulation roots. Preconceptions aside, Dirt 5 should satisfy most gamers looking for a fun offroad racing game.
#6 Wreckfest
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Wreckfest is one of the most unique titles on this list. While there are traditional race events, it also features more destructive game modes such as deathmatch in which players smash into each other. This is due to Wreckfest‘s detailed physics engine, in which cars develop scratches and deform in real-time, making for the most intense and realistic car damage model in a commercially released racing game. This attention to detail makes sense considering it comes from the original developers of the FlatOut series. It only fails to place higher on this list due to inconsistent performance on Xbox Series X/S, with the more powerful system being the worst offender.
#5 Art of Rally
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Art of Rally separates itself from the pack in terms of art direction and game design. Its simplistic, flat-shaded polygonal looks immediately sticks out paired with high resolutions and framerates on modern platforms. However, this rally racer is also played from a top down perspective, lending a different feel to the game apart from its actual handling model. It fits the bill for those looking for a stylistic rally title with less of a commitment on the player’s end.
#4 Forza Horizon 4
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Forza Horizon 4 is just as interesting as any past entry in the series, offering a fictionalized recreation of Great Britian that is both visually enticing and exciting to drive around. It’s not quite on the same level as its successor, but you can’t go wrong with either. After all, Forza Horizon 4 gave birth the iconic Hot Wheels DLC pack, which looks to become a mainstay if Forza Horizon 5 is anything to go by. As an Xbox Series X/S enhanced title, it is slightly held back due to some settings reductions below the Xbox One X’s quality mode, albeit running at 4K at 60 frames per second.
#3 Dirt Rally 2.0
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Whereas Dirt 5 took a new direction, Dirt Rally 2.0 rests more firmly within the simulator territory fans of the franchise have come to expect. This simulation includes an in depth tuning system along with a more robust handling model in which surface deformation and tires impact the driving. The core game revolves around developing a team to help you amass a large collection of vehicles, meanwhile competing in real-life rally circuits.
#2 SnowRunner
- Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
SnowRunner is the third entry in the Spintires series, following up MudRunner. The core concept remains exactly the same, with SnowRunner offering more varied content and some new additions. For starters, the game is built around a reworked physics system to support its new environments. Traditional mudding opportunities remain intact, with the addition of a few new snow-filled maps. If you enjoyed MudRunner, you’ll probably like SnowRunner even more.
#1 Forza Horizon 5
- Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
True to Forza Horizon fashion, various gameplay parameters can be adjusted to alter whether it leans more toward the arcade or simulation angle. Alternatively, players are able to find a happy medium. This customization wouldn’t matter without an equally captivating game to wrap those fundamentals around. Luckily, Forza Horizon 5‘s infectious attitude and inventive events make it exciting to play. It also helps that the Xbox Series X quality mode features such low input latency, you’d be forgiven for thinking it ran at 60 frames per second.
