It’s 2022, and the range of Xbox 360 racing games is still one of the most impressive and varied gaming libraries out there.
Aided by an array of compatible steering wheel sets, it is possible to get an incredibly authentic racing experience right in your living room.
With that being said, I’ve put together a list of what I consider the must-play titles for lovers of the genre – from classic rally sims to hectic open-world driving and beyond. So, what are you waiting for?
Get revved up with our picks of the best Xbox 360 racing games, and try to prove their superiority by beating them at their own game!
10. Project Gotham Racing 3 (2005)
Project Gotham Racing 3 for the Xbox 360 launch was an exclusive title published by Microsoft Game Studios, so it’s unsurprising that it earned the honor of being titled Xbox Magazine’s 2005 Game of the Year.
PGR3 is packed with intense and fast-paced racing set in a variety of real-life locations like Las Vegas, London, New York City, and Tokyo. Everything about this game has been crafted to ensure an ultra-realistic experience.
If you played Project Gotham Racing 3 (PGR3) on the Xbox 360, you will remember how realistic it felt while being quite an arcade feel. It gave the best sense of speed in the cars compared with other racing games.
It had realistic cars and locations that were modeled after real-world places. The sound effects were incredibly accurate too. But, more than this was the idea of a first-person in-car view that had never been seen before; something that gamers had always dreamed of but could never find.
Despite all of its realism, PGR3 made sure that driving would still be fun and accessible to players of all skill levels by making the mechanics much easier to control than other driving simulators available at the time.
Although it follows reality, PGR3 still opts for an arcade feel rather than a full simulation-based experience.
The developers at Bizarre Creations made sure to use the advanced features of the new Xbox 360 console to show off what gaming can do in terms of graphics and gameplay, in what many called one of the must-have games for someone with a new console.
9. GRID (2008)
GRID from Codemasters is the perfect game for aspiring motorsports fans. Players will be able to progress their virtual career through a variety of racing events, from intense race tracks to the streets and even a demolition derby!
In this game, players can build their own race team with themselves as the leader, and with GRID’s advanced destruction simulation all that damage will surely show.
It pays to be gentle when it comes to taking care of your vehicles too because your in-game sponsors are always keeping an eye on you.
GRID provides an expansive gaming experience that all motorsports fans should experience at least once!
GRID has revolutionized racing games with its unique use of the custom game engine, Ego.
Ego has been so well-tuned specifically for GRID and driving games as a whole that it is still being used today in many racing titles.
GRID is also not slowing down either, as they recently announced their newest entry in February 2022 – all powered by the trusty Ego. Its excellence was recognized with its award win of Best Racing Game of 2008 from IGN, and it has rightfully taken its place on everyone’s list of the best Xbox 360 racing games around!
8. DIRT 3 (2011)
Dirt 3 offers an impressive array of game modes that will keep you entertained for many nights of gaming.
From classic racing challenges to off-the-wall courses like Hill Climb and oddball races such as Zombie, the possibilities are near-endless.
Powered by the Ego engine from GRID, Dirt 3 makes great use of advanced physics and visual capabilities, making for a streamlined yet enjoyable racer.
Furthermore, the game sports some gorgeous graphics which only helps make it one of the most sought-after titles under the Xbox 360 racing collection.
Indeed, if you’re looking for some exciting fun with your friends and family, you can hardly go wrong with Dirt 3.
7. Trials Evolution (2012)
The excitement is palpable as we announce that our next game of choice is Trials Evolution! Not familiar with this type of gaming?
Fear not – the basic premise behind it is simple: physics-based racing on insane, off-the-wall race tracks. This isn’t a game or experience that takes itself too seriously, and you don’t have to be a master gamer to play – anybody can pick up a controller and enjoy the ridiculousness.
With multiple campy tracks available on Xbox 360, Trials Evolution is sure to bring both laughter and frustration as you make your way down the finish line. So grab your bike and get ready for an adventure!
Thanks to the Xbox LIVE service, Trials Evolution allows players to go back to classic-style gaming.
Experience that nostalgic fun you had as a kid with up to four people throughout the world! Anyone who shares the same console can join in too, creating a great environment for up to four people on the same couch or over the internet.
With Xbox LIVE, everyone can recreate their many fond memories of Trials Evolution!
6. Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012)
Need for Speed Most Wanted is an adrenaline-pumping game that truly takes you to the streets.
With aerial attacks from police helicopters and sirens trailing close behind, gamers can take to the roads – evade, deceive, and outrun the authorities in order to become the ultimate ‘street racer’.
Players must immerse themselves into a world of edge-of-your-seat challenges, master jumps, twirls and stunts as they rocket down side streets and highways all while avoiding oncoming traffic.
It’s this kind of real-life risk-taking feeling that has made Need for Speed Most Wanted one of the top games of its genre.
‘Most Wanted’ is a fantastic racing game for the Xbox 360 that has strong Grand Theft Auto vibes, but also maintains its own identity and offers something unique to the genre. The best thing ever about this game was split-screen free roam! My brother and I would play it for hours!
The use of edgy cutscenes adds a level of thrilling adrenaline reminiscent of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise which evokes a pleasing nostalgia.
Its visuals are dated, yet strangely captivating with its clever use of green-screen; an old school technique that somehow still works in this context.
Despite being released over ten years ago, ‘Most Wanted’ has stood the test of time and continues to remain a fan favorite today.
For those who are lovers of an intense, fast-paced, and over-the-top racing experience, look no further than the incredibly popular racing franchise.
With each installment, players race through realistic environments, with high-quality visuals and physics-based models allowing for realistic physics and damage to your vehicle during the races.
Furthermore, you can expect to catch plenty of breathtaking slow-motion sequences as you charge around some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful tracks that you’ll ever have the pleasure of driving on.
All this combined with sales exceeding a staggering 16 million copies worldwide is a testament to how great this franchise truly is. So don’t miss out on these fantastic experiences!
5. Test Drive Unlimited
Test Drive Unlimited is an open-world racing game developed by Eden Games and published by Atari for Xbox 360.
The game is set on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and features over 1000 miles of the open road, with players able to explore the island and compete in various races and challenges.
The game also includes a multiplayer mode, allowing players to compete against each other online.
Test Drive Unlimited was released in 2006 and received generally positive reviews for its open-world gameplay and a large selection of cars and motorcycles.
4. Burnout Revenge (2006)
Boy oh boy, with Burnout Revenge the streets will never be the same!
This classic racing game not only tests your skill at the wheel but also puts your destruction ability to use.
At high speeds, you’ll find yourself weaving around traffic while using any obstructions as projectiles against enemies.
Its fast-paced and thrilling gameplay definitely pushed boundaries when it first came out and is still sure to provide hours of entertainment now. Get ready to go fast, break everything, and become the winner of this high-intensity race!
Performing as much destruction on the roads in Burnout Revenge is a thrilling experience. The feeling of reckless abandon when driving around corners, smashing into cars, and creating huge explosions never gets old.
This game fuels your typical ‘video game violence’ urge, giving you the incentive to cause the most damage possible by earning points for every vehicle that bites the dust.
Thankfully, with 169 different events to complete over the game’s single-player campaign, it has more than enough features and fun levels to keep you entertained for hours.
Full of madness and mayhem on the highways, this is a game where scores are settled and thrills are non-stop.
3. Midnight Club Los Angeles (2008)
When Midnight Club Los Angeles arrived as the last hurrah of the series, players had heightened expectations for its performance.
Rockstar did not disappoint, delivering an adrenaline-filled racing experience on the Xbox 360 that impressed gamers around the world.
But these players didn’t just enjoy a great ride, they also got an enormous amount of content that kept them coming back for more.
With varied environments, cars to choose from, and impressive customization options, Midnight Club Los Angeles really delivered in terms of sheer quantity and quality of gaming time.
Powering the Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition game on the Xbox 360 is an incredible game engine that allows for a whopping seven different cities to be recreated realistically.
All four of these metro locations make up some 121 square miles of bustling streets, high rises, and wide highways.
That’s larger than the realistic recreation of Los Angeles featured in the Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Remix on PS2, which alone comes in at just under 90 square miles.
Now featuring much more than its predecessor – including upgraded traffic, AI, and physics – MidnighClub 3 used this impressive scope to create an experience unlike any other open-world racer around at the time.
2. Forza Motorsport 3 (2009)
Forza Motorsport 3 is easily one of the top racing games available for Xbox 360.
Players have access to an enormous roster, with over 500 cars that they can modify and customize themselves.
Visuals look stunning thanks to its smooth performance at 60 frames per second, while game content keeps fresh and exciting thanks to an assortment of race styles.
The roster also includes some pretty prestigious real-world license models, giving players a mixture of both fun as well as more realisticVehicle options.
If you like racing games that offer plenty of content, Forza Motorsport 3 is definitely worth a try.
Forza Motorsport 3 is the fan-favorite Xbox 360 driving game, and with over 200 events available in its single-player campaign, gamers will have plenty to do while they’re on the road.
The silky smooth voice of the narrator helps make every race feel cinematic, tying all those hours of play together into a unique experience.
The game offers something for everyone – from a robust career mode featuring dozens of thrilling competitions to detailed car customization options that let you customize your ride just how you want it.
It’s no surprise then that all this variety has made Forza Motorsport 3 soar as high as it has on Metacritic.
Out of all the picks for Xbox racers, it receives our highest recommendation – even if we sometimes crave something just a bit different.
1. Forza Motorsport 4
No game in the Forza lineup has been able to capture the magic that Forza Motorsport 4 did. It’s been a fan favorite ever since its release and is still widely loved and played by fans.
The multiplayer mode was especially good allowing split screen with CPU races as well!
Another feature was that both players were allowed to drive tuned cars against each other making it much more fun for everyone involved.
The mix of tracks, cars, and graphics made this game unbeatable which is why it takes the number one spot for us.
Forza Motorsport 4 is a racing game developed by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft for Xbox 360. It is the fourth installment in the Forza Motorsport series and was released in 2011.
The game features more than 500 cars and 26 tracks and allows players to compete in various racing disciplines such as touring car racing, sports car racing, and drag racing.
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A gaming lover from a very young age, Justin has always had a keen eye for building his own computers or racing sims so that he can race his identical twin (and usually lose at the actual race).
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