Whether you’re racing the fastest cars in Forza Horizon 5, comparing lap times in iRacing, or throwing a blue shell in Mario Kart, a lot of games are just plain better with friends. Granted, a lot of the time it doesn’t really matter what game you’re playing, as long as the fun vibes keep flowing.
But some games are just so good at the multiplayer aspect that they aren’t fun without it. These are the racing games that transform from decent solo experiences into unforgettable chaos when you add a group of friends. From split-screen mayhem on the couch or online lobbies filled with friendly banter, these are the 5 best racing games to play with friends.
Wreckfest
Wreckfest is chaotic automotive carnage. This is a demolition derby game, a sport where drivers knowingly ram their cars into one another. The goal is to either win the race by surviving the chaos or to be the last man standing. Wreckfest’s brilliance lies in its soft-body physics system that makes every collision feel devastating. Rather than avoiding crashes, this is a game where you’ll want to go for them actively.
As you can imagine, that is precisely why this game is so good with friends. You can form temporary alliances with one friend to take down another that’s dominating, or just be a menace to everyone else on the track. Forget about racing lines, elevations, or taking the apex; Wreckfest is all about survival.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the perfect racing sandbox, but in my opinion, it can get boring pretty quickly. Despite its gorgeous setting and massive car roster, the single-player experience can feel surprisingly hollow. But add friends to the mix, and Horizon 5 transforms into something magical. An “empty” world becomes a playground with possibilities, and all the objectives that felt like a chore before feel much more fun.
There are some incredible races, sure, but there’s more to the story here. Your friend sports a crazy jump opportunity, and you end up attempting ridiculous stunts to see who lands the furthest. Someone suggests a race to a specific location, and that friendly competition quickly turns into a multi-stage chase. The world is still the same, but friends manage to fill it with unpredictable chaos and laughter. Horizon 5 isn’t better with friends – it’s practically a different game entirely.
Mario Kart World
If we’re talking about any list of games that are fun with friends, Mario Kart will always be on there. The newest installment, Mario Kart World, is perhaps the best Nintendo game you can play right now. It features all the classic chaos you know and love, but with better maps, a fun new Knockout mode, and some new mechanics.
But the reason it’s great with friends remains the same: it’s the perfect balance of skill and luck. You can be the best racer in the room, perfectly nailing every drift boost and shortcut, only to get demolished by a blue shell in the final stretch. Similarly, if a friend of yours is in last place, they can get the Bullet Bill power-up that allows them to blow past everyone. Each Mario Kart session is special because you never know what’s going to happen.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
This is a bit of a rogue one, but Hot Pursuit Remastered is a great game to play with friends. It is especially fun if you’re into a high-stakes game of cops versus racers. The game can turn into psychological warfare as your friend chases you down in a police interceptor while you’re trying to desperately escape in a stolen Aston Martin.
If you have a group of friends, you can compete in teams. One group plays as the police, and the other plays as the racers. The asymmetrical gameplay creates natural drama that AI can’t replicate. Power-ups like spike trips and roadblocks add the perfect amount of chaos to turn a chase into an unpredictable thriller. If you’re into over-the-top action with friends, this is a great game for it.
Dirt 5
Unlike Codemasters’ more sim-focused Dirty Rally 2.0, Dirt 5 focuses on chaotic offroading fun. This game is more about launching cars through the air on ice tracks in Norway, rather than perfecting your line through technical stages.
The beauty is in the unpredictability here. Dynamic weather means conditions change mid-race, track deformation hampers racing lines, and when you’re friend hits a jump wrong and goes flying off the track, you’ll all be too busy laughing to focus on winning. There’s a lot of variety here to keep things fresh, including different tracks, drift competitions, and even ice racing events.
