The Best Sports/Racing Game category is stacked with a competitive lineup of nominees this year at the Game Awards 2025. Five titles are put in the ring, each bringing a distinct vibe to the genre. The nominees prove just how much the genre has transformed over the year, and what gamers want to invest countless hours into.
Fans may cast their vote here among the nominees:
- F1 2025
- Mario Kart World
- EA Sports FC 26
- Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
- Rematch
F1 2025
If racing games had a category of their own, F1 25 would probably be sitting among the top 3. With improved driving mechanics and “actually” competitive AI that doesn’t let you off the hook, F1 25 is only held back at the awards since it’s not as easy for everyone to jump into as games like FC 26. Also, while they claim the driving physics have improved, the community says otherwise.
That holds it back from being the top pick in this category. While racing enthusiasts respect how hard the game tries to nail the F1 experience, the learning curve is not as appealing to most.
Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World needs no introduction to the genre. Talk about the beautiful track design, that Rainbow Road? It may just be the best track they’ve ever created. There’s a wave of nostalgia here, but the game doesn’t survive just on that: it’s still got that distinct gameplay, and the perfect amount of fun and competition that keeps you hooked.
Play with friends or family, Mario Kart World doesn’t disappoint, and while it’s an impressive game at the core, it leans more towards the casual/fun category rather than a pure sports category nominee. I would list it just beside CrossWorlds in the racing category if we had one.
Rematch
Rematch rolled into the field with genuine hype, hitting ~92k players online on Steam on launch day. The game had a mass appeal to sports gamers because it ditched all the exhausting parts of football and focused on pure movement action.
Either so, the lack of content depth and solo playability doesn’t quite let it reach the top yet. Still, it’s a fresh addition to the genre and worth keeping an eye out for.
EA FC 26
EA FC 26 tried to shake things up this time after years of the old formula: releasing the same title with a different cover. What matters is the Authentic gameplay mode, which transforms the gameplay substantially and takes it deeper into tactical control than the arcade feel.
However, the game is not flawless, and Ultimate Team is still the same pay-to-win hell it’s always been. Scoring mostly negative reviews on Steam, the community uproar is apparent. Most of us expected decent performance optimization, but we’ve been gifted with bugs and choppy gameplay instead. The game does nail its part in some spots, like a better “football” feel, but it’s still frustratingly bad in other aspects.
There really isn’t any other pure sports game nominated this year other than FC 26, so with that logic, it’ll take away the title for the Best Sports Game. But does it truly deserve the crown? I wouldn’t say so. EA couldn’t deliver a polished game, and that deserves criticism, not appreciation.
Why CrossWorlds Stands Out
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds took a whole lot of people by surprise. I mean, jumping between 15 different dimensions mid-race, that’s innovation. The Travel Rings mechanic flips the whole kart-racing experience on its head: pumping adrenaline. You get 24 core tracks, some of which are rated Sonic Racing’s best track designs ever seen by the community. It’s a seamless, fun game, and that is all a game needs to be.
Sure, the appeal isn’t that massive, and it basically categorizes as a kart-racer niche. Still, it’s possibly the best arcade racer released this year, and would’ve probably topped the list if we weren’t targeting Sports games today.
The real pull is how technical the racing gets without demanding sim racing-level skills or knowledge. Drifting feels satisfying, the sense of speed is there, and your skill actually pushes you to victory laps. Moreover, the extensive customization changes how your vehicle performs, adding a layer of strategy that goes beyond “pick a character and race”.
That 95% positive Steam review score is earned, not gifted, and the community is voting with their playtime. The soundtrack hits on another level, and CrossWorld’s overall balance and playability make it the most deserving nominee of this year.
However, it’s important to remember that it still is a racing niche and doesn’t appeal to mass audiences like FC 26 does. It’s still a fair competition, and any title may come out ahead. So, cast your vote and keep an eye out for the awards unveiling on the 11th of December, 2025.
