Which of the Best Car Games Is Right for Your Itch?
Table of Contents
Car games by what you love: driving, tuning or wrecking
Pick the verb you love
The best car game depends on what you love most. To drive, buy Forza Horizon 6 on Xbox or PC, or Gran Turismo 7 on PlayStation; to tune, buy My Summer Car or Car Mechanic Simulator 2021; to wreck, buy BeamNG.drive.
Already played Forza or Gran Turismo?
If Forza Horizon 5 left you wanting more, Forza Horizon 6 moves the festival to Japan. If open roads bore you, the tuning and wrecking picks swap the steering wheel for a wrench or a crash.
Buying for someone else, or stuck on PS5?
Forza Horizon 6 has no PlayStation date yet, so Gran Turismo 7 is the PS5 driving pick today. For a gift, check the ratings below; they run from E to Teen.
ℹ️ Age & Spend Note: Ratings here run from E to Teen, and My Summer Car is unrated with developer-described mature content. Several picks sell extras for real money or need an online account. The ESRB publishes the ratings, and platform parental controls can limit spending and online play.
How we picked these car games (and what we cut)
This is an unranked set, not a top ten: we grouped games by what you do with the car.
What Researched means here
Researched means we verified facts against storefronts, publishers, ratings bodies and press, but did not play the game.
What we checked, and what we cut
For each game we checked platform, price, subscription, rating, mode, length and whether it is still on sale. We left out free browser and mobile games, hardcore sim-racing rosters, and anything we could not confirm is buyable today.
Match the verb: do you want to drive, tune or wreck?
Car games split by what you do with the car: drive it, tune it or wreck it.
Drive: from festival arcade to simulator
Three levels: arcade, sim-cade and simulator.
Tune: five rungs from presets to engine design
- Cosmetic changes only.
- Quick presets.
- Sliders for suspension, gearing and differential.
- Part-by-part assembly.
- Designing the car and engine.
Wreck: from dents to soft-body destruction
- Cosmetic dents.
- Damage that changes handling.
- Soft-body simulation.
- Crashing is the objective.
Rungs describe what store pages and developers say, not our scores.
Car games compared: price, platform, mode and how deep they go
The comparison table
⏱️ Verified 8 Oct 2026: Prices, sales, and subscription catalogues change constantly. Confirm on the storefront before you buy.
| Game | Verb and rung | Platforms | List price · length | Rating · status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 6 | Drive (open world) | Xbox Series, PC; PS5 undated | $69.99 · open-ended | E · Released |
| Gran Turismo 7 | Drive (sim-cade) | PS5, PS4 | $69.99 at launch · about 23–28 h | E · Released |
| My Summer Car | Tune 4 | PC | $14.99 · open-ended | Unrated · Released |
| Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 | Tune 4 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | $24.99 · 23 to 105 h | E · Released |
| Automation | Tune 5 | PC | $29.99 · open-ended | Unrated · Early Access |
| BeamNG.drive | Wreck 3; tune 3 | PC | $24.99 · open-ended | Unrated · Early Access label |
| Burnout Paradise Remastered | Wreck 4 | PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch | $19.99 (PC) · 11 to 37 h | E10+ · Released |
| Wreckfest | Wreck 3–4 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox One | $29.99 (PC) · open-ended | Teen · Released |
| Wreckfest 2 | Wreck 3–4; tune 3 | PC | $34.99 · open-ended | Unrated · Early Access |
Lengths from HowLongToBeat are community estimates; Gran Turismo 7’s comes from press reports. Prices are Steam list prices on 8 October 2026 unless noted. Tune and wreck numbers are the rungs above; driving games carry none.
Best car games if you love driving: open roads or perfect cars
Two driving picks, split by platform and feel.
Forza Horizon 6
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Xbox app); PS5 planned, undated · Price: $69.99 Standard (verified 8 Oct 2026) · On subscription: Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass · Length: open-ended, no verified figure · Mode: single-player, online co-op and PvP · Rating: ESRB E (Mild Lyrics; Users Interact; In-Game Purchases)
An open-world festival across Japan where you can drive any car you own, anywhere.
🔍 Why It Matches: It turns driving into a place to explore: Tokyo streets, mountain touge battles, Car Meets and a Collection Journal that rewards wandering as much as winning. The developer calls it its most approachable Horizon yet, with AutoDrive and a proximity radar. Tuners get engine swaps, body kits and shared tunes.
⚠️ Heads Up: The Steam page requires a persistent internet connection and a Microsoft account. The ESRB says you can spend real money on cars, emotes and cosmetics; we found no source saying progression requires it. Steam reviews are 83% positive overall (42,498) but Mixed over the last 30 days (56% of 3,723).
Who it’s not for: Sim purists, anyone who needs PlayStation today, and anyone who minds a permanent online connection.
[Researched — Steam page, ESRB, Forza FAQ, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam or Game Pass. Store link.
Gran Turismo 7
Platforms: PS5, PS4 · Price: $69.99 at launch; deal trackers reported $24.99–$29.99 in 2026 (PlayStation Store price not confirmed 8 Oct 2026) · On subscription: not in PS Plus per a March 2025 report; online play needs PS Plus · Length: about 23–28 hours to the credits (press estimates) · Mode: single-player, split screen, online up to 20 players · Rating: ESRB E.
A sim-cade for people who love cars as objects: buy, tune, race and sell.
🔍 Why It Matches: Its GT Simulation mode makes ownership the loop: you buy, tune, race and sell your way up. The GT Café menus give a clear path to the credits, and the garage launched with 424 cars.
Who it’s not for: Xbox and PC players, and anyone who wants an open world to roam.
[Researched — PlayStation Store listing, ESRB via retailer listing, press reports]
🛒 Where to Get It: PlayStation Store. Store link.
Best car games for tuning: build it, bolt by bolt
Two picks for people who like wrenches more than lap times.
My Summer Car
Platforms: PC (Steam) · Price: $14.99 (verified 8 Oct 2026) · On subscription: none · Length: open-ended, no verified figure · Mode: single-player · Rating: no ESRB rating found; developer-described mature content.
Tuning as assembly: you start with hundreds of loose parts and build the car and engine yourself.
🔍 Why It Matches: You assemble engine and car, keep it maintained, then upgrade it with parts ordered by post and enter a rally. Steering wheel and shifter controllers are supported. Steam reviews are 93% positive of 37,287.
Who it’s not for: Anyone who wants quick progress or a tutorial; the developer warns it isn’t for the faint of heart and includes permanent death. Not for younger players.
[Researched — Steam page, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam. Store link.
Car Mechanic Simulator 2021
Platforms: PC (Steam), PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series · Price: $24.99 on Steam (verified 8 Oct 2026); about $29.99 on consoles (Deku Deals) · On subscription: none verified · Length: 23 / 53.5 / 105.5 hours (main, extras, completionist; community estimates) · Mode: single-player · Rating: ESRB E per console listings.
Tuning as repair and rebuild: 4,000+ unique parts across 72 cars.
🔍 Why It Matches: You fix, tune and rebuild cars in a garage, win them at auctions or find them in barns and junkyards, and test them on a track with a time trial. Steam lists car tuning and a car configurator. Reviews are 95% positive of 17,124.
Who it’s not for: Anyone who wants to drive; time at the wheel is small.
[Researched — Steam page, Deku Deals, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam. Store link.
Best car games for wrecking: crashes you will replay
Three picks across the wreck ladder: sandbox physics, arcade takedowns, derby racing.
BeamNG.drive
Platforms: PC (Windows, Steam); no console version found · Price: $24.99 (verified 8 Oct 2026) · On subscription: none · Length: sandbox, no verified figure · Mode: single-player · Rating: none shown.
A soft-body physics sandbox where every component of a vehicle is simulated in real time.
🔍 Why It Matches: Crashes deform parts instead of playing canned animations. Free roam, scenarios and time trials give you reasons to crash on purpose, and modding is extensive. Steam reviews are 97% positive of 211,422, though the page still carries an Early Access label from 2015.
Who it’s not for: Console players, anyone wanting a story or tutorial, and anyone without a capable PC; check the Steam requirements first.
[Researched — Steam page, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam. Store link.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Platforms: PC (Steam, EA account), PS4, Xbox One, Switch · Price: $19.99 on Steam (verified 8 Oct 2026); $29.99 MSRP on consoles · On subscription: EA Play on Steam · Length: 11 / 20 / 37 hours (community estimates) · Mode: single-player, online PvP and co-op · Rating: ESRB E10+ (Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Violence)
An open-world city where takedowns, not repair bills, are the point.
🔍 Why It Matches: You hunt jumps, shortcuts and stunts across Paradise City while smashing through traffic and wrecking rivals. The remaster bundles Big Surf Island, Cops and Robbers and bikes.
Who it’s not for: Anyone wanting realistic damage or a modern release: it is a 2018 remaster with Mixed Steam reviews (61% of 4,177) and needs an EA account.
[Researched — Steam page, Deku Deals, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam. Store link.
Wreckfest
Platforms: PC (Steam), PS4/PS5, Xbox One · Price: $29.99 on Steam (verified 8 Oct 2026); console price not confirmed · On subscription: none · Length: no verified figure · Mode: single-player, online PvP · Rating: ESRB Teen (Mild Lyrics, Mild Violence)
Demolition derby and banger racing with soft-body damage.
🔍 Why It Matches: Armour such as roll cages and bumpers adds weight and changes handling, while engine parts tune banger races. A career mode and Steam Workshop mods add longevity. Steam reviews are 87% positive of 18,951.
Who it’s not for: Anyone wanting pristine supercars; the developer describes the roster as old, banged-up cars. Players under 13.
[Researched — Steam page, Deku Deals, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam. Store link.
A tuning game nobody lists: design the engine, then crash it
Automation is the pick we would most like you to try.
Automation
Platforms: PC (Windows, Steam) · Price: $29.99 (verified 8 Oct 2026) · On subscription: none · Length: open-ended · Mode: single-player, online PvP · Rating: none shown.
Design the engine and the car, then drive and crash it in BeamNG.drive.
🔍 Why It Matches: It is a car and engine design tool with a campaign that starts in 1946. You shape bodies and engines, then export them with one click to BeamNG.drive to drive, race and crash. That makes it the top tuning rung, and the only pick here that lets you wreck your own design.
Who it’s not for: Anyone who wants to drive inside Automation itself, dislikes management play, or minds a decade in Early Access (since March 2015). BeamNG.drive is sold separately.
[Researched — Steam page, verified 8 Oct 2026]
🛒 Where to Get It: Steam. Store link.
How the BeamNG.drive export works
Per Steam’s description, build a car and engine in Automation, choose export, then find it in BeamNG.drive’s vehicle list. Steam reviews are 93% positive of 12,387.
Wreckfest 2: why it’s not our wrecking pick yet
The sequel is promising, and it is not ready to recommend today.
Where Wreckfest 2 stands today
Platforms: PC (Steam Early Access since 20 Mar 2025); PS5 and Xbox Series announced for 2026, undated · Price: $34.99 (verified 8 Oct 2026) · On subscription: none · Length: open-ended · Mode: single-player, online PvP · Rating: none seen.
The sequel with rebuilt physics, tuning and progression, still in Early Access.
🔍 Why It Matches: The developer’s update 7 notes describe tuning for brakes, suspension, gearing, steering and differential, and update 8 (30 June) added progression and quick tuning. Steam reviews are 72% positive of 3,653, but Mixed over the last 30 days (67% of 143). The store page promises a career mode; no listed update has delivered it.
Who it’s not for: Anyone who wants a finished game, a career mode or console play today. Buy Wreckfest for a finished wrecker.
[Researched — Steam page, THQ Nordic update notes, verified 8 Oct 2026]
The same trap: Assetto Corsa EVO
Assetto Corsa EVO entered Early Access in January 2025 aiming for 1.0 within a year, and Steam lists it at version 0.9. It costs $39.99, and reviews are Mixed at 54% positive of 8,835.
What would change our mind
A 1.0 release, a shipped career mode and recent reviews back at Very Positive.
Before you buy: platforms, Game Pass and price traps
Is it on Game Pass or PS Plus?
The publisher’s FAQ says Forza Horizon 6 Standard is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The ESRB lists Ultimate at $22.99 a month. Gran Turismo 7 online play needs PS Plus.
Forza Horizon 6 on PS5: what’s confirmed
The publisher says a PS5 version is coming later this year. No date has been announced as of 8 October 2026.
Early Access, delisting and always-online risks
Wreckfest 2, Assetto Corsa EVO and Automation are Early Access. Always-online racers can vanish: The Crew went offline in March 2024, and The Crew 2 added an offline mode in October 2025.
Controller or wheel?
BeamNG.drive recommends a gamepad, and My Summer Car supports steering wheel and shifter controllers.
Buying for a kid? Ratings, chat and in-game spending
Age ratings in one line each
Forza Horizon 6, Gran Turismo 7 and Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 are E, Burnout Paradise Remastered is E10+ and Wreckfest is Teen. My Summer Car is unrated; its developer lists pedestrians run over, crash deaths with visible blood, a possible suicide scene, tobacco and alcohol use, and swearing. We found no rating for the rest, so check the ESRB listing.
Online chat and parental controls
The ESRB’s parent guide says Forza Horizon 6’s “Users Interact” label means players can communicate in the game. Platform parental controls can restrict online play and spending.
In-game purchases and Early Access pricing
Forza Horizon 6 sells cars, emotes and cosmetics for real money, and the ESRB advises setting spending limits. Developers of Wreckfest 2 and Assetto Corsa EVO say prices rise during Early Access.
Car game questions, answered
1. What is the best car game for beginners?
Forza Horizon 6: it is rated E, has AutoDrive and a proximity radar, and is on Game Pass.
2. Is Forza Horizon 6 coming to PS5?
Yes, the publisher says later this year, but no release date has been announced as of 8 October 2026.
3. Is Forza Horizon 6 on Game Pass?
Yes. The Standard Edition is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Xbox, PC and cloud as of 8 October 2026.
4. What is the best car game for tuning?
For tuning an existing car, Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 or My Summer Car; to design the car and engine yourself, Automation.
5. Which car game has the best crash physics?
BeamNG.drive: its soft-body engine simulates every component of a vehicle in real time, and we found no console version.
6. Is Wreckfest 2 worth buying yet?
Not yet: it is Early Access on PC, recent Steam reviews are Mixed, and no career mode or console date has shipped.
7. Are these car games okay for kids?
Ratings run from E to Teen, and My Summer Car is unrated with developer-described mature content.
8. Which of these car games are PC only?
BeamNG.drive, My Summer Car, Automation and Wreckfest 2; we found no console versions of them.
Which car game should you buy first?
Our pick for most readers
For most readers, the single best pick is Forza Horizon 6, and on PS5 it is Gran Turismo 7 until a PlayStation date arrives.
Where to go next
Our guides to games like Forza Horizon and to car crash games go deeper on each verb. Sign up for the monthly price and Early Access tracker to hear when verdicts change.
What we played and verified
We researched every pick and played none for this edition; everything was verified on 8 October 2026. If you buy for a child, check the ESRB listing, spending limits and online-chat settings yourself.
