8 Racing Games To Get Excited For In 2024

2023 turned out to be a pretty interesting year for racing games. Forza Motorsport arguably took the headlines, albeit released to somewhat mixed reviews, while The Crew Motorfest arrived as a bonafide Forza Horizon contender.

Codemasters returned to the rally scene with the excellent WRC with F1 23 signalling a return to form after a lacklustre 22 effort from the EA-owned studio.

So far, 2024 doesn’t look like it’ll provide any AAA blockbuster hits in the genre, but there are certainly some interesting projects to keep an eye out for. Here are just a few…

8. Over Jump Rally

Sega just revealed a whole load of classic games making a return, including Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio, however, there’s a sore absence from that list. Sega Rally looks to remain dormant, having last had an entry into the series in 2011.

However, an indie studio has taken it upon itself to honour the original. Over Jump Rally looks the part, even down to the original HUD and iconic Castrol-clad Toyota Celica, albeit with modern graphics.

For now, the game is listed as a ‘proof of concept’ on Steam with developer Bonsai Rosso hoping to get Sega’s approval to release the game. If you want to help make that a reality, you can wishlist it.

7. PISTA Motorsport

There are so many PC simulators these days that the market is becoming somewhat oversaturated with GT-focused titles. PISTA Motorsport may sound along those lines, but it’s got an edge.

Focusing entirely on Argentinian racing, PISTA looks to feature an overlooked variety of racers from old-school local touring cars to regional formula series. No release date just yet, but keep an eye out for it in 2024.

6. iRacing’s rain effects

iRacing isn’t exactly a spring chicken, releasing all the way back in 2008. However, with continual improvements, the hardcore simulator remains the best way to go competitive racing online.

In that time, it’s never had rain effects. 2024 will change that though with the much-anticipated debut of wet racing. Details are still a little scarce on its implementation, but such is the detail iRacing tends to go to, it could well end up the most realistic recreation of rain in a racing game and a transformational addition to the subscription service.

5. F1 24

At this point, the F1 games are like the FIFA (sorry, EA Sports FC) of the racing world - you can guarantee one will be out every year. There’s no reason to think it’ll change otherwise in 2024.

2023 was a leap forward for the game’s physics. 2022 struggled to capture the ground effect-based aerodynamics the real series had switched to, but Codemasters seemed to nail it with its most recent effort. Despite a new entry into the Braking Point story mode and the addition of F1 World, its career mode felt like a lacklustre effort.

There are no details yet on what F1 24 will entail, but we’ll be hoping Codemasters can rectify that with a much-improved career experience.

4. Wreckreation

Wreckfest is one of our favourite games. The ‘simcade’ physics combined with the endless destruction you’d expect from a title focused on banger racing is one of the most fun recipes out there. Now, its publisher, THQ Nordic, is releasing another in a similar vein.

Wreckreation uses a similar destruction-heavy physics engine but, rather than focusing on banger racing, its selling point is stunts. Expect big jumps, loops, whacky obstacles and by the sounds of it, the ability to create your own bonkers tracks.

3. Japanese Drift Master

By name alone, Japanese Drift Master has our interest piqued. Fortunately, it’s a case of doing what it says on the tin.

Its open world is the version of Japan we always hoped Forza Horizon would deliver, offering miles of mountain roads both fictional and inspired by the real world to unleash our inner Takumi Fujiwara.

Cars aren’t officially licenced, but they’re close enough to the real thing to wonder if a the lawyers might want to get involved. There’s an interesting premise for the story mode too, with you playing “a foreigner who wants to make a name for himself on the Japanese drifting scene”.

Though there’s no release date for the full game, there’s a demo on Steam to give you a taste of the physics.

2. Assetto Corsa 2

Few could’ve predicted just how much of a mainstay in the sim racing scene Assetto Corsa has become since its 2014 launch. That’s mostly down to how easy it is to mod, with the community transforming the title into something barely recognisable. At last, though, it’s getting a proper sequel.

You may be thinking “Hang on, what about Assetto Corsa Competizione?”. Well yes, that exists, but that’s more of a standalone title focused purely on GT3 racing. Assetto Corsa 2 will be arriving as a proper, mixed-flavour simulator.

For now, we don’t know a lot about the game, other than it should be coming sometime in 2024. Expect an overhauled physics engine though and surely some inspiration from the original games’ vast array of available mods. More importantly, we can’t wait to see what the community does with it.

1. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Long before Forza Horizon was even a concept, Test Drive Unlimited was the go-to for open-world driving havens. It’s been a long time waiting for a new game though, with Unlimited 2 releasing back in 2011 and the series going dormant since.

However, 2024 will see its return with Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. Rather than being set on a big island like Oahu (TDU) or Ibiza (TDU 2), Solar Crown will take you to a 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong with 375 miles of road to play with.

There seems to be a big focus on living the luxury life, so expect to see plenty of hypercars in the final release along with all sorts of other exuberant ways to splash your virtual cash.