Racing games for Windows 10 are fantastic time wasters, but also can be time investments. They can offer stunning graphics, responsive controls, plenty of customizations and challenging gameplay.
The Windows 10 Store is packed full of quality racing games that range from drag racing game to full-featured racing career games. Concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile titles, this collection does not include Xbox One titles such as Forza Horizon 3 (a fantastic game in its own right). Having said that, we think this group of racing games should satisfy your need for speed from the comfort of a Windows 10 tablet or phone.
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Gameloft's Asphalt 8: Airborne is a must-have title for any racing fan. The Windows 10 game offers breathtaking graphics, a boat load full of cars to unlock, upgrade and race and plenty of content to fill your need for speed. Add over a thousand achievements and a steal of a deal price (free) and Asphalt 8: Airborne is hard for anyone to resist.
Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, key features of Asphalt 8: Airborne include:
- Over 140 cars to race from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti and more
- Over 400 career events, 1,500 car mastery challenges and five unique game modes
- Customizations include paint jobs and over 2,300 decals
- Arcade gameplay that includes over 40 global race courses
- Multiplayer mode to compete against up to 12 opponents
While the vehicle collection includes plenty of exotic brands, there are plenty of more everyday-oriented rides available such as a Mini Cooper, Ford pickup truck and Chevy Camaro. There's even a Volkswagen Bug to race.
Control options include on-screen steering or you can opt to use tilt sensors to guide your car. Gameloft does offer the option to log into the game with a Facebook or Microsoft accounts. Creating an account allows game progress to transfer between PC and Mobile devices.
All in all, Asphalt 8: Airborne is a wonderful racing game to have tucked away in your game library. The graphics and animations are Xbox quality with jaw-dropping slow-motion sequences. Gameplay is intense and it won't take long before you find yourself leaning into turns.
Asphalt 8: Airborne is a free, ad-supported game that is available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile. It is as solid as you can get with racing games.
Download Asphalt 8: Airborne from the Windows Store
CSR Racing
While many Windows 10 racing games sends you around a circular racetrack, CSR Racing focuses on the straight tracks. Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, CSR Racing has you drag racing in city streets, competing against a host of local crews.
Key features include:
- Race over 100 licensed cars that include muscle cars, exotic racers and your everyday car such as a Dodge Dart.
- Upgrades for your cars are available to keep pace with the competition and cover the engine, transmission, tires and more
- Customize your cars with new paint jobs, plates and decals
- Compete against five local crews, challenge other CSR racers or compete in daily challenges
Controls are simple and gameplay challenges your skills at timing. As your car races down the drag strip, you tap the screen to shift gears. Tap too soon or too late and your engine loses momentum. Cars can be upgraded with Nitrous boosters, allowing you to get a little extra zip from your car.
If you prefer drag racing over running circles around a track, then CSR Racing is a great option to consider. Races only last a few seconds, making it a fun option when you need help passing short bits of time. The free game does have a slight addictive pull, allowing it to last longer if needed.
Download CSR Racing from the Windows Store
Top Bike
If you prefer racing on two wheels instead of four, Top Bike should be a game of interest. Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, Top Bike places you behind the handlebars to drag race down city streets.
Key features of this free Windows 10 game include:
- Over 70 motorcycles to choose from that includes three and four wheeled versions
- Four racing modes
- Upgrades are available for your bike's engine, body, gear box, clutch and more
- Bikes can be customized through paint jobs and a series of decals
The four racing modes have you facing storyline bosses, other Top Bike players, a ladder match and a Most Wanted mode where you race to catch notorious criminals.
Controls are very similar to what is found with CSR Racing. You race from a profile view and tap the screen to shift gears at the correct time. Nitrous boosters are available from the upgrade menu to provide a little more punch to your bike.
Top Bike is a free game, available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile. The graphic quality is good with plenty of detail and smooth animations. Top Bike is another flexible game with races only lasting a few seconds for occasions where you don't have a lot of time to devote to racing. However, the free Windows 10 game has enough depth to fill longer gaming sessions if needed.
Download Top Bike from the Windows Store
Beach Buggy Racing
Beach Buggy Racing provides a more relaxed approach to the racing genre of games. Available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile, the game places you in the world of off-road kart racing. You race against a field of rival drivers with special abilities and unique personalities.
While the game does involve straight-up racing, there are also a collection of power-ups that you and your opponents can use to put a dent in the competition. These power-ups, 25 in total, include rockets, fireballs, oil slicks and more.
Other features for Beach Buggy Racing include:
- Plenty of cars to upgrade and personalize including traditional dune buggies to moon rovers
- Upgrades cover acceleration, top speed, handling and strength (to better withstand rocket hits)
- 10 drivers are available to unlock if you need a change in racing personality
- 15 race tracks to explore that includes lava spewing volcanoes, sandy beaches and dinosaur infested jungles
- Support for split screen multiplayer games where you can race up to four friends
Controlling your buggy can be done by using your device's tilt controls or on-screen racing controls. Graphics are colorful and the animations lively.
While Beach Buggy approaches racing from a light-hearted angle, gameplay is just as challenging as what you find in the more traditional racing titles. You need to not only pay attention to the twists and turns on the track but also avoid hitting local merchants and other obstacles, as well as attacks from your opponents.
Overall, Beach Buggy Racing is a fun time waster of a game. It is a free title and available for Windows 10 PC and Mobile.
Download Beach Buggy Racing from the Windows Store
While all of these games play out nicely from the smaller screen of a Windows Phone, the game experience amplifies when played from the larger screen of a Windows 10 tablet. The larger screen highlights the graphic quality and pulls you into the game more.
The selection of quality racing games in the Windows Store is strong and these titles represent some of the best available. If you have tried any of these titles out, let us know what you think of the games in the comments below. Odds are we've missed someone's favorite racing game and if you have a recommendation, feel free to toss that out too.