At first glance, racing games can feel like they all blur together; after all, you’re just driving fast cars around tracks. Look closer, though, and the genre is full of nuance, with each title carving out its own niche through physics, vehicle types, art style, or game modes. For a parent without much gaming experience, that variety can be overwhelming, which is exactly where this guide to the best Xbox Series X racing games for kids and teens comes in.
The Xbox Series X sits in an interesting spot, inching closer to a full-on gaming PC with each generation. That comes with real upsides, like the jaw-dropping graphics powering today’s most realistic simulators, alongside trade-offs like fewer platform exclusives. Even so, the racing library on Xbox is deep and varied, with several promising titles still on the way.
The games below span the full range of what the genre has to offer, from kid-friendly kart racers built around beloved characters to hardcore simulators that recreate real-world tracks down to the asphalt.
You’ll find motorcycles, monster trucks, rally cars, and Hot Wheels alongside the expected supercars, with recommended age ranges that reflect each game’s complexity rather than mature content. Most of these titles are appropriate for any age, but the mechanics and learning curves vary widely.
Each entry explains what sets the game apart, why it works for a particular age group, and whether it’s also available on PlayStation or Nintendo, since several of these are multi-platform releases optimized for the Series X.
Disney Speedstorm Is Disney on Karts
Recommended Ages: 6 – 12
What Sets Disney Speedstorm Apart: The easy answer is that it is a kart game with all your kids’ favorite Disney characters, but that doesn’t do this game justice. It keeps the fun ambiance of a kid’s kart racer, but each character has assigned abilities, so it feels a little more like a combat game like Twisted Metal than a traditional kart racer like Mario Kart. Of course, not just the characters are Disney-themed. The tracks are scenes from the movies, redesigned as exhilarating race tracks.
This game also lets you upgrade your car’s stats and unlock new skills like an RPG. Something that everyone will also love is the soundtrack of remixed Disney movie tunes during races. As Disney is prone to do, they deliver a fantastic video game experience that lands somewhere between Kingdom Hearts and racing karts.
Why Disney Speedstorm Is Great For Kids: This is definitely a game meant for younger kids, but parents should be aware of in-game purchases and online play. Beyond that, the controls aren’t too complicated, so kids as young as six can succeed with a little practice. While this game is fun and a refreshing change of pace from copy-and-paste kart racers, most kids will grow out of Disney characters as they get older, so it definitely has a shelf life.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing Lets You Be Your Favorite Characters
Recommended Ages: 6 – 12
What Sets DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing Apart: The secret to DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is that it has all your favorite DreamWorks characters. For the most part, this is a standard kart game that plays like the rest, with relatively short, fast races and power-ups meant to knock other racers off track.
Why this game is so appealing is that it does everything you would expect, but while in control of your favorite Dreamworks characters on tracks set in your favorite Dreamworks worlds. Nothing can ever beat the original, but in my opinion, this game has the best power-ups outside of Mario Kart.
Why DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing Is Great For Kids: It’s a fun, funny game that is packed with some of kids’ favorite childhood characters. The controls are simple, so even younger kids will have a fighting chance at coming in first. Like most kart games, this game retains its replay value, but kids will eventually grow out of loving DreamWorks movies, which is its most significant appeal.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged Lets You Ride the Hot Wheels Track
Recommended Ages: 6 – 12
What Sets Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged Apart: This may be one of the most underrated racing games for kids. Every kid who has owned a Hot Wheels track has imagined what it would be like to be behind the wheel of one of those cars during big loops and crazy jumps, and this game makes that dream come true.
Kids get to race on tracks inspired by the real Hot Wheels tracks. My favorite part is probably the real-world environments you find yourself driving through, like kitchen countertops with obstacles like sponges.
There are also boss battles that allow you to “take on” popular obstacles from real-life courses like the octopus and the T. Rex. You don’t need to worry about power-ups, but this game isn’t completely safe for kid drivers, as you can fly off the track as well as crash into walls, obstacles, and other cars.
Why Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged Is Great For Kids: This game is just exhilarating for kids in this age range. It is about as high-speed as they can handle, and that is before you add in all the twists and turns. I absolutely love everything about this game, from the cars to the environments and the high-speed action. I love listening to my seven-year-old giggle while he plays this game. While Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 may lose some of its appeal as kids move on to more realistic simulators, it can still be fun for the whole family.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
Monster Jam Showdown Does Its Own Thing
Recommended Ages: 7 – 14
What Sets Monster Jam Showdown Apart: There are a handful of Monster Jam racing games, which some may call niche, but I think they are a nice change of pace when you are tired of driving supercars in circles. There are some unique features to this game that some kids may love, while others may not. For instance, the trucks in this game are Rear Wheel Drive, which is uncommon in video games and introduces different mechanics that allow for tighter drifting but feel off compared to traditional Front Wheel Drive mechanics.
Although it seems like an open-world game, it is very contained with a limited number of maps, but since this game is more about the trucks than the tracks, it doesn’t matter too much. Unlike traditional racing games, Monster Jam Showdown focuses more on massive jumps and big tricks than high speeds. The name of the game is still to win the race, but a selection of game modes that each require different skills to master keeps the races fresh and fun.
Why Monster Jam Showdown Is Great For Kids: I love this game for kids because it isn’t just a pure racing game. It’s more about the experience of driving monster trucks with the structure of a formal race. Kids will enjoy hours honing their skills to win both races and awards with high-flying trucks. The only reason the age range cuts off in the early teens is that the fantasy of doing flips with five-ton trucks makes way for the reality of driving real cars soon.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
Trackmania Finds A Way To Reinvent The Wheel
Recommended Ages: 7+
What Sets Trackmania Apart: Trackmania is awesome because it brings racing back to its earliest days, when you were your own competition. Instead of battling against flying power-ups and aggressive drivers, your only opponent is the clock. The other thing that makes this game so awesome is alluded to in the name.
Not only can players make their own crazy, wacky tracks, but they can also share them, leading to hundreds of thousands of unique maps available to try. Since this game has so much creative freedom, it often plays like an arcade racer since you can create physics-bending tracks.
As if all of that wasn’t boredom-busting enough, this game also has unique game modes like a puzzle mode that forces kids to think critically to finish unfinished tracks. While you don’t compete directly with other players, Trackmania has a rich community feel to it, with tournaments and leaderboards to highlight elite players.
Why Trackmania Is Great For Kids: This is a game that kids can grow with. The controls are easy enough for younger kids to manage the basics, but mastering driving will take time and maturity. In the same vein, they will be able to create their own maps with no issue, but creating intricate maps like more mature players will be on a learning curve. The best part about this game for kids is that they are only competing against themselves, so the stakes are as low as they get. In fact, this could almost be a cozy game if it weren’t for the exhilaration of high speeds and big jumps.
Also Available On: PlayStation
LEGO 2K Drive Builds On Kids’ Love For LEGO
Recommended Ages: 8-14
What Sets LEGO 2K Drive Apart: When most people see LEGO, they imagine it is a fun, kind of quirky game aimed at kids. While LEGO 2K Drive has many of those elements that people love, it isn’t exactly their regular fare. There is so much to appreciate about this game, from the open-world map with changing terrain that requires you to transform your car as you go to the infinite customization LEGO provides. I love LEGO 2K Drive because of everything it offers.
Not only does it feature kart-style racing that kids love, but it also includes a story mode and mini-games that make it playable for hundreds of hours. While there is much more happening here than in a traditional LEGO-franchised game, the story mode still keeps the silly cutscenes filled with goofy characters.
At the end of the day, this game highlights what LEGO does best, which is to let your imagination be the limit of your play.
Why LEGO 2K Drive Is Great For Kids: My seven-year-old is a LEGO fanatic, and his passion only seems to grow, so this game made complete sense for our family. It’s amazing to watch what his little brain comes up with in real life, and it’s even more mind-blowing to see what he can do in the game without real-world restrictions. Although it is a LEGO gam,e there are some technical aspects that may be challenging for kids under eight. On the other side of the spectrum, kids older than fourteen will probably complete the story and side quests and grow out of the silliness that makes LEGO games so enjoyable to kids. Still, the open world and unparalleled vehicle customization make it a draw even for older kids.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
CarX Street Cuts Corners To Deliver A New Kind Of Racing Game
Recommended Ages: 8+
What Sets CarX Street Apart: CarX Street stands out by foregoing crisp graphics and realistic tracks in favor of physics. The graphics aren’t bad; they’re just not as polished as in other games because CarX Street knows that how the car looks is second to how it moves. Licensed cars are fully customizable, including under the hood, tires, and suspension.
Handling is the biggest focus of the game, and you can tell that different cars handle differently based on characteristics like weight, suspension, and weather conditions. Like most realistic sim games, dynamic weather changes play a role in how your car handles not only during turns, but also when accelerating and braking. Another aspect players love about this game is its open-world map, which offers hours of exploration.
Personally, I think CarX Street deserves a spot on this list for some of its fringe features. There is an underrated sim component to this game that actually teaches kids real-life responsibility, such as the consequences of regular unleaded vs. premium fuel in high-performance cars, a place to store all the cars you collect, and managing vehicle wear and tear. The club system adds an arcade element to the game as you battle bosses to unlock new parts and money.
Why CarX Street Is Great For Kids: The only thing holding younger kids back from playing this game is the technicality of it. Between understanding the changing physics and how to control drifting to knowing what each upgrade is and why you’d need them, it’s easy to see how complete individual mastery of this game would be challenging for kids under eight. I love that this game has carved its own path, delivering a unique experience for racing lovers that perfectly marries arcade and simulation elements.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Asphalt 9 Legends Is A Near-Perfect Arcade Racer
Recommended Ages: 9+
What Sets Asphalt 9 Legends Apart: This game wasn’t even on my radar until an extended family member recommended it to me. Asphalt Legends hits a sweet spot where it has fantasy elements of crazy concept cars and unreal physics, but with more realistic graphics than silly kart racers. It finds a sweet spot between being a serious game with some refined mechanics and realistic cars, and an arcade racer with over-the-top physics.
Another fun way Asphalt 9 Legends sets itself apart is with team modes, so kids can play with their friends on the same team instead of competing against each other. The thing parents will love most about this game is that it is free to play, and kids can earn new cars by winning races, so it is easy on the wallet.
Why Asphalt 9 Legends Is Great For Kids: This game blurs the lines of reality perfectly, where kids still get the realistic cars they want to see, but they don’t have to follow the laws of physics that make driving boring. Some of the mechanics of this game may be a little tough for kids under nine to get the hang of, but people nine and up will enjoy the high-flying action of this game. I know an adult or two who still very much enjoys playing Asphalt 9 Legends regularly.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
Overpass 2 ChallengesThe Genre
Recommended Ages: 10+
What Sets Overpass 2 Apart: It is crazy how a game like this can take the concept of driving in circles and turn it into something entirely different. This game isn’t about how fast you can make it around the track; it’s about whether you can make it around the track at all. It is much more about navigating the terrain and staying upright than about speeding through turns.
I love this game because it forces kids to think critically about the physics of driving over rough terrain. It also helps that this racer uses off-road vehicles like ATVs and UTVs instead of fancy sports cars. Just the idea alone is enough to earn a spot on this list, because it’s always refreshing when a racing game comes up with a new angle.
However, Overpass 2’s full career mode makes it worth your money, as kids can enjoy it for ages.
Why Overpass 2 Is Great For Kids: There is a tight window when this game is perfect for kids, between ages 10 and 14. Younger kids will have trouble understanding the core of the game, which is figuring out the best features to optimize your vehicle for the conditions. Kids older than 14 may find the game a little repetitive and be ready to move on to a more realistic simulator with fancy sports cars, like Forza or Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Art Of Rally Is Charmingly Different
Recommended Ages: 10+
What Sets Art of Rally Apart: Art of Rally is high on my personal list of racing games because it is so charmingly original while paying homage to the polygon art style of the 90s. This game is a live 80s and 90s kids’ dream, with a sweet synthwave soundtrack that could stand on its own.
There is so much to love, but aside from its aesthetics, the most standout aspect of this game is the overhead view. Instead of being at car-level or behind the driver’s wheel, you control the car from a top-down view. This indie racer is already unique, but it also blends multiple genres into a simple racing game.
There is a racing sim angle to it, but it is just as much a rally racer with some sprinkles of cozy game feel with soft art, low consequences, and a soundtrack that you can vibe to.
Why Art of Rally Is Great For Kids: Younger kids may struggle with some of the drifting physics of this game, but otherwise, there is no reason why kids younger than ten shouldn’t play. Don’t write this game off as a cartoonish kids’ game; it is more challenging than it looks, which only makes it better. The low stakes and graphics make it easier for kids and even adults to lose track of time playing this game.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
Monster Energy Supercross ‘25 Gives Bike Lovers A Lane
Recommended Ages: 10+
What Sets Monster Energy Supercross ‘25 Apart: One of the reasons there are so many racing games is that there are so many styles of racing. Some kids may love traditional circuit racing, while others may love drag racing, and still others would prefer to race on two wheels. The Monster Supercross series is for those kids who love to race bikes.
This game is fantastic in part because it has so much money behind it. The easiest way to describe it is as a racing simulator similar to Gran Turismo or Forza, but with a focus on AMA Supercross. Players don’t just get to use real bikes with realistic bike racing physics, but they can even play as their favorite racer.
Like most racing games of its caliber, this game strives to offer the most realistic tracks and dynamic weather conditions to get as close to the real thing as you can from your living room.
Why Monster Energy Supercross ‘25 Is Great For Kids: This game finds itself in a bit of a middle ground: there is nothing inappropriate for younger kids, but the mechanics will hold back kids younger than 10. Racing mechanics in realistic games like this are always a challenge to master, even for adults, and that challenge increases when you switch from four-wheeled cars to two-wheeled bikes. If you have a young bike fanatic at home, this game is perfect for them, but the younger they are, the more challenging it will be.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Grid Legends Is Basically A Movie
Recommended Ages: 12+
What Sets Grid Legends Apart: Grid Legends is another game that proves there are still innovative ways to keep racing games relevant. Grid Legends has many of the features one would expect from a racing game, such as a wide selection of real-life tracks and plenty of supercharged cars to choose from.
Two significant features make Grid Legends stand out against its competition. First, while there is a nice selection of sleek racing cars, you can drive anything and everything in this game, from Teslas to Tractors.
The second is a full-on story mode that looks like a documentary, so you basically feel like you are in a movie while playing. Another cool feature that not every racing game has is the ability to build your own race tracks, where you can customize not just the track but also features like vehicle limitations and weather. So, basically, kids can turn this serious sim-style racing game into more of a high-flying arcade racer if they so choose.
Why Grid Legends Is Great For Teens: There is nothing inherently bad about this game for kids younger than twelve, but a lot is happening in this game that may be overwhelming for younger players. On the flip side, teens will love that it offers so many options and that they can drive around vehicles they’ve never driven in games before. This may be one of the most complete and probably fun racing games available for Xbox Series X/S, but between the mechanics and the cinematic storyline that requires a little patience, this game is probably best left to the 12+ crowd.
Also Available On: PlayStation and Nintendo
EA Sports WRC Is A Rally Car Experience
Recommended Ages: 12+
What Sets EA Sports WRC Apart: One of the best parts about racing games is how incredibly diverse the genre is. You have kart racers like Mario Kart, serious racing sims like Gran Turismo and Forza, and then a bunch of niche games like EA Sports WRC, which focuses on rally racing.
This game can easily be categorized as a sim, but it isn’t about circuits or cross-country racing; it’s all about going off-road. Kids still get the benefits of a racing simulation game, like building their own cars and managing a team, but with a unique Rally car experience.
WRC has some interesting features as well, like changing road conditions due to track wear from weather and other cars wearing down the track with each lap. While WRC is for everyone, they lean into the rally racing niche pretty far with rally cars spanning decades of WRC races and eighteen unique rallies. So, not only do kids get to have some fun, but they get to learn a bit about rally racing history while they do it.
Why EA Sports WRC Is Great For Teens: Driving through the mud seems like the perfect idea for younger kids, but 12 is even stretching it for this game. The technical aspects of running your rally team, understanding pace notes, figuring out the mechanics of off-road driving, and significantly longer races compared to traditional racing games can all be challenging for adults, much less a young kid. If you have a teen who is really into rally racing, this game is both fun to play and a little educational.
Also Available On: PlayStation
RIDE 5 Is The Best Motorcycle Sim
Recommended Ages: 12+
What Sets RIDE 5 Apart: Cars have Gran Turismo and Forza, motorcycles get RIDE 5. This game is about as realistic as a motorcycle racing simulator can get. Like other new-age simulators, this game strives for the most realistic conditions on the track, from the weather to lean speed. The career mode plays like a TV show with a cast of characters you get to know over 200 events.
Outside of the career mode, the other most notable race is endurance mode, which can last up to 24 hours. Thankfully, you can save the game mid-race. It’s hard for this game to get boring, but if it ever does, kids can create their own custom events with the race creator. As you would expect of a game with this much realism,
RIDE 5 has a wide stable of licensed bikes that the motorcycle lover in your house will adore. Another standout feature is the ability to play couch co-op split-screen racing alongside online racing, which is increasingly rare these days.
Why RIDE 5 Is Great For Teens: This is another racing game that earns its age range not because of its content, but because of its difficulty. This is a fantastic game for teens who love motorcycles because it faithfully reflects the physics of riding. This means controlling your bike through tight turns at breakneck speeds, which is challenging for adults, much less younger kids. If your teen has expressed interest in motorcycles, this is about as close as they can get to the real thing without being on the road.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Wreckfest 2 Doesn’t Sugar Coat Reality
Recommended Ages: 13+
What Sets Wreckfest 2 Apart: This is the most realistic game you will play from the perspective of real-life consequences. Wreckfest 2 builds on the wildly popular original game with a new engine and even better physics. Players don’t need to worry about flying power-ups knocking them off the track, but they do need to worry about real-world damage disabling their cars.
Cars can be damaged both aesthetically and mechanically when they hit obstacles or other cars. One of the coolest parts of this updated version and newer technology is dynamic damage, so there is no cookie-cutter damage image; instead, the car looks like it would in a real-life wreck.
If your car gets too damaged in a race, it can stop working altogether, but upgrades let you add more armor and soup up your car. Wreckfest 2 introduces new game modes and improves the current career mode, completing an upgrade of the beloved original.
Why Wreckfest 2 Is Great For Teens: Wreckfest 2 is an insanely fun game that I would argue is educational in a way. Kids younger than thirteen may struggle with the real-world implications of the crashes this game shows, but as teens develop more reasoning skills, they will start to realize that this is what would actually happen to cars if they were crashing them into walls and other cars. While it isn’t horror-movie level gore, drivers can get thrown out of their cars during crashes with realistic ragdoll effects, so parents should be comfortable with their kids seeing that level of mature content.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Assetto Corsa Competizione Is Made For The Xbox (Kind Of)
Recommended Ages: 13+
What Sets Assetto Corsa Competizione Apart: Assetto Corsa is one of the best racing simulators available today, and while it is available on other consoles, the Xbox version is optimized for the Series X, which makes it one of the most visually stunning and realistic racing games you will play. Like its contemporaries, like Gran Turismo, this game has real cars, real drivers, and real tracks. They went so far as to laser-scan the surfaces of the tracks to make them as realistic as possible. Realism doesn’t stop there, either, with dynamic weather changes that change both visibility and handling. As is expected with games of this caliber, there is a career mode to create a realistic ambiance.
There are multiple types of races, but the most intriguing is the endurance race, which can last anywhere from 2 to 24 hours. Don’t worry, though, parents, even if a kid locks into a 24-hour race, they can save the game and come back to it later.
Why Assetto Corsa Competizione Is Great For Teens: This game is better suited for teens because it features many technical aspects that even adults may find challenging. While this game is fun for people who have a passion for cars and racing, its simulation vibe leans more toward an older crowd who wants to do more than just drive in circles and throw turtle shells. While there is nothing violent or vulgar in this game, aspects like career mode and 24-hour races make this firmly a game for teens.
Also Available On: PlayStation
NASCAR ‘25
Recommended Ages: 13+
What Sets NASCAR ’25 Apart: NASCAR is easily the most recognizable racing organization in the United States. It’s right up there with other Major Leagues like MLB and NFL, so it only makes sense that they’d want a piece of the video game market like The Show and Madden have. If you have a NASCAR-loving teen in your house, they will absolutely love this game.
The game has everything you would expect from a career racing sim, like high-quality graphics, realistic racing mechanics, and real-world physics, including damage and weather conditions. While all of these are amazing and expected, they don’t set NASCAR ‘25 apart from other high-quality career racing sims.
What makes this game special is that it is an officially licensed NASCAR game, so players can choose their favorite racers, tracks, and cars from real NASCAR races.
Why Nascar ‘25 Is Great For Teens: If we are being honest, this game may be a little boring for the under-thirteen crowd. There is a ton of content with a healthy variety of racing options, but this game is just as much about managing your crew as it is the actual races. Older kids will probably love the balance between managing your team and actually racing, but younger kids are all about the action. That being said, if you have a NASCAR lover in your house, this game probably doesn’t have an age range, because they’ll love getting closer to their favorite cars and racers, even if the gaming aspects are challenging.
Also Available On: PlayStation
F1 ‘25 Is A Very Specific Sim
Recommended Ages: 13+
What Sets F1 ’25 Apart: Racing fans understand the nuances of racing more than anyone, which is why they will tell you F1 cars are massively different than NASCAR cars, which are completely different from rally cars. F1 sets itself apart from other racing games by focusing completely on F1 cars and going above and beyond to make it the most realistic racing game possible. It has an in-depth career mode, as you would expect from a game of this caliber, but it really shines in its attention to detail.
The attention to detail is incredible, from the high definition graphics that don’t miss a single shadow or rain drop to the handling of the car. The most impressive detail is the LIDAR-scanned tracks that make them look and feel just like the real thing. This game is definitely meant for teens who are deeply interested in the ins and outs of F1 racing.
Why F1 ’25 Is Great For Teens: There is some mild language and depiction of alcohol in this game, but for the most part, it’s geared toward teens because of its technicality. Mastering the controls can be challenging even for an adult, and the My Team career mode can feel like a job sometimes. However, teens who love F1 cars will love this game.
Also Available On: PlayStation
The Crew Motorfest Has All The Vehicles
Recommended Ages: 13+
What Sets The Crew Motorfest Apart: The Crew Motorfest carves out its niche in the racing field by offering over 700 vehicles from classic standards to planes and boats. The game takes place entirely on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu and allows players to seamlessly transition between land, air, and sea vehicles mid-race.
Another aspect of the game that sets it apart from every other game in its category is the playlist-style levels with themed campaigns. Instead of the main focus being driving in circles and avoiding other cars, this one adds another element with tasks that you must complete. The campaigns are fun, but they also teach a little car history along the way. While the main story is pretty linear because of the playlists, racing purists will enjoy the massive online races that allow up to 28 players per race.
Online play also offers a 32-player demolition royal mode that feels a lot like Fortnite or Warzone, except with cars.
Why The Crew Motorfest Is Great For Teens: The Crew Motorsport is a soft 13+ in today’s society. It does include some mild language and song lyrics that parents may not like, but otherwise the offline version of the game is relatively tame. It’s when you get into demolition royale and online interactions that make this game more suitable for older kids.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Forza Horizon 5 Is The Gold Standard On Xbox
Recommended Ages: 13+
What Sets Forza Horizon 5 Apart: Forza Horizon 5 is the most realistic racing simulator on Xbox to date. It brings to the table everything that the best racing simulators have, but takes it to the next level. For instance, it has expansive maps with unique biomes from jungles to beaches. Each biome has unique weather patterns that take dynamic weather physics to the next level. With a vast library of cars, teens have options for both fun and education.
The future car collector will love seeing all the different types of cars that are out there. Unlike other sims, Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t have a dedicated career mode; instead, it uses a progression system where you achieve accolades and missions as you play. Forza Horizon 5 also has an awesome selection of multiplayer game modes that keep it fun for a long time. Forza Horizon 6 is right around the corner, and it promises to build on all the aspects that make this game awesome.
Why Forza Horizon 5 Is Great For Teens: What I like about Forza 5 for teens is that it doesn’t lose its fun. It has all these realistic elements, but you can still have hours of fun with different game modes. This game is best suited for teens who will appreciate its totality. Younger kids may not be as interested in the wide selection of cars or even find it overwhelming, and there may be some slightly mature content, such as sensitive language in music.
Also Available On: PlayStation
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Is A Social Sim
Recommended Ages: 14+
What Sets Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Apart: I love this game because it is equal parts lifestyle sim and racing game. My oldest is really into lifestyle games like The Sims, so this is an awesome game that merges that style of play with the hand-eye coordination and reflex benefits of racing games. Players can choose to join one of two clans, each with their own unique benefits, and the more you grow inside your clan, the more access you have to better cars.
Racing takes place on a replica of Hong Kong Island, so drivers race on terrain from city streets to dense jungles. While racing is the main focus of the game, it is not the only one. The sim aspect is front and center at the Solar Hotel, where characters live, mingle, and show off their expensive lifestyle through fancy clothes and cars.
There is no more unique racing game on a console than this one, but it may not be for everyone. Personally, this game checks off every box for my family, and I would call it something along the lines of Grand Theft Auto Kid’s Edition because it has that feel with missions and actions to do outside of racing, but it doesn’t have the crime and other unsavory content that GTA is known for.
Why Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown Is Great For Teens: This game is great for my teen because it offers the social aspects she enjoys while also providing the real-world benefits of racing games. The seamless merger of lifestyle sim and street racer is perfect for the teen who is always looking for novelty. The only downside is that this game is solidly for teens because of clan factions, which could be considered gangs, language, and unpredictable interactions with other online players.
Also Available On: PlayStation
