11 Best Racing Games for Mac in 2022 [M1 and Intel] (2023)

The last time we tried to list the best racing games for Mac, we couldn’t even find ten different games, let alone ten good ones. But things sure have changed.

In just a few years, Feral Interactive delivered some of thefinest racing gamesfrom Codemasters while indie developers have continued their steady supply of quality titles.

After testing and evaluating over 20 games, we came up with our top picks. But don’t worry, as we all have slightly different tastes in games, we made sure most styles and sub-genres were covered, ranging from crazy arcade racers to hardcore simulations.

In spite of their differences, they all have one thing in common: glowing reviews from professionals and gamers alike.

Looking for something different? We also have a list of the 100 Best Mac gamesin all the best categories.

Our favorite Mac Racing games

DiRT 4

Dirt 4 is the sequel to Dirt 3, which some say is better than Dirt 5. Dirt 4 is a simulation and arcade rally racing game.

The arcade aspect of the game comes in its racing format. There are plenty of cars to choose from and career modes to compete in. The simulation part comes from the management in-between races, such as deciding what to repair during the limited time between each stage. The soundtrack and atmosphere of this game does a great job of giving you that “Go Fast, Die Fearless” vibe.

Most of the issues with the Mac platform have already been fixed, so the process should be bug-free. Dirt 4 also has a list of supported Macs. I have included the general list in the system requirements section for your perusal. It covers a wide range of Macs, but buyers should still take care to check.

System requirements: macOS 10.14.2, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 38 GB HD space, 1 GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M or 2 GB AMD Radeon R9 M290, Intel Iris Pro 5200 or better.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	DiRT 4	Racing	Yes		Metal	Rosetta	Good

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Art of Rally

From the creator of Absolute Drift comes art of rally, intentionally all in lowercase.

The game is focused on the golden age of rally racing, with cars from the 60s to Group B era rally cars. There are a handful of rally racing games in the market, but this one really stood out to me. Its polygonal art-style and minimalistic environment gives off a very “Zen” like feel. Compared to other games with distractingly hyper-realistic graphics and environmental design, art of rally removes those distractions. To them, the rally experience is all that matters. ​

The game is not demanding in terms of system requirements, and there have been no reports of any issues on Mac. As long as your Mac OS is 10.13 or higher, there should be no problems. It is recommended to use a MacBook Pro or iMac for the best experience.

System requirements: macOS 10.13, 2.9 GHz Intel Core i3 or AMD equivalent, 4 GB RAM, 6 GB HD space, Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or AMD equivalent.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	Art of Rally	Racing	Yes		TBC	Rosetta	Good

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Descenders

Tired of driving cars? Why not ride a bike instead?

I present to you Descenders, a downhill free-riding biking game.

Unlike other biking games, Descenders randomly generates the downhill path each time you play, giving you new experiences each ride. The challenge is to get downhill far enough before you run out of lives. It is a simple yet well executed concept. Their developer team is also very active, providing frequent new updates.

Descenders is not very demanding in the system requirements section, so most Macs should be able to run it. There also have been no reported issues with the game on Mac. But if your Mac is a bit old, don’t expect to be able to run it at 120 FPS and Epic level graphics. Additionally, it is incompatible with some lower end Intel HD laptop GPUs (620/520/4000/etc.). So check your GPU before you buy.

System requirements: macOS 10.6 or higher, Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 9 GB HD space, Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or equivalent or higher.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	Descenders	Racing	Yes		TBC	Rosetta	Average

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F1 2017

Hardcore racing fans, stop your search right here. F1 2017 is Codemasters’ latest Formula 1 game, and thanks to Feral Interactive’s efforts, it was released on Mac and Windowson the same day.

With its screaming V8 engines, chess-like strategy, and extreme handling, this is one of the most realistic Mac race games on this list. That realism makes it a challenging game indeed but put in the effort and the game pays you back with interest. The game also features every car and circuit from the official Formula 1 2017 season, a huge career mode, a new gameplay mode, invitational events, and basically everything aFormula 1fan could ask for.

Choosing between F1 2017 and Dirt Rally was a tough call. F1 2017 is a superb game and the only reason Dirt Rally earned our first pick is because it appeals to a larger audience. While Dirt Rally can run on most Macs released since 2012, F1 2017 is a more demanding game. The gamecouldn’t even launchon our 2013 13-inch MBP and our 2016 13-inch MBP only managed 25 FPS. But you can’t really blame the game there. The only reason F1 2017 is so demanding is because it’s probably the best-looking game on this list.

System requirements: macOS 10.12.5, 2 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5 GB Intel Iris Pro 6200 graphics card or better, 36 GB hard drive space.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	F1 2017	Racing	Yes		Metal	Rosetta	Good

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GRID: Autosport

Occupying a space somewhere between a racing sim and an arcade game, GRID Autosport excels at offering something for everyone, including everything if you so choose. From open-wheel to endurance, street racing and more, GRID Autosport allows you to live out your motorsport championship dreams.

Featuring a huge career mode allowing you to mix and match your series and styles, GRID Autosport allows you to focus on your favorite type of races or attempt to conquer them all. Move from team to team and from teammates to opponents with other players as you attempt to win races and sponsors in order to upgrade your cars.

GRID Autosport still looks and runs great, features single and online multiplayer, and has relatively modest system requirements. If you’re looking for one racing game to satisfy all your urges, GRID Autosport has what you’re looking for.

System requirements: macOS 10.10, 1.8 GHz Intel Processor, 4 GB RAM, 512 MB AMD 5000 , Intel HD 4000 and NVIDIA 600 or better, 18 GB hard drive space.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	GRID: Autosport	Racing	Yes		OpenGL	Rosetta	Good

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Road Redemption

Back in the good old days of pixelated gaming, there was one game to rule them all:Road Rash. It was violent and intense. It was glorious. But that was back in 1991 and we had to wait a long time until someone finally delivered a worthy successor: Road Redemption.

This action racing game is about leading your motorcycle gang on an epic journey across the country. By completing races, assassinations, and robberies, you’ll earn money and loot that you can use to upgrade your character, bike, and weapons. Road Redemption rounds things up with a fun multiplayer mode where you can either work with your friends or against them. Up to you.

For an old-school remaster, Road Redemption isn’t too shabby on the graphics department. The game looks good, even on medium settings, but that comes at a price. This is a relatively demanding game that can be taxing on older machines, especially models with integrated graphics.

System requirements: macOS 10.7, 64-bit processor, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics card or better, 1 GB hard drive space.

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Horizon Chase Turbo

Inspired by the racing games of the 1990s, Horizon Chase Turbo has won overwhelming praise for succeeding in recreating that thrill nearly perfectly. From the bright colors to the basic controls, to crashes that merely slow you down, Horizon Chase Turbo leaves behind the realism of modern games like F1 for old fashioned, arcade fun.

Horizon Chase Turbo supports up to 4 players in split-screen multiplayer, which is available across all game modes. The game also features an extensive single-player campaign. Overall you can unlock up to 31 cars and 109 tracks in 48 cities around the world, so you shouldn’t run out of content any time soon.

Horizon Chase Turbo features a soundtrack by Barry Leitch of Top Gear and Lotus Turbo Challenge fame, and modest system requirements. A controller is recommended, and while there are a few reports of problems, most standard controllers seem to work. There is currently a beta 64-bit build that is working on macOS Catalina.

System requirements: macOS 10.11, 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or better, 500 MB hard drive space.

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Distance

Distance is an arcade racer filled with insane tracks and flying cars.The drool-worthy futuristic graphics alone would make the game worth it, but the gameplay is even better.

Cars can use parkour-style stunts to get through laser fields, spike attacks and more. You can also drive upside down, on buildings, walls and even fly to discover shortcuts. With online multiplayer for up to 12 players and split-screen, Distance promises hours of fun. And there’s also a short Adventure mode to help you learn the basics and round things up for solo players.Although it’s still in development, you can buy the Steam Early Access version. S

ometimes Early Access games are rough around the ages and have performance issues, especially on Mac and Linux, which are clearly not the developers’ priority. This is not the case with Distance. The game runs great on MacOS and playing the game on Medium settings was nice and smooth.

System requirements: macOS 10.7, 2.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA Geforce 640M or ATI Radeon HD 3870 graphics card or better, 5 GB hard drive space.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	Distance	Racing	Yes		TBC	Rosetta	Good

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DiRT Rally

DiRT Rally is the successor to the fan-favourite DiRT 3, a game that we all loved but which suddenly became unavailable to purchase a few months ago. But as much as I loved DiRT 3, DiRT Rally is a better game in every way.

With sophisticated handling, risky gameplay, and great graphics, some call it the greatest rally game ever released andCodemasters’ finest game to date. Dirt Rally is nowhere near as serious as our runner-up, F1 2017, but is still damned entertaining. What makes Dirt Rally our top pick? It can be a challenging and precise simulation or a fun and casual racer; all you need to do is adjust the settings and assists to match your preferences.

Dirt Rally also sports gorgeous graphics with realistic cars competing at top speed in beautifully rendered snowy forests, deserts or plains. Some might argue F1 2017 can look slightly better, but it’s debatable. Both games look great.

DiRT Rally does have a noticeable advantage over F1 2017: this is a brilliant port that runs smoothly on a wide range of machines, including older Macs with integrated graphics.

System requirements: 10.13, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1 GB Nvidia 650M / 2 GB AMD Radeon M290 / Intel HD 4000 graphics card or better, 48 GB hard drive space.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	DiRT Rally	Racing	Yes		Metal	Rosetta	Good

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Gravel

If off-road racing is your thing, Gravel, as the name implies, is the game for you. An arcade racing sim purely for off-road racers, Gravel provides a large variety of races and tracks, although there are some complaints that the base game is limited for the price, with an emphasis on paid DLC. Furthermore, the DLC is Windows only, leaving Mac users with only the base game.

That said, Gravel still provides a variety of races across four different disciplines: Cross Country, Wild Rush, Stadium and Speed cross, and includes single and multiplayer. And while the style is more arcade than sim, you can tweak your cars’ settings to make for a more realistic, sim-like experience.

Gravel looks great, but the good looks come at a price, as Gravel requires a Metal 2 capable Mac. For fans of offroad racing sims, Gravel is the best way to get down and dirty.

System requirements: Requires a 64-bit operating system, OS 10.13, Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, Metal 2 compatible graphics card with 4 GB Video RAM or better, 15 GB hard drive space.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	Gravel	Racing	Yes		Metal	Unsupported	Crashes

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Absolute Drift

If the main thing you like about racing is the drifting, Absolute Drift has you covered. A unique game in that drifting is all you do, Absolute Drift nonetheless gives you a variety of cars and challenges to keep things interesting.

There are large open worlds where completing achievements opens up more of the world, as well as three challenge modes, Driftkhana, Drifting, & Mountain Drifting. With 34 levels in each challenge, six cars that drift in very different ways, and five of the aforementioned free-roaming areas with different themes such as an airport and a dockyard, you won’t run out of areas to explore and drift in any time soon.

With minimal system requirements and a beta build for macOS Catalina that seems to be working, Absolute Drift should run fine on most Macs out there, though a controller is essential. Most standard controllers seem to work, but as with other games, there are rare reports of certain controllers not working.

System requirements: 64-bit Systems only, OS 10.10, 2.2 GHz Dual Core Processor, 2 GB RAM, 512 MB graphics card or better, 350 MB hard drive space.

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The Competition + Free Racing games for Mac

We had a hard time limiting the greatest racing games to a Top 10 list. With so many fine games released each year, some had to be left out.

The games below are the ones that almost made it to our Top 10 but didn’t quite make the cut. These games are high-quality and fun and I would recommend them in a heartbeat which is why they deserve to be mentioned.

We have also included some decent free Mac racing games out. If you’re exclusively looking for free alternatives, these are worth checking out:

Games	Games	Our take	Demand Level	Free games only?
SpeedRunners ✅ Not demanding	SpeedRunners	Cars may not be involved here, but this cut-throat multiplayer running game from tinyBuild Games is one of the best party games you'll ever play. SpeedRunners pits 4 players against each other, locally and online.You can run, jump, swing around, and use weapons to knock opponents off-screen! 84 Metascore	Not demanding	No
Neon Drive ✅ Not demanding	Neon Drive	Neon Drive is a slick '80s inspired arcade racer set in beautiful retro-futuristic settings. You'll race in cityscapes, ocean roads and even in exploding enemy spaceships. Neon Drive has it all. NA Metascore	Not demanding	No
CSR RACING ✅ Not demanding	CSR RACING	CSR Racing is a simple drag racing game about winning races so you can upgrade your car or buy new ones. The controls are simple, as you only have to control the acceleration at the start of the race and then shift gears at the right time. With limited controls, it can get boring quickly, but for a free game, CSR has unbelievably high production levels. NA Metascore	Not demanding	Yes
Guts And Glory ⚠️ Fairly Demanding	Guts And Glory	ide your bicycle to the finish line while dodging spinning saw blades, deadly spikes, explosives, and more! NA Metascore	Fairly Demanding	No
Gods of Drifting ✅ Not demanding	Gods of Drifting	Gods of Drifting is a nice break from the other games in this section. In Gods of Drifting, you have to master the art of drifting through curves to achieve the top times and earn points. Again, this game doesn’t feature full-fledged racing, but gamers still agree this is a fun game to play (in spite of funky physics and OS crashes). NA Metascore	Not demanding	Yes
Garfield Kart ✅ Not demanding	Garfield Kart	Join Garfield and friends in this kart racing game that isn't afraid of borrowing from Mario Kart, but does it well. NA Metascore	Not demanding	No
Little Racers STREET ✅ Not demanding	Little Racers STREET	Little Racers STREET is a fun game that successfully combines top-down racing with street racing. 62 Metascore	Not demanding	No
Top Speed: Drag & Fast Racing ✅ Not demanding	Top Speed: Drag & Fast Racing	Similar to CSR, Top Speed is another drag racing game that limits gameplay to hitting the accelerator and shifting gears at the right time while you speed through a straight racetrack. The gameplay is limited but the graphics are great and you can let your creativity flow through a ton of tuning and customization options. NA Metascore	Not demanding	Yes

Our Criteria

Games have a largely subjective aspect to them. You may love some games while I might prefer completely different ones. This is why we identified a set of criteria that every single one of our picks has to meet:

Native support:This should go without saying, but each and every one of the games mentioned here has to be officially supported on MacOS and does not require Bootcamp or Wine. We’ve seen too many Top Games for MacOS lists that feature Windows-only games…

MacOS performance:There’s a plethora of reliable Windows-PC reviews, guides, and videos on the internet.However, they never acknowledge MacOS gaming. This is why our focus is always on the Mac performance of the games listed here.

Critical acclaim: Video games can be subjective, but to keep this guide as relevant as possible, we only consider proven games with positive reviews from both professional reviewers and average gamers.

Pricing: We all want quality, but pricing also plays an important role. We always keep in mind price tags and production value to give indies and AAA games equal chances. After all, we’re after games that are fun to play. Looks are important but fun gameplay is even more so.

Your Turn

If you’re into racing games, you’re in luck. There is no other genre with as many great games that support macOS. Whether you’re a hardcore fan with a pedal and steering wheel setup or a casual gamer who likes the occasional arcade racer, this list provides quality games to meet your needs.

So next time someone tells you there are no good racing games, just point them to this list and get back to the starting line. Which one is your favorite? Did we miss any you think belong on this list? Let us know in the comments section.

Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills).