We are still struggling to find the patience to wait for the ever-delayed GTA 6. If you are on the same boat, then allow us to take a bit of that stress away by diverting your attention to five driving games that are slated for 2026. While some of these have faced delays, we expect they won’t be disruptive on GTA 6. This list includes five distinct propositions, ranging from intense arcade-styled driving games with power-ups and dramatic anime-style storylines to simulator games that let players seamlessly switch between the cockpit and the role of a behind-the-scenes race engineer.
There’s also a truck simulator game here that plans to bring about a fresh perspective to stand apart from the dominating likes of Euro Truck Simulator. Furthermore, the most anticipated car game on this list is the sixth iteration of an award-winning open-world series. This particular sixth iteration is extra-special because the makers have finally delivered what the community has been asking for nearly a decade. Without further ado, here are five exciting driving games that should be on your bucket list.
Gear.Club Unlimited 3
Release Date: February 19th, 2026
Available On: Nintendo, PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
The Gear.Club Unlimited franchise opened to a lukewarm reception back in 2017. Things heated up for the sequel, but developer Eden Games is shifting things into overdrive with the upcoming third iteration of the game. The Gear.Club Unlimited 3 is slated to be their most indulging driving game yet. The open world is expanding exponentially, with asphalt roads ranging from Japan to the French Mediterranean coast.
Initially, the game will feature 40 licensed cars from leading manufacturers worldwide. These include Alfa Romeo, Pagani, BMW, Bugatti, Porsche, Nissan, Mazda, and Honda, among others. The visual engine looks stunning in the trailer, and there are a lot of customization options on offer. A new driving mode is being added that lets you dodge traffic on the highway, similar to the endless driving games on mobile. It will launch initially on Nintendo, with other platforms receiving it later in 2026.
Notable Features
- 40 cars from popular and top manufacturers
- 50 tracks across France and Japan
- Endless runner-styled highway battles
- Immersive story mode based on Japanese car culture
- Extensive mechanical and body modifications
Road Kings
Release Date: 2026
Available On: Xbox Series, PS5, and PC
In the world of American Truck and Euro Truck that rule the trucking simulator games, Road Kings comes in as a formidable underdog that wants to shake things up. Developed by the same team behind the engaging games SnowRunner, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, and RoadCraft, Road Kings offers an intricate trucking experience across the American South, in South Georgia and North Florida. The goal is to take the wheel of a 40-ton semi, hauling cargo across the coastal plains of the American South.
This sim offers extensive control over the ride, with every aspect affecting performance, including weight, tire wear, brakes, torque, and transmission load. To make things more challenging, dynamic weather conditions and road surfaces also play vital roles. The graphics are compelling, featuring detailed cockpit designs of recreated popular truck brands. The storyline follows an organic path in which the driver must build a reputation with fellow drivers, dispatchers, and agencies. Road Kings also brings an asynchronous multiplayer mode that lets one join or create a company and climb the global leaderboards. For those eager to try it, a closed beta test is planned, and you can register yourinterest on Focus Entertainment’s website.
Notable Features
- Vast environment focusing on the coastal plains of the American South, from busy Jacksonville to the shady streets of Savannah
- Real-life monitoring scenarios like weight, wear, brakes, torque, tires, and transmissions
- Story mode involving the expanding monopoly of the corporation and the gamer being a ‘hero.’
- Organic career mode from being an employee to an owner-operator and manager
- Mesmerizing graphics
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Screamer
Release Date: March 26th, 2026
Available On: PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
If you are an ardent fan of fun and unhinged arcade-styled driving games, then this one is for you. The Screamer trailer strongly reminds us of Ridge Racer and Burnout. It is not a coincidence, either, because this anime-styled driving game is developed by Milestone, which is responsible not just for the OG Screamer, Screamer 2, and Screamer Rally back in the day, but also for the Hot Wheels Unleashed games. The trailer offers a glimpse of an adrenaline-pumping, dramatic storyline that should elevate the gaming experience.
The crux of this game is a tournament led by a mysterious master and played by five teams. The visuals are stunning and fuse 90s anime style with a futuristic universe. Another cool feature is the power-ups in this game. Giving off a strong vibe of the forgotten game Blur, Screamer features cars that juggle power-ups for speed, defense, and even offense. Also exciting is the proposed return of offline split-screen gameplay, which is sure to evoke nostalgic memories for experienced gamers. In a sea of predictable gameplay and similar driving games, this offers a fresh alternative. Screamer is already up for pre-order via the official Milestone website.
Notable Features
- Anime-styled, engaging story mode graphics
- Intense arcade-style gaming engine
- Power-ups like Boost, Strike, and Shield
- Both online and offline modes, with split-screen mode too
- Spiritual successor to the likes of Ridge Racer and Burnout
Endurance Motorsport Series
Release Date: 2026
Available On: PS5, Xbox Series, and PC
This is primarily a racing simulator, but Endurance Motorsport Series takes things up a notch by offering the game not just as a driver, but also as a racing engineer and beyond in the pits. This is similar to having F1 2024 and F1 Manager 2024 as a single game. This game offers various racing classes, including GT3 and LMDh/GTP. The gamer drives the race cars around the track like a traditional driving game. But the twist here is that, instead of controlling one car, one is in control of all entries by the team.
This multi-class experience lets you switch between the driver’s seat and on the pit wall as a strategy engineer in just a few clicks. Outside the cockpit, AI takes over driving duties, while the gamer has access to a management-sim-style interface to strategize next moves. The game will be set across multiple countries and will feature famous real-world tracks. Another highlighting feature here is the graphics, which look very cool. While one might think of an Unreal Engine creation, this game uses a proprietary KT engine developed in-house by Nacon.
Notable Features
- Play as both a driver and a mechanic/engineer.
- Used an in-house developed game engine for detailed and real-life graphics and physics
- Includes almost all legendary racetracks across the world in intense detail
- Offers online co-op mode
- Designed to fit like a glove for various simulator setups
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Forza Horizon 6
Release Date: Early 2026
Available On: Xbox Series and PC Initially
After the ever-so-delayed GTA 6, this has to be the most anticipated driving game of 2026. The next installment of Forza Horizon has been confirmed and is set in Japan, as many gamers wanted and expected. Forza Horizon is praised for its realistic recreation of vast real-life landscapes. We expect the same, and even better, implementation for Horizon 6. The key highlight of hosting Japan is its vibrant landscape. From winding mountain roads to bustling urban roads, Forza Horizon 6 will bask in it all. We can also expect to see a lot of dedicated in-game series based on the bustling car culture of Japan.
This can include drifting series, time attacks on racetracks and on public roads, and the wild custom-build culture of Kaido racers and Bosozoku builds. There will be a lot of custom themes in this game, and it will most likely be Forza Horizon’s most vibrant version yet. Expect to see a lot of Japan-spec cars, including Kei cars and forbidden sports cars from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Forza Horizon 6 is also expected to deliver next-gen graphics to elevate the driving experience. While it will be released on Xbox and PC initially, PlayStation peeps will have to wait a bit longer for an optimized build.
Notable Features
- Open-world indulgence in the country with one of the most vibrant landscapes
- Expected introduction of a slew of Japan-specific car culture events
- Unique Japan-spec cars to be added to its vast car inventory
- Will be available as day-one access on Game Pass
- Promises next-gen graphics and physics
Sources: Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo