Summary
The quest for immersive experiences in video games is never-ending, and when it comes to racing games, oftentimes that quest leads players to put down the controller in exchange for a wheel.
Steering wheels provide strong feedback, improve the player’s ability to execute precise movements, and, best of all, vastly improve immersion. Sadly, not all driving games are created equal, and not all of them support the use of a wheel. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean there is a shortage of great titles that do. Some of the best driving games on Xbox Series X/S, from arcade racers to slow simulators, have full-wheel support and make the most of it.
Updated on July 04, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Racing games continue to be some of the most entertaining titles players can spend their time on. A controller ensures that players have decent control over their cars, but nothing beats the total control afforded by a steering wheel. The immersion players can enjoy as they use an actual wheel to turn while also using pedals and other buttons to control how the car moves is a huge reason why hardcore racing fans can’t think of playing racing simulations without a wheel. Of course, players can also enjoy arcade racers along with their fair share of sims with a racing wheel, with the Xbox Series X/S housing its fair share of engaging racing experiences that are enhanced with a wheel.
A lot of people weren’t huge fans ofProject CARS 3because of the many changes it made to the core experience compared to its predecessor. While hardcore sim racers were disappointed that this title utilized arcade racing mechanics instead, other players loved how approachable this game was compared to its predecessors.
The racing wheel support is great and lets players pull off high-speed overtakes and drifts if they know how to handle a car properly with this steering system. To make things even more immersive, players with a VR headset can completely immerse themselves as they combine it with the racing wheel for a sublime gaming experience.
Rally racing is an underrated motorsport that has been translated effectively into numerous games, andWRC 10is no exception here. The racing mechanics are smoother and more satisfying than ever before, although newcomers must go through a grueling learning curve before they finally get a hand at how rally racing works.
With a steering wheel, players can simulate tense off-road races as they try to bag a spot on the podium without spinning out of control or causing damage to their vehicle.WRC 10’s detailed environments, amazing game feel, anda wealth of rally cars to choose frommake it one of the most immersive racing games on the Xbox Series X/S that benefits from steering wheel support.
SnowRunneris one of the most relaxing racing simulations players can check out. Exploring an open world and completing a wealth of jobs without causing too much damage to the vehicle or the goods is a simple yet engaging gameplay loop that helpsSnowRunnerstand out in the eyes of many.
The game is beautiful and the driving feels immersive, even more so with a steering wheel. It’s one of the most underrated driving games players can check out on the Xbox Series X/S if they’re tired of the usual gameplay loop of participating in races to come first over and over again.
GRID Legendsis an excellent racing game made by the masters of the sim racing genre, Codemasters. The title can take a while to get used to, butplayers who love checking out realistic racing gameswill find this title to be right up their alley. The depth of the gameplay inGRID Legendsmakes it one of the best racing games on the Xbox Series X, where players can plug in a steering wheel to make the racing even more tense and exciting than ever before.
The addition of a fleshed-out story mode ensures that players will have a great time with this game, whether they’re racing against friends or by themselves. The numerous tracks, deep racing mechanics, and technical fidelity ensure thatGRID Legendsserve as another feather in Codemasters' cap.
Wreckfestis one of the best racing games players can get their hands on. This title uses a soft-body physics model in the same vein asBeamNG.driveto ensure that vehicular damage is conveyed in a realistic manner. This makes it all the more important to ensure thatplayers don’t end up wrecking their car.
With steering wheel support on the Xbox Series X, players must be extra careful about driving cleanly and keeping the damage to one’s vehicle to a minimum. This can be pretty frustrating, especially if players participate in a demolition derby. Thankfully, with enough effort, players can become champions of this driving game and turn their enemies into flaming wrecks while using a steering wheel to add more flair to their smooth moves.
Formula 1 is one of the most popular motorsports of all time, making it clear why EA saw a ton of money in an annual racing series featuring this brand.F1 24is the latest game where players can jump into the seat of an ultra-fast Formula 1 car and zoom past their opponents in tight races where they must manage their tires, keep track conditions in mind, and make strategic pitstops to ensure that they finish in a respectable position during each race.
Different constructors have varying expectations of their vehicle, and those using a steering wheel on the Xbox Series X to play this game must change their driving style to cater to the strengths and weaknesses of each title.Barring a few bugs and glitches, players should have a great time with this title as they strive to emerge victorious at all costs against both human and AI opponents.
Like a few other titles on this list,Dirt 5is far from a realistic driving sim. Instead, it takes arcade racing to dirt tracks for some ridiculous, silly fun. Players can jump between racing super trucks in crowd-packed stadiums, skidding across ice-covered rinks, and throwing mud in neck-and-neck rallycross.
Though the single-player campaign doesn’t have a particularly compelling narrative, and the wheel settings are limited, easy-to-learn controls and a lighthearted gameplay style makeDirt 5easy to pick up and difficult to put down.
The Crew: Motorfestcontinues the open-world formula that made the series popular, and it has a decent level of support for wheels as well. Driving around the scaled-down island of Oahu is enjoyable with a wheel straight from the jump, asMotorfesthas a good selection of pre-configured options that provide solid experiences, but there are a lot of options to dive into and tweak as well. The presence of a dynamic wheel range makesswitching between different carsmore streamlined, as each vehicle’s independent wheel range is automatically configured into the player’s wheel setup.
Motorfest, as with previous titles inThe Crewseries, also features boats and planes, but players shouldn’t expect to hop into the cockpit of a plane using a wheel and have the controls make sense.
The list of nitty-gritty tweaks available isn’t as extensive inWorld of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 23as it is in other racing titles, but the deadzone and sensitivity options it does offer allow enough room for adjustments that most players should be able to find that driving sweet spot.
Races inDirt Racing 23take place in, well, the dirt, making force feedback hyper-present. Thankfully, there’s enough wiggle room in the effect strength settings towalk a comfortable line between immersion and over-the-top racing chaos.
A far reach from the tracks of F1 or World Rally Circuits,Bus Simulator 21provides entertainment in the mundane. Life as a bus driver in the real world comes with a slew of responsibilities and liabilities, but inBus Simulator 21, that list is nothing more than a host of in-game penalties.
Driving a bus through the streets of a city provides a great deal of enjoyment when paired with a racing wheel, especially for those looking for immersion. Being a simulator, this title offers a long list of available tweaks to tailor the player’s experience.
