Why aren’t racing games more popular in esports?

Mario Kart, Forza, and Gran Turismo all come to mind when thinking about racing in video games, as they are all high-quality games that lean towards competitive gameplay. Despite their success across every platform, you’ll rarely see racing game tournaments compared to MOBAs and shooters, and there are a few important reasons behind this difference in popularity.

Unlike other genres, racing games have several factors holding them back, although there are quite a few titles that could become major esports if they had the opportunity. Let’s look at how racers could become the ultimate esport, along with why they’re currently one of the weakest genres in competitive gaming.

There are several reasons why esports viewers tend not to lean towards racing games. The first and most transparent reason is that fans of racing would rather watch real-world races, like those broadcast by NASCAR. If the real thing is easily available, then it makes sense that fans will gravitate towards it, especially since organisations like NASCAR have had decades to build their fan base.

Racing games themselves also struggle in many areas. Oftentimes, camera angles and the size of tracks make it less interesting to watch a virtual racing match, especially if the environments aren’t particularly unique. The recurring environments can be a drag to watch, and setting up the equipment necessary for esports athletes to compete may be more challenging than using a keyboard and mouse for a Call of Duty or League of Legends tournament.

In addition to all of the above, game developers are leaning towards new monetisation and business strategies that may turn some players away in 2026, and many are still not free-to-play. As such, it’s hard to get into an esport when you’ve never played the game yourself.

Racing games could become more popular in 2026 with a few simple changes. Here’s how we think racing games could soar to the top of the viewership charts.

Since NASCAR and other racing organisations have a roster of popular drivers and cars, it may be what’s needed to increase competitive interest in virtual racing sims, too. Although licensing may be tough or expensive, adding real-world celebrity drivers would likely increase interest among racing fans.

Games like Mario Kart can’t add real-world race car drivers, of course, but Gran Turismo has proven just how successful this feature can be if implemented correctly. If real-world drivers can’t be added, it would be nice to have a roster of characters with rich background lore and distinct personalities.

Enhancing the spectator experience is the most essential step that racing games can take to improve their chance at becoming a major esport. If the tracks or camera angles feel too repetitive, then it may be less interesting to watch compared to a battle royale or MOBA. Some racers offer extensive spectating experiences, but many don’t, and they won’t get far in the esports community without this feature.

Many of the most popular esports in 2026 are entirely free-to-play, offering an easy way to try the game as an everyday gamer. While some racing games are available on Xbox Game Pass or other similar subscription services, very few racers are actually free.

One perfect example of a vehicle-based game that’s popular among esports fans is Rocket League, which became free-to-play in 2020. The more players a game has, the bigger the potential esports fan base, too.

Whether they’re set in a fictional or realistic world, most racing games have the hidden potential to become esports if their developers push for it. Simple and fun titles like Mario Kart have mass appeal in the gaming community, while on the flip side, realistic racers like Forza Motorsport offer a spectator experience that’s more similar to racing in real life. This list offers a glimpse into the most popular racing games available, as well as the franchises that are likely to draw a large audience in the esports scene.

Whether it be Mario Kart or Forza Motorsport, racers are popular across every genre. Despite their success, the racing genre falls short of shooters and other types of competitive video games, which is a shame since they have the potential to be one of the most interesting esports ever.

There are so many distinct mechanics in racing games that deserve their day in the sun, and with the improvements we’ve listed above, it’s possible that racecar sims and racing games could evolve into a more popular type of esport in the future.