Need For Spped is widely acknowledged as one of the best racing series ever made and Need For Speed Carbon doesn't let down in stunning style and realism.

Need for Speed Carbon is a fast and furious racing game that features both city and canyon racing environments. However, be warned that the download is huge and you'll need a good 5 minutes to let the installation take its course but after you do, you'll think it well worth it. In this demo, you can adapt three main cars - a Chevy Camaro SS, Lamborghini Gallardo and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX. Once you are strapped in, you race with three other team mates against 4 Scorpion cars. There is a huge amount of G-Force placed on the cars as they take the bend and you'll find yourself drifting an awful lot. However, this is exactly how you earn points - the more drift, the more points. It is however, almost impossible to beat the lead Scorpion car - they're just too damn quick and one mistake sees you out of the game for good.

A great racing game that has definitely been improved although the gameplay can be so challenging, you want to give up easily.

Download Need for Speed Carbon in Softonic

My sister, who actually works in a bank, is always saying that she would love to be a truck driver and travel all over Europe. I guess she's the kind of person that would love to play Euro Truck Simulator.

This driving simulator puts you behind the wheel of a powerful truck and entrusts you with several different missions. These usually consist on taking cargo from one place to another and getting paid for the delivery. Saving enough money you will eventually be able to buy better and faster trucks to be able to work more and earn more money.

I find the main idea in Euro Truck Simulator is quite original. We're somewhat used to car, motorbike and even airplane driving simulators, but not that much to trucks. Also, the game features excellent, highly realistic graphics.

So far, so good. The problem is that Euro Truck Simulator becomes a boring game quite easily. I don't know if it was due to the repetitive sound of the engine, the slowness of my driving or the lack of real action, I started feeling sleepy shortly after starting to play. Maybe if you could play your own music on the truck's radio, or get into some more action by delivering illegal stuff and occasionally being chased by the cops, Euro Truck Simulator would be more exciting. Also, I didn't like the fact that I can't choose the UK as the starting country for my career as truck driver!

Euro Truck Simulator is a pretty original game, with especially outstanding graphics, but which gets boring quite easily.

Download Euro Truck Simulator 1.00 in Softonic

Working as a bus driver doesn't sound like an exciting job to me; at least not exciting enough to be part of a game, where you usually play as soldier, detective, mafia member and the likes. But someone must disagree with me as now you can also pretend to be a bus driver in Bus Simulator 2008.

This game puts you behind the steering wheel of a traditional urban bus and challenges you to complete "missions", that is, complete any of the city routes that bus must follow. But the game is not only a driving simulator, meaning you'll have to take care of the business by deciding the price of tickets or renting the vehicle's ad spaces to make them more profitable.

Driving a bus is not as easy as it seems at first sight: not only you have to find your way in an unknown city (note you can open the map with the M key) but you also have to stop at every single bus stop in your route, open and close the doors and follow your way to the next one. Also, don't forget to respect road signs: I didn't stop for any red light (too much GTA IV is seriously affecting my driving style, luckily only the virtual one) and got fired in about 5 minutes.

Graphics in Bus Simulator 2008 are just fine; quite realistic, but certainly not the best ones I've seen. Physics is not very elaborate, especially when it comes to crashing against objects or other cars (hey, don't laugh at me: I'm not that bad at driving, I just have to test everything!). Other than that, it's just an original game that seems as exciting as driving a bus in real life.

The main feature in Bus Simulator 2008 is undoubtedly its originality; apart from that, it's just a standard driving simulator with some business management tools that may entertain you for a short while.

Download Bus Simulator 2008 Demo in Softonic

If you've ever played Grand Theft Auto on the Playstation, then you already know what Drift City is about. This awesome driving game lets you drive your car freely around Mittron Island and take part in different missions while enjoying some fun chat with other players around the globe.

The game itself takes ages to start. First you need to register as user on their website, then download the client, then download an extra installer and the necessary updates… but I assure the waiting time is really worth it. Also, the game is so easy to play that it makes up for it. You won't need any tutorial or similar: six keys are enough to make your car fly over the road, drift and perform incredible jumps.

The first few missions teach you the basics of the game story and mechanics. As you complete them, you earn experience points and level up. When you reach a certain experience level, you'll be able to enter the Battle Zone: competitive races against other players worldwide. In the meantime, you can also visit the Driver Dome and improve your car or even buy a new one with the money you earn in missions. There are always new things to do in Drift City, new people to meet and new ways to enjoy your driving experience.

Graphics in Drift City are designed with a cartoonish look, but following a realistic style. You'll be able to recognize real car makes and models while driving around a city depicted with lots of detail.

Download Drift City in Softonic

Fast cars, hot girls and loud music are the main ingredients of the Need for Speed series, which comes back again with new frantic races. This time, however, you'll test your driving abilities in special tracks around the world, instead of the usual city streets.

The game features incredibly realistic cars based on real models and depicted with lots of detail. They look so real that you will feel bad if you get the lightest scratch on them. In fact, this is another new feature: the improved realism in Need for Speed races means that scratches, dents and crash are also more realistic and you can end out of race because you just destroyed your brand new BMW.

Need for Speed ProStreet lets you choose between three difficulty levels, which makes it a game suitable for all ages. On the downside, racing can get a bit repetitive, because these new tracks lack all the excitement and adrenaline found in "real" street racing, like in the previous NFS titles.

Ride the fastest cars in the world and become King of the Streets.

Download Need for Speed ProStreet Demo in Softonic

This is is not any racing game. It's mainly addressed to all those tunning fans who like to customize their cars to the limits. Juiced 2 Hot Import Nights makes their dreams come true by providing them with a game where winning race is as important as having the most personalized car.

The idea behind Juiced 2 is to take part in races and contests all over the world, winning prizes and improving your reputation in order to earn money and use it to customize your car with new pieces, painting, decals and so on. The full game includes up to 350 pieces that can end up completely changing your car's look.

The game is easy to control, which makes it fun for those who aren't that fond of racing games, but may be boring for expert drivers who are probably expecting some more realism. In any case, the game's graphics in depicting cars and racing environments - Roma, Paris, London, San Francisco and other important cities - are simply breath-taking.

Customize your car to the extreme and take part in exciting races all over the world.

Download Juiced 2 Hot Import Nights Demo in Softonic

If you like your driving games real, high speed and without any kind of flashy special effects, then Driving Speed is for you.

With great handling and some impressive graphics, this is a great driving simulation and best of all, it's for free. Of course, if you're looking for a Need For Speed clone, then look elsewhere because this game is not designed in that vein. The choice of cars is limited to European or Japanese but pick of the bunch is probably the Mustang 68. The overall handling and sound are incredibly realistic for a free game of this type although be careful with the controls because it's hypersensitive to even the mildest movements. As regards the graphics, they're not first class but they do extend to the sound and visual effects of the wind blowing, advertising billboards and grass embankments. The gameplay is simple - you have 11 opponents although you can spice things up by playing against 8 friends over the internet. The icing on the cake is that you can compare your fastest laps with other racers so this is truly a global game.

Racing fans looking for fast thrills and no fuss action will love this game although let's hope the developers add more circuits to it soon.

Download Driving Speed 2 in Softonic

For the first time in the history of eSport, a video game has been specially developed for the Electronic Sports World Cup and is being offered free of charge to the players of the entire planet so they may commence training for the qualifiers due to take place in 53 countries on Friday 27th of January. The Grand Final of ESWC will be held in Paris from June 28th to July the 2nd , in front of 40,000 people, where the best players from each country will battle it out for a prize of 400,000 dollars.

This special version features a brand new environment, the Stadium, and a revolutionary new gameplay designed for Nadeo's own custom cars. Nadeo has pulled the technological rabbit from the hat with their own brand game engine, featuring the series' best graphics yet, finely tuned for the latest generation graphics cards, not forgetting simpler machines so that no one round the world has a technical freeze out on the race track. With the online in-game ladder, players can customise their cars and avatars and race in their nation's colours on the world's servers from Friday onwards. Many Trackmania and Trackmania Sunrise players will already have access to the following exclusive features: peer 2 peer data exchange and skin and avatar customisation.

Download TrackMania Nations in Softonic

Those of you who have played Mario Kart on any platform will already be acquainted with Kart n' Crazy, an online kart racing game clearly inspired by the Nintendo popular title.

The first thing I'd like to point out is that this game is completely free: simply register a free account on the developer's webpage, download the client and you're ready to go. As an online game, you may have to download extra patches but it doesn't take long.

Kart n' Crazy definitely met our expectations – and believe me, as a faithful Mario Kart fan, they were high. The game is very funny, features different playing modes to appeal different kinds of gamers and includes also an addictive social component which lets you meet other players and chat with them while speeding along the circuit's bends.

There are two game modes: Speed and Arcade. The first one challenges players to be the fastest on track, while in the second one the aim is to make other players fail on their way to the finishing line by using different weapons you can pick up and use along the race. These weapons are also similar to the ones you find in Mario Kart: the lightning bolt, the turtle, the star that makes you go faster (no bananas though).

Personally, I found the Arcade mode to be much more exciting. I had loads of fun racing and trying to throw other players off the track at the same time. After each race, depending on your position on the final ranking, you're awarded experience points which you can later on use to customize your kart and buy new apparel for your driver.

Now, is there any drawback to this game? Not really. Except the odd connectivity issue (which is reasonable bearing in mind this is the first public release) Kart n' Crazy is an excellent racing game for all ages.

If you like Mario Kart or just kart racing games, you'll love Kart n' Crazy: an online karting game where you can compete against players worldwide to be the fastest pilot in the world – even if you have to kick your competitors off the road!

Download Kart n' Crazy in Softonic

Project Torque could be defined as a free online clone of Gran Turismo – if PlayStation fanboys would excuse such audacity.

Now, before you start throwing your sixaxis controllers at me for being such a daring reviewer, let me explain: Project Torque is not Gran Turismo, that's right. But it is an awesome online racing game, seasoned with a very attractive social component that's contributed to build a very active user community around the game. Add to that a complete driving license system, several game modes, online competitions and a shop where you can upgrade and customize your car, and you get an excellent game that's definitely worth a try.

Bear in mind, however, that it may take a while before you can actually start taking part in races. First, the game file will download an extra 456 MB patch before allowing you to launch the game. Then, I advise you to follow the tutorial, which teaches you all the basics in less than 5 minutes. And finally, you'll need some time to get used to the game's interface, which looks a bit cluttered with all those available options and tools. One tip: add your favorite MP3 files to the game's music folder and you'll be able to enjoy your favorite music while playing Project Torque.

So how's racing itself? Pretty fun, indeed. The game allows you to drive from different perspectives (inside or outside the car) and in all of them, the level of realism is going to make your jaws drop. This goes also for circuit environment, light effects and physical effects as well, the later being especially noticeable when you bump against a lamppost. Luckily you can repair your car on the spot with the backspace key.

As you unlock tracks, obtain different driving licenses and take part in races against players from all over the world, you'll earn experience points that you can later on invest in your baby, I mean, you car, to make it the fastest machine on earth. Project Torque will also give you the chance of meeting very friendly people online, who you can add to your buddy list. The game features embedded chat and email clients to keep in touch with them.

Project Torque is a free online multiplayer driving game, clearly inspired by Gran Turismo, where you can take part in exciting races, earn experience points, improve your car and have loads of fun!

Download Project Torque in Softonic

Feel like taking part in exciting races all over the world? Then Race Driver: GRID is definitely the game you're looking for.

This amazing game lets you join different racing events in several locations across three continents, always challenging you in various ways: drifting along the streets of a Japanese urban cirtuit, taking part in the DTM series or racing in the Daytona track with a powerful NASCAR vehicle, just to mention the three possibilities made available in the game's demo.

No matter which option you choose, you'll get a glimpse of the game's breath-taking graphics. Cars are designed with such an impressive level of detail that I'm starting to wonder if there's any room left for further improvements in this field. The physics are also faithful to reality, so you better learn fast how to control your car if you don't want to eat all the curves in the track.

Race Drive: GRID includes several camera modes, including one from the inside of the car that shows up loads of details and even changes all the sounds of the game. Another amazing option is the possibility to go back to race after smashing your car by replaying your last few movements before the crash and trying to correct your path.

The Race Drive: GRID demo features the three aforementioned races plus a multiplayer option, which I had some problems to test but finally managed to make it work. My advice though is that you get a bit of training before you try your luck on multiplayer races: it's all full of master players out there.

Though a bit difficult to control at first, Race Drive: GRID is a highly realistic racing game with an interesting multiplayer option that's going to please all motor fans for sure.

Download Race Driver: GRID Demo in Softonic

If you've always wanted to drive a truck, this is your opportunity so don't miss it out!

18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul lets you drive one of those huge American trucks all over the United States, either in campaign mode or doing single missions. The first game mode involves being able to run your own truck company, whereas the second one puts you behind the wheel as a truck driver in charge of the most varied deliveries across the country.

I must admit I expected more from this game. The graphics are nice, but not brilliant. The music is only on while on menus and disappears during the game. However, what I didn't really like was the gameplay itself. The trucks are quite difficult to control (maybe due to the fact that I've never driven a truck in my whole life). I spent 10 minutes moving around the garage just to get my cargo trailer attached. Plus, campaign mode doesn't tell you what your missions or your aims are - or at least I wasn't able to find them in my notebook. In all, a somewhat disappointing title. You may as well give it a try and let us know what you think about it.

Become an American truck driver and take deliveries all across the United States.

Download 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul in Softonic

If you've always dreamed of driving a Mercedes but can't afford one, this could be an intermediate solution while you're saving money.

Mercedes CLC Dream Test Drive puts you behind the steering-wheel of the awesome Mercedes CLC Coupé. The game is free though quite limited, as it only includes two gaming modes: a race against five other computer-controlled Mercedes through the streets of London and a single lap time trial against your personal best record. At least the scenarios are pretty realistic, giving you the opportunity to do some high-speed sightseeing around London or enjoy cool races at night.

The only choice of car available is obviously a Mercedes, but there are some customization options available such as changing color or getting new wheels. There are also three different difficulty levels that tailor the game to your driving skills.

That said, the truth is that Mercedes CLC Dream Test Drive is not a very fun driving game and it has some surprisingly odd characteristics, like the absence of driver or the fact that the car is not affected by crashes. In a way it feels more like an interactive ad than a real computer game, so unless you're a fan of the famous German car brand, I'd recommend downloading other driving games before this one.

Mercedes CLC Dream Test Drive is definitely a game for Mercedes fans: other people may find it too limited and a bit frustrating.

Download Mercedes CLC Dream Test Drive in Softonic

You've probably seen a ton of online racing games already, but Trackmania Nations Forever is quite different from anything you have seen so far.

To begin with, this great game is completely free. No trial periods, no disabled functions, no nagging windows. It's for you to play and enjoy for free, as long as you want, as much as you feel like it. Also, Trackmania Nations Forever is not that much about arriving first to the finish line, but rather about having fun along the way; hence the extensive social component of the game and the incredible jumps and spins you'll be able to perform. Last, but not least, it also enables you to customize the game, featuring a complete editor with which you can create not only tracks, but also design your very own car.

Trackmania Nations Forever includes three different gaming modes (Solo, Online and Party play) which give you a different approach to the game: you can either play against the PC and try to break your personal records, play with friends on the same computer or in a local area network or play against other Trackmania drivers from all over the world with its superb online multiplayer mode. The Solo mode works with a system based on medals (the best your racing times are, the more medals you get and the more tracks you unlock) while the Online mode uses a worldwide ranking to measure players's achievements.

In a way, we could say that the most important element in Trackmania Nations Forever is gameplay. Everything has been carefully planned and designed to be as easy for the player as possible: for example, you can register your profile by simple filling in a two-field form, or control the car with just the arrow keys. This simplicity is what makes the game so much fun and so wickedly addictive.

Despite this apparent simplicity, however, you'll find a very elaborate game. Track and car design are simple, but realistic and very accurate. An excellent soundtrack adds the final touch to a game that, in my opinion, sets a turning point in online racing games.

Trackmania Nations Forever is probably one of the greatest online racing games you'll ever see: fun races, customizable elements, an extensive user community and excellent gameplay.

Download Trackmania Nations Forever 2.11.11 in Softonic

Rainbow Studios has mastered ATV's, conquered motocross, and now redefines the genre they built on the PC. Rainbow Studios isn't the only one building anymore, as the MX vs ATV Unleashed franchise introduces a track editor for the first time, allowing players to create the ultimate offroad environments. The most complete offroad experience unleashes the power into the players hands on the PC.

Features:

• Create the ultimate offroad environment, take it online and race all challengers
• Rip through the sand dunes in two new ATV models, launch off snow capped mountains with a redesigned monster truck, or show off two new pimped out 4x4 golf kart to country club friends
• SuperMoto, Short track, Hill climbs, Way point races, Monster Mash, Gap Jumps & more

Download MX vs. ATV Unleashed Demo in Softonic

While it may not quite have the glamour of Formula 1, the World Touring Car Championship is nevertheless still pretty darned exciting. This realistic simulation puts you in the seat of a speedy car which you must steer through a series of rigorous tracks. The cars in this case are not expensive protypes, but the kind of machines that you see on the road - only souped up to the extreme.

The result is an exciting competition in which each race is a genuine battle, as all the cars are of a similar standard, with the only difference being the degree to which each has been modified. Race 07 boasts all the official circuits, cars and drivers of the WTCC and is incredibly realistic. Luckily, you can automate many of the driver functions, giving you the ability to take corners at 200 kmph without too many problems. The rendering of the vehicles and the motion in this game are quite amazing and sonically you can hear every roar and screech of the motors. One of the best driving games of the year.

Download Race 07: The Official WTCC Game in Softonic

X-Moto is a challenging open-source 2D motocross platform game where realisitic physics effects play an all important role in the gameplay.

You need to take your bike to its limits to make it over the obstacles to become one of the fastest finishers and progress a level.

Download X-Moto 0.4.1 in Softonic

It's usually difficult to find high-quality free racing games, but sometimes you do find exceptions to this rule like Moto Race Challenge. This game doesn't offer the official championship bikes or pilots, but at least you can play it absolutely for free.

Graphics are better than we expected, with good response to controls. The motorbike is controlled just with the cursor keys, but don't let this apparent simplicity fool you: it takes some time and practice to master it, especially when accelerating and braking.

You can play offline as much as you want, but if you'd like to join an official race or championship, then you must register as user (it's free). However, bear in mind that you'll have to pass the qualifying series to be allowed to join the race.

Download Moto Race Challenge 08 in Softonic

Codemasters designers have createed a totally reinvigorated McRae experience. Colin McRae: Dirt goes beyond the series' point-to-point rallying delivering the most diverse selection of extreme off-road competitions ever seen in a single game. Sensational gravel, mud and dirt racing events from the world over freature, including perilous Hill Climb and collision-packed Rally Cross events.

International rallying competitions also feature, with official cars on tracks based on real roads and locations around the globe. The title also expands on beat-the-clock racing to include events with multiple cars on track to satisfy anyone who wants to push their on-the-edge driving just that bit further.

With official cars and official events across a wide variety of off-road and rally disciplines, the most authentic and thrilling tracks ever in a McRae game, modes that make the most of online multiplater and all-new physics and damage system bringing the series' trademark intuitive car handling system to new levels of realism and immersion, Colin McRae Rally has evolved.

Download Colin McRae: Dirt Demo in Softonic

Trial may not be the most popular motor sport but it's definitely a spectacular show with incredible jumps and spins that make our jaws drop. And guess what? You can now reproduce those movements without compromising your physical integrity.

Trials 2 is a realistic trial simulator that puts you in control of a powerful bike and challenges you to complete very varied tracks – all indoor. Tracks are categorized according to difficulty and also to different gaming modes. Though the demo version doesn't include all of them, you can still get a glimpse of what the whole game should be like. There are some tutorial levels as well, but I don't understand how they work, because instead of explaining movements bit by bit (as you would expect from a tutorial) you're just presented with a basic circuit you can use as training. You can also choose between several camera modes, but if I were you I'd stay with Action mode: the other ones are a little confusing.

Trials 2 features an easy gameplay, with only a few keys to learn, but at the same time is quite challenging and difficult to master. Graphics are very detailed and the excellent physics engine contributes to the sensation of realism. However this realism sometimes goes a bit beyond the line, especially when the driver falls from the bike: it always looks like you're on the verge of dying even if you simply crashed at about 5 mph.

If you'd like to test an original motor sport, far from the typical bike and car races, Trials 2 may be the game you're looking for.

Download Trials 2 Second Edition 1.06 in Softonic