Racing Games that Let You Create Your Own Tracks

16 September 2025

Ever felt like your favorite racing game is missing something? Maybe the tracks are a bit too predictable, or you're just itching to put your creative stamp on the game. Well, good news — some racing games let you build your own tracks! That’s right. Whether you're into high-speed loops or twisty mountain passes, there are games that literally put the road in your hands.

In this article, we'll cruise through a list of the best racing games that let players design custom tracks, how these creation tools work, and why they’re an absolute game-changer for racing fans. If you’ve ever wanted to play on a circuit that’s equal parts insanity and ingenuity — stick around. We’re diving deep into the world where speed meets creativity.

Why Custom Track Racing Games Are So Awesome

Let’s start with the obvious: freedom. Custom track racing games hand over the steering wheel (and the concrete mixer) to players. Instead of sticking to a set list of races, you get to dream up tracks straight from your imagination. Want jumps that launch you into the stratosphere? Steep turns next to lava pits? You got it.

Here’s what makes them extra special:

- 🚗 Endless Replayability – Bored of the same tracks? Build a new one.
- 🔧 Creative Expression – Your track, your rules, your chaos.
- 🌍 Community Sharing – Share your wildest creations online & play on other players' tracks.
- 🛠️ Hands-On Learning – Designing a track teaches you about pacing, challenge, and flow.

Creating tracks isn’t just fun — it's a sandbox for the speed junkies and the budding game designers alike.

Top Racing Games That Let You Create Your Own Tracks

So, which games let you roll up your sleeves and build the ultimate driving experience? We've rounded up the best ones, from casual kart racers to hyper-realistic car sims.

1. TrackMania Series (Especially TrackMania Nations & TrackMania 2020)

If you're talking track building, you have to bring up TrackMania. It’s basically the gold standard.

What Makes It Great:
- The editor is crazy flexible. You can build everything from tight indoor loops to floating sky highways.
- It has a massive player base, so there’s no shortage of cool tracks to try.
- Physics are arcadey but precise — making every jump and drift feel rewarding.

Why We Love It:
TrackMania is kind of like LEGO for racing fans. You snap together different pieces — ramps, banks, boost pads — and test what flows… or doesn’t. The best part? Even if your track turns out to be a nightmare, someone out there will love the challenge.

2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (With Labo Toy-Con & Custom Mods)

Okay, Mario Kart isn’t usually the game you think of for building tracks — but hear me out.

What Makes It Great:
- Nintendo Labo kits allow track customization in real life, which is bonkers cool.
- Custom mods (especially on PC emulators like Yuzu) let creative fans build and share new tracks.

Why We Love It:
Is it officially a track building game? Not exactly. But with the right mods and peripherals, Mario Kart turns into a playground. Plus, who wouldn’t want to race a banana-driving plumber on a homemade cardboard rollercoaster?

3. ModNation Racers (PlayStation)

Ever wish Mario Kart and LittleBigPlanet had a baby? Boom — ModNation Racers.

What Makes It Great:
- Full track editor with terrain sculpting, object placement, and weather control.
- Customizable everything: racers, karts, and obviously tracks.
- Great balance between fun and technical depth.

Why We Love It:
Sony really nailed the “Play, Create, Share” vibe with this one. The user-generated content here was off the charts. Some players built tracks that looked like professional-level game design.

Sadly, the servers are offline now, but the game remains a cult classic. And if you can find a copy, the offline tools still shine.

4. Hot Wheels Unleashed

Do you like racing tiny cars on massive loop-de-loops, across kitchen counters and skateparks? Then Hot Wheels Unleashed is your jam.

What Makes It Great:
- Highly detailed track builder themed around actual Hot Wheels tracks.
- Easy to pick up, hard to master — perfect for casual players and hardcore builders alike.
- Let’s you recreate that nostalgic “childhood living room race” vibe.

Why We Love It:
The Hot Wheels feeling is so on point. It doesn’t take itself too seriously but still offers real depth in the builder. Flip upside down, twist around lamps, shoot out of turbo cannons — it’s childhood chaos with polish.

5. LEGO 2K Drive

Brand-new to the scene but already making big waves, LEGO 2K Drive lets you literally build everything — even the world around your track.

What Makes It Great:
- Full sandbox world with track creation, car building, and terrain editing.
- Great physics for a LEGO game — satisfying drifts and vehicle handling.
- Think Minecraft meets Mario Kart.

Why We Love It:
You don’t just race here — you build your car brick by brick. Then take that car into your custom-designed track. It’s immersive, creative, and everything you’d expect from a LEGO racing game done right.

6. RaceRoom Racing Experience (With Mods)

This one’s for the sim racing fans. RaceRoom can be modded to allow for track creation, though it's more advanced than other games on this list.

What Makes It Great:
- Gorgeous physics and handling for a realistic experience.
- Modding community allows for custom tracks, though it requires more technical skill.
- Perfect for players who want detail and precision.

Why We Love It:
If you’re the kind of racer who obsesses over apex curves and braking zones, this is your playground. While not as plug-and-play as others, the depth here is unmatched.

Creating a Good Racing Track: Tips and Insight

Alright, you’re excited to start building. But how do you make a good track? Let’s break it down with a few golden rules:

1. Know Your Flow

Think of your track like a rollercoaster — it needs ups and downs, fast bits, tricky sections, and room to breathe. Don’t just spam jumps or sharp turns.

2. Add Visual Cues

Use landmarks or environmental details to help players know what’s coming. Weird lighting, arrows, or objects on the sidelines can guide them subconsciously.

3. Balance Fun and Challenge

Hard tracks are cool. Unfair tracks? Not so much. Make sure a new player isn’t rage-quitting in 30 seconds.

4. Test, Tweak, Repeat

You won’t nail it on the first try. Watch how others race on your track and be ready to rework tricky spots.

5. Showcase Your Style

Whether it’s a spooky forest course or an intergalactic highway, let your theme shine through. That’s part of the fun!

The Future of Track-Building in Racing Games

More games are embracing user-generated content every year. Why? Because players love owning the experience.

Expect to see:
- 🎮 More intuitive tools for console players.
- 🌐 Cloud-based sharing libraries.
- 💥 Advanced terrain and AI tools for smarter track designs.
- 🧠 AI-assisted editors that improve your creations automatically.

Some indie games are even building their entire gameplay loop around track creation, letting player creativity fuel the game’s ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

Racing games with custom track builders are more than just a gimmick — they’re a love letter to creativity and competition. Whether you want to recreate famous tracks, design the world’s most ridiculous loop-de-loop, or fine-tune a realistic F1 circuit, there’s a game out there that’ll let you do it.

So grab your controller, fire up the track editor, and start paving your dream raceway. Who knows — maybe one day, your track will be the one everyone races on.

Let’s hit the gas and build something awesome.