Best if you want precision time-trial racing where every millisecond counts, wrapped in a free-to-play package that runs beautifully on any PC and offers endless player-made tracks to master.
TrackMania (2020) is pure racing distilled to its competitive essence: you, a Formula-style car, and a leaderboard full of ghosts to chase. This isn't about crossing the finish line first in a traditional race—it's about perfecting your line, shaving milliseconds off your personal best, and climbing global rankings through relentless precision. The driving model is exceptionally consistent, with physics that reward memorization and flawless execution over improvisation. When you crash—and you will, constantly—a single button press resets you to the starting line in under a second, keeping frustration minimal and the rhythm of improvement addictive. The learning curve is deceptively friendly. You'll grasp the basics in minutes: accelerate, brake, drift. But mastering air control, understanding speed-scrubbing surfaces, and nailing split-second drifts to maintain momentum will keep you engaged for hundreds of hours. Each track is a short puzzle, typically 30-90 seconds long, designed to be run dozens or hundreds of times as you hunt for that perfect ghost lap. The seasonal campaigns deliver 25 new official tracks every three months, ensuring fresh challenges even for free players. Session structure is brilliantly flexible. You can chase records in solo time trials, jump into matchmaking where players race simultaneously on the same track (collisions are disabled—everyone's chasing their own ghost), or dive into the sprawling library of community-created tracks. The Track of the Day system provides a single shared challenge that rotates daily, fostering a communal競competitive spirit as players worldwide tackle the same course. The free tier is generous but targeted: you get full access to seasonal campaigns, ranked matchmaking, and the ability to play community tracks, but creation tools, club features, and the full track library require a subscription. For pure racing competition, the free version delivers exceptional value. The singular stadium setting and single car might feel limiting compared to traditional racers, but this focus creates a level playing field where skill reigns supreme. Performance is stellar across hardware ranges, maintaining high frame rates even on integrated graphics—critical for a game where visual clarity directly impacts precision. If you crave the dopamine hit of incremental improvement and the satisfaction of a perfectly executed run, TrackMania offers one of the tightest competitive loops in racing.
100 online • Full Crossplay
TrackMania (2020) supports full crossplay across all platforms, supports up to 100 players online.
Single Player • Multiplayer • PvP • Online Multiplayer
Online multiplayer supports matchmaking/servers and live events (e.g., Ranked and Royal). Cross-play is supported across platforms. No split-screen/couch multiplayer. LAN mode is not supported. On consoles, online play requires the platform’s paid online subscription (PlayStation Plus / Xbox Game Pass Core).
Important details about which version to buy and where to play.
Three tiers available: Starter (free, seasonal campaigns and ranked play), Standard (€10/year, full track access and creation tools), and Club (€30/year, advanced features and slots). Free tier is fully competitive but limits social and creative features.
PC exclusive (Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect). Runs exceptionally well on low-end hardware with minimal CPU/GPU requirements. Crossplay functions seamlessly across all PC storefronts.
Instant resets reduce frustration for motor skill challenges. Colorblind options available. Limited accessibility features overall—precision timing and quick reactions are core to the experience and cannot be adjusted.
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If you enjoyed TrackMania (2020), you'll love these similar games. We've handpicked titles based on gameplay style, difficulty, atmosphere, and what players like you are enjoying. Whether you're looking for something with a similar vibe, more challenge, or the same multiplayer features, these recommendations have you covered.
Head-to-head competitive games for players who enjoy the competitive elements found in TrackMania (2020).
Pure time-attack competition with leaderboards, ghosts, and tournament-style servers—focused on shaving milliseconds the same way TrackMania thrives online.
Arcade-but-skilled racing with tight drift lines, boosts, and online races; mastery comes from clean laps and optimizing shortcuts under pressure.
Ranked online racing where consistency and racecraft matter; time trial setups, telemetry-style learning, and wheel support reward competitive practice.
For players who mastered TrackMania (2020) and want to test their skills against harder difficulty, punishing mechanics, and unforgiving gameplay.
Less forgiving handling and visibility than stadium tracks; precision braking, weight transfer, and memorizing stages deliver a steep, satisfying skill curve.
Restart-heavy, precision racing built around micro-optimizing lines; chasing zero-fault runs and leaderboard times mirrors TrackMania’s iteration loop.
High-speed obstacle courses demand split-second inputs, air control, and route reading; it scratches the “perfect run” itch with harsher punishments.
Expansive alternatives to TrackMania (2020) featuring larger worlds, deeper progression systems, and extended campaigns for players seeking more content.
A massive open-world playground with constant events, rivals/time trials, and online convoys—bigger variety while still rewarding fast, clean driving.
Huge US map and multiple disciplines (cars, bikes, boats, planes) turn racing into a long-term hobby; events and PvP keep progression rolling.
Open-world street racing adds risk/reward pursuits and upgrade chasing; a broader loop than pure time-attack, but still built around clean driving skill.
Performance-optimized games similar to TrackMania (2020) that run smoothly on low-end PCs, integrated graphics, and older hardware.
Lightweight sim racer that runs well on older PCs; online servers, tight physics, and repeated hot-lap practice make it a great competitive fallback.
Free-to-start and comparatively light on hardware for a sim-leaning racer; ranked-style online racing and time trials reward disciplined lap improvement.
Old-school, low-requirement racer with sturdy netplay options and frantic pacing; quick matches and aggressive driving deliver easy multiplayer fun on weak rigs.
We've included this game in 2 articles.
Trackmania earns the top spot for its laser-focused time-trial gameplay where precise physics and instant resets create an addictive loop of chasing milliseconds. The free tier delivers full access to seasonal campaigns and leaderboards without paywalls affecting gameplay balance, while endless user-created tracks ensure variety. Its stadium-only setting and subscription model keep it from perfect marks, but no other F2P racer matches its skill ceiling.
Trackmania lands in the honorable mentions for exceptional performance on integrated graphics—silky frame rates, minimal CPU load, and crisp visuals even at low settings make it ideal for weak hardware. The competitive time-trial format and always-on leaderboards deliver endless replayability. It narrowly misses the top 10 due to its subscription structure limiting free-tier access to club features and rotating content rather than full progression.
Common questions about this game answered by our team.
Controls are simple and you'll complete tracks immediately, but mastering advanced techniques like air control and optimal drifting takes serious practice. The skill ceiling is exceptionally high, but progression feels rewarding at every level.
Absolutely. Free players get full access to seasonal campaigns, ranked matchmaking, and global leaderboards. Subscriptions unlock creation tools and clubs, but competitive racing is completely free.
Extremely flexible. A single track takes 30-90 seconds, so you can chase records for 10 minutes or lose hours perfecting runs. Ranked matches last 5-15 minutes with multiple tracks.
Yes, but it's unique—players race simultaneously on the same track without collisions, each chasing their own ghost. It's competitive time-trialing together rather than traditional pack racing.
Practically impossible. Seasonal campaigns refresh every three months, and the community has created millions of tracks. Even focusing only on official content provides years of challenges.
