The Future of Multiplayer Car Games: From Couch Co-Op to Global Play

We’re sure you remember years ago sitting on the floor with your best friend, both of you squinting at your tiny half of the TV screen during split-screen races. 

Those couch co-op sessions were gaming gold, but multiplayer car games have come a long way since then. Now you can race against someone in Tokyo while I’m sitting in my pajamas eating cereal. 

The shift from cramming four controllers into one console to browser-based global matchmaking is amazing, and it’s so accessible nowadays too. 

So we’ve taken a dive into browser racing games lately, and the evolution is incredible. Platforms like Poki have basically demolished every barrier that used to exist. Just click and race. It’s that simple. Let’s take a look at how Browser gaming is gaining so much traction.

The Browser Revolution

The browser games market hit around $8 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $9 billion by 2029. 

A huge reason for this is that these games work on literally anything. Your phone, your laptop, that dusty Chromebook in your closet, even your school computer during lunch break.

Poki alone has over 100 million monthly gamers and helps 600+ developers reach global audiences. When major studios like Fingersoft (the developer behind Hill Climb Racing, boasting 2.5 billion downloads and €220 million in revenue) start bringing its games to browser platforms you know something big is happening.

From Split-Screen Chaos to Global Mayhem

Mario Kart 64 and Gran Turismo were the kings of the split-screen racers back in the day. But there were so many assets required – the right console, the right game, and your friends had to physically show up.

Fast forward to 2025, and you can now race against strangers worldwide while waiting for your coffee to brew. The tech has gotten so good that the line between “browser games” and “real games” is basically gone. 

We’re talking proper 3D graphics, smooth gameplay, and competitive multiplayer that actually works. But what are some of the actual browser racing titles you should be playing? We’re glad you asked.

Smash Karts

Okay, so imagine Mario Kart had a baby with a battle royale, and that baby was very chaotic. That’s Smash Karts. You’re racing AND fighting at the same time, collecting weapons across colorful 3D maps and absolutely destroying other players. Rockets, shotguns, the works.

The matchmaking is instant too, and the controls are dead simple. WASD to move, spacebar for items, so anyone can jump in immediately.

Car Machines

This one’s different. Instead of traditional races, Car Machines drops you into an open-world multiplayer playground where you can just exist. And race. And customize. And explore.

The persistent world aspect is the big selling point, as you’re constantly running into real players. Sometimes they’ll challenge you to a spontaneous drag race. Sometimes you just cruise together. It’s basically an MMO racing game in your browser, which shouldn’t work as well as it does. But yet here we are.

Crazy Cars

Sometimes you just want that classic couch co-op feeling, and Crazy Cars brings back the golden age of split-screen racing. Except now it’s all up in your browser.

It’s perfect for quick 5-minute races where you can immediately talk trash to the person sitting next to you, and the cartoonish style and wild track designs make every race unpredictable. If you miss those split-screen Mario Kart days but can’t be bothered to hook up a console, this is your game.

2 Player City Racing 2

This takes the split-screen concept and adds an open-city sandbox element, which is exactly as fun as it sounds. You’re racing through detailed urban environments, downtown streets, industrial districts, the works, all while competing against your friend in side-by-side split-screen. But you can also just cause chaos together.

One minute you’re trying to beat your friend, the next you’re both trying to launch cars off a ramp to see who can cause the biggest crash.

Ready to Race?

So multiplayer car games have certainly come a long way from those split-screen days. See for yourself by heading over to Poki’s Car Games and pick your poison. 

Fair warning though: “just one more race” turns into three hours really fast. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

For more browser gaming goodness, check out our guide to the Best Roblox Horror Games to get into the mood for Halloween.

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