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The best racing simulators right now also happen to be some of the most realistic-looking games, thanks to the breakneck pace of graphics technology. Thus, there’s no better time than now to try out some of the biggest in the racing simulator genre.
As for our criteria on what puts a racing game among the best racing simulator games, a mix of realism, physics, and graphics is at the top of our consideration. Sadly, the most prominent arcade racing games don’t fit the bill here. But let’s say you want to closely experience the thrills of F1 or the intensity of Rallying, the following racing simulators can give you a fix.
Project Cars 3 if You’re Still Hung-up on Arcade Elements
It’s not the best title if you want the purest racing simulator game since Project Cars 3 still has some arcade elements to it. Still, it strikes a good balance between arcade and simulation. If you’re coming from arcade racing titles, and want a more authentic representation of racing with supercars, then Project Cars 3 is an easy transition.
There’s a low bar of entry here. Yet the game still has a skill ceiling high enough for some of the more hardcore racers. More importantly, Project Cars 3 still lets you customize a lot in your vehicle of choice.
iRacing for Online Multiplayer
It’s older than most of the racing simulator games we have here and thus has slightly more dated visuals, but iRacing still holds up well. When it was released, it was the premier motorsports racing game in the world. It still carries that reputation well today thanks to a solid online racing structure.
It’s one of the closest experiences you can have with racing with other humans without actually leaving the comfort of your couch or gaming chair. Most of its positive player base regards iRacing as the best for online racing to this day. It’s simply perfect for those rocking a steering wheel setup and want to flaunt it online.
rFactor 2 for Road Realism
rFactor 2 prides itself on its realism and its visuals alone help reinforce its main draw. Because while the game was released back in 2013, it’s easy to mistake it for a 2020 game. rFactor 2 features a mixed class of road racing so you don’t have to confine yourself to certain types of races.
If you’re looking for even more realism, rFactor 2 also factors in (no pun intended) the wear and tear on the race track. Burning rubber more frequently on asphalt will affect grip. That means endurance races with many laps tend to become more challenging over time.
RaceRoom Racing Experience for Accessibility
It’s reasonable to expect you to have a banging VR setup since you’re looking for the best racing simulator games and likely already have a steering wheel. For the best VR racing simulator, we give you RaceRoom Racing Experience. Not to worry if you don’t have VR goggles, the game will still run in standard mode.
In any case, this is a free-to-play racing simulator all the way back from 2013. So it’s not just for the VR experience, but also for accessibility. Also, the developers even let you enjoy some of the premium content for free if you’re willing to work a bit for them.
Assetto Corza Competizione for Exotic Supercars
You’ve probably heard of this one already. It’s a big name in the racing game genre. You’ll be pleased to know that it’s also a great racing simulator. Assetto Corza Competizione (Italian hand gesture edition) is the official GT World Challenge video game, meaning the Euro supercar or Grand Tourer race.
The game was also released in 2019. As such, the graphics are certainly a cut above some of the other racing simulators we featured. You’ll recognize plenty of European ‘Exotic’ cars here from the Lambo to the Aston Martin. You’ll also find some familiar branding and advertisements, and they serve to give an authentic feel.
Automobilista 2 for VR
While RaceRoom also has a VR mode, its visuals are not up to par with something like Automobilista 2. The latter was released back in 2020, with graphics that rival Assetto Corza Competizione except you can view it from a more intimate VR perspective.
Automobilista 2 is also more varied in its approach to racing. It even included Grand Prix cars from the 1960s. Recent updates also added and enhanced the F1 options. If you want to be even more off-beat, you can also race with literal tow trucks in the game to see how fast those hulks can go.
Dirt Rally 2.0 for Rally
If you find asphalt too monotonous, head on over to Dirt Rally 2.0 to make your opponents eat dirt. Speed is less of a concern here compared to control as you’ll be driving the toughest and meanest off-road vehicles. There’s also a VR mode here if you really want to feel like you’re grinding on dirt and rattling inside a comfy metal box.
As for the visuals, Dirt Rally 2.0 is no slouch as it was released back in 2019 and is perhaps one of the most realistic Rally racing games to date. Despite the pretty graphics, Dirt Rally 2.0 gets praise for its optimization and even runs well on old systems.
Gran Turismo 7 for PS5 Owners
If you have the PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 then consider yourself lucky. You get to play the latest Gran Turismo 7. It was released back in 2022 and as you can expect, it’s one of the most recent pushes to the boundaries of racing game graphics. It even has ray tracing here. Well, the PS5 version does.
The scope is similar to Assetto Corsa Competizione where most of the races are from GT championships with supercar brands racing their engines out. This is also the racing game where you’ll want to be mindful of several factors such as weather, surfaces, downforce, and even road banks. Not for arcade racers.
F1 23 for an F1 Focus
If you don’t care much for the look of the car and want the flattest, most aerodynamic speed chisel you can drive on asphalt, then F1 23 has those in spades. Needless to say, it’s all about F1. In certain angles, it even looks more visually impressive compared to Gran Turismo 7.
The game was released in 2023, after all. F1 23 also incorporates all the intricacies of F1 racing from tire physics to the state of your car’s internals. There’s also a Story Mode with an actual F1 drama if you’re into that.
Forza Motorsport (2023) for Visuals
For those of you who are after the prettiest and shiniest racing simulator, look no further than Forza Motorsport (2023). It also added ray tracing to its graphics, meaning more realistic lighting. At times, you can even pass it off as a real-life driving video if you turn off the HUD.
All those visuals come with a compromise, however. Forza Motorsport (2023) is quite notorious right now for its RPG mechanics. Upgrades were locked behind progression though the range and variety of available cars is staggering. A small price to pay for one of the most graphically-impressive and best racing simulator games.
