Which games do you think are the finest racing games on PC? On the platform, racing games have a long and illustrious history, reaching back to the 1980s, if not before. Classics like Midtown Madness and Need On Speed are available to play, but what about the finest racing games for PC available right now? We’ve got you covered on our list, whether you’re a seasoned gearhead or searching for a relaxing Sunday drive.
There are tough games like the demanding Dirt Rally on the list and oddball picks like the criminally overlooked Driver: San Francisco, an enjoyable driving game with an odd body-hopping mechanism. We’re a little sloppy with the definition of ‘racing game’ here, and anything’s fair game if it has wheels. But you’ll notice that all of these games have one thing in common: they’ll provide you with a fantastic driving experience and make you feel great behind the wheel.
Check out our handy list of the top steering wheels for PC if you want to take your driving simulation experience to the next level.
Forza Horizon 5 is a racing game.
Phil’s Forza Horizon 5 review focuses on the level of improvement in the Forza franchise. The latest installment in the series hasn’t seen any major modifications, but it does include a high level of craftsmanship. The Playground crew has spent many hours polishing the hoods of 500 automobiles till they glisten, and the environments in the new setting, Mexico, are no exception.
The seasonal playlist is conspicuous from the start, serving as the game’s beating heart. As Phil put it, “We’ve had plenty of looter shooters, but Forza Horizon is slowly developing into the first looter racer.” You’ll find yourself taking on unexpected tasks and leveraging your full stable of cars, searching for new unique additions.
Dirt Rally 2 is a sequel to the first.
When the first Dirt Rally debuted in 2015, it was a revelation, abandoning the snapback caps and energy drink commercials that had come to define the Dirt series in the past and refocusing on the great task of – well, just keeping a car on the track of a rally circuit. Dirt Rally 2 accomplishes it as well, and it does it better in every way.
Rallying is a high-skill sport, and Codemasters expects you to perform at the same level as a true 4WD World Rally Championship vehicle. At least, that’s how it feels; in reality, none of us have or will ever have direct knowledge of flinging a Citroen across Finland’s dirt roads as swiftly as Sebastien Ogier can. However, the weight shift in Dirt Rally’s automobiles is totally convincing, as is the sensation of sheer power while the wheels scramble for traction beneath you.
Forza Motorsport 7 is a racing game developed by Forza Motorsport.
James describes Forza Motorsport 7 as “so vast and all-encompassing that not only can I convert it into a silly game about vans, but I can also make it a game about conquering my van fixation and finally learning how to drive amazing sports cars” in our review. It’s one of the most extensive sandboxes for car fans, capable of catering to everyone, from those who want to go fast in shiny metal cages to simulation experts and everyone in between.
When dynamic weather effects are added to a race, it transforms from a technical route memorizing challenge to an impromptu puddle-dodging marathon in low visibility. Night tracks gradually transition to dawn, with sunlight filling the pitch-black darkness, while Forza looks and performs better than ever. It’s hampered by a bad progression system that relies too heavily on a hackneyed loot box system. Still, as the first mainline Forza game on PC, Motorsport 7 is adaptable enough to absorb the impact of a few speed bumps.
CARS 2 is a sequel to Project CARS.
This racing game tries to be all things to all people: ice racing on studded tires through Swedish snowdrifts. In the Scottish Highlands, go-karting. Rallycross on the infield area of Hockenheim, with mud splattering everywhere. Honda Civics trying to make it up Eau Rouge without stalling, LMP1s rushing through Imola, Indycars defying gravity at Daytona Speedway – and when you’re bored, LMP1s hurtling through Imola.
The fact that Slightly Mad’s sim sequel pulls it all off is more astounding than the enormous range of content. The fidelity it conveys to your hands as you try to bully a car into the apex with force feedback support is best-in-class. Loose surface racing feels just as convincing as hitting the track in a road-legal vehicle, and the fidelity it conveys to your hands as you try to bully a car into the apex with its force-feedback support is best-in-class stuff. Several racing drivers from various disciplines served as consultants during the development process, and it shows. Project CARS 2 has established a strong eSports culture, and the complexity of simulation means that for young aspiring drivers, this may be a good substitute for track experience.
iRacing
iRacing is as close to genuine racing as you can get on the PC, thanks to its frequent online racing leagues and rigorous car and course modeling.
That also means you’ll have to work your way up to iRacing. Therefore has no substantial single-player component, and it necessitates significant investment due to membership costs and live tournament scheduling. Oh, and a force feedback wheel is required here – we’re not implying that the gamepad support is inadequate. You won’t be able to race unless you have a revolution.
There is, however, nothing that compares for a certain type of sim racing enthusiast. The finest iRacing players frequently compete in real-world motorsport and benefit from eSports sim racing. And since its initial release in 2008, it has continually remained at the forefront of the latest simulators each year. That’s quite a feat.
