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Sim racing games have gained tremendous popularity among racing enthusiasts in recent years. With a wide range of simulation racing games to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which sim racing games are the best. With realistic graphics, accurate physics and a wide range of cars and tracks, these games offer an immersive and challenging experience. In this comprehensive article, we will explore our top 7 best sim racing games, including a brief explanation of each game and its key features. Each with unique features and impressive depth.

Whether you are an experienced racing fan or an curious beginner, these virtual racing experiences will surely satisfy your need for speed and competition. So brace yourself and let's start with our top 7 best sim racing games!

#1 iRacing

iRacing is known as one of the most realistic and competitive sim racing games on the market. With a subscription model, iRacing offers an extensive online racing community and an impressive assortment of officially licensed cars and tracks. Accurate physics, crash modeling and advanced tire modeling provide a super realistic driving experience.

iRacing is hugely popular for its challenging multiplayer racing, excellent safety rating, competitions. If you show unsportsmanlike behavior on the track or ignore the rules, you can be banned. In addition, iRacing has a Safety Rating (SR) and iRating (iR) system that most drivers strive for in order to gain access to bigger and better championships. You also have the opportunity to compete against real drivers around the world. Among others, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Tony Kanaan are avid racers on this platform.

In terms of online competition, this is by far the best game out there. Thus, the game is constantly updated with new tracks, cars and features. These major updates take place after each season of 13 weeks place. What is also good about this game is the huge community behind it and custom built racing liveries makes. This way you will always drive in a unique livery that suits you.

Price and available DLC content

iRacing is one of the most expensive sim racing games and works with a subscription model. Costs vary, but an annual subscription can cost around $110. For new members you pay only $66. The game consists of a large amount of base content, but if you want to participate in online series and championships, you will need to purchase additional tracks and cars. These are quite expensive, paying $11.95 per car and $14.95 per track. As you buy more cars and circuits, you get permanent discounts. Want to save money? Then choose deliberately cars that you want to race a lot.

Key features:

  • Extensive online racing community and multiplayer races
  • Professionally organized championships and races
  • More than 100 officially licensed cars and tracks
  • Realistic game physics, damage and tire modeling

#2 Assetto Corsa Competizione

Do you like immense graphics and fast and roaring GT3 cars? Then Assetto Corsa Competizione is definitely for you! Assetto Corsa Competitzione is one of my all-time favorites. ACC focuses specifically on GT3 and GT4 racing and offers an unparalleled simulation of the official Blancpain GT Series championship.

With licensed cars, accurately modeled tracks and advanced graphic effects, Assetto Corsa Competizione offers an immersive and realistic GT3 racing experience. Advanced tire physics and dynamic weather conditions add an extra layer of challenge to gameplay.

Price and available DLC content

Assetto Corsa Competizione is available for PC, PS4/PS5 and Xbox One. The game costs approximately ?39.99. There are also paid DLC packs available with additional cars and tracks. Here is a list of all the Assetto Corsa Competizione cars. Developer Kumos is constantly adding new features and DLC content to the game. This makes this game better and better and keeps it fun to play.

Key features:

  • Official Blancpain GT Series simulation
  • Accurately modeled tracks and licensed GT3 and GT4 cars
  • Advanced tire physics and dynamic weather conditions

#3 Automobilista 2

Automobilista 2, developed by Reiza Studios, is an advanced sim racing game that focuses on delivering a realistic and immersive racing experience. The game offers a wide range of racing classes, ranging from karts, Brazilian Stockcars, touring cars to Formula cars and prototypes. With a focus on authentic vehicle dynamics and accurately modeled tracks, the game states Automobilista 2 players to experience the excitement and challenge of different disciplines of motorsports. The game uses the Project Cars 2 engine, which provides stunning graphics.

One of Automobilista 2's strengths is its advanced physics engine. The game uses advanced algorithms and simulations to deliver realistic vehicle dynamics and handling. Each car accurately responds to changes in weight distribution, tire grip and aerodynamics, giving players an in-depth and immersive driving experience.

In terms of tracks, Automobilista 2 offers an impressive collection of accurately modeled and detailed tracks from different parts of the world. Whether you want to race on historic race tracks like Interlagos and Spa-Francorchamps or modern tracks like Kyalami and Imola, Automobilista 2 has it all.

Another notable feature of Automobilista 2 is its dynamic weather simulation. Players can experience races under different weather conditions, including rain, cloudy skies and sunny days. This looks breathtakingly beautiful! In all fairness, Automobilista 2's online multiplayer is not the best looking, but it offers plenty of fun and challenge. With regular events and challenges, players can test their skills against other sim racers around the world.

Price and available DLC content

Automobilista 2 is available on the Steam platform and costs approximately ?34.99. In addition to the base game, several paid DLC packs are available that add additional cars, tracks and other content to the game. For about ? 115 euros you have a season pass containing all the content! This is definitely worth considering and something you won't regret.

Key features:

  • Wide range of racing classes and authentically modeled tracks
  • Advanced physics engine for realistic vehicle dynamics
  • Dynamic weather simulation for changing race conditions
  • Vibrant online community for multiplayer racing and competitions

#4 rFactor2

rFactor 2 is a leading sim racing game known for its excellent simulation quality and advanced physics engine. Developed by Studio 397, the game offers players an in-depth, dynamic and realistic racing experience. rFactor 2 is among my personal all-time favorites. And here's why:

What sets rFactor 2 apart is its competitive online multiplayer community. Especially when used in conjunction with Low Fuel Motorsport. The game has an active and passionate community of players involved in various competitions and events. These competitions range from casual races to organized championships with tight regulations and professional simulation racers. This makes rFactor 2 an excellent choice for players looking for competitive challenges and serious racing opportunities.

One of the criticisms of rFactor 2 is its user interface (UI). Compared to other modern racing games, rFactor 2's UI may be perceived as less intuitive and visually appealing. It may take some time to become familiar with the game's menus and settings. However, once players master the UI, rFactor 2 offers a deep and customizable racing experience that meets the needs of serious sim racers.

Another notable feature of rFactor 2 is its huge modding community. The game offers powerful modding support, giving players the freedom to create and share their own content. This has led to a plethora of community-created cars, tracks and other modifications available for download and use in the game. The modding community of rFactor 2 is extremely active and creative, ensuring that players always have new content to explore and experience. This is what makes this game so incredibly cool.

In terms of gameplay and physics, rFactor 2 is highly regarded by sim racing enthusiasts. The game uses an advanced physics engine that enables realistic handling and detailed tire modeling. It accurately simulates different weather conditions, grip levels and vehicle dynamics, giving you an authentic and challenging racing experience.

All in all, rFactor 2 is an excellent choice for players looking for an in-depth and realistic sim racing experience. Despite some criticisms, such as the UI, the game is appreciated for its competitive online community, advanced phycis and the ability for players to customize and enhance the experience using the modding tools available.

Price and available DLC content

rFactor 2 is available at Steam and costs approximately ?28.99. The game offers many DLC packs, such as the GT3 Pack, Formula E, BTCC and Endurance Pack, which add additional cars, tracks and other content to the game. These DLC packs vary in price depending on their content.

Key features:

  • Dynamic weather and day and night system
  • Advanced physics engine
  • Active modding community

#5 Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa is an acclaimed 2014 sim racing game known for its accurate physics, realistic driving experience and extensive customization options. Developed by Kunos Simulazioni, the game emphasizes precision and authenticity in simulating the handling of different cars.

One of the greatest assets of Assetto Corsa is the precise physics engine. The cars in the game behave very realistically and react to subtle changes in grip, weight transfer and aerodynamics. This makes for an in-depth and satisfying driving experience, where players truly feel like they are behind the wheel of a race car.

Assetto Corsa offers a wide range of cars, ranging from classic street cars to modern racing cars. Each car is modeled down to the smallest detail, with attention to both appearance and internal technical aspects. Players can choose their favorite cars and customize them according to their personal preferences, such as tire selection, aerodynamics settings and suspension.

In addition, Assetto Corsa features a wide range of tracks, including well-known international race tracks and unique locations. Each track is meticulously modeled with attention to detail and offers different challenges for players. Assetto Corsa, like rFactor 2, is known for its massive modding community. This gives players access to an extensive library of community-created cars, tracks and other content. This makes the game very interesting in offerings and tweaks!

Price and available DLC content

Assetto Corsa is available at Steam and costs approximately ?19.99. The game also offers several paid DLC packs, such as the Dream Pack, Porsche and Ferrari 70th anniversary expansions, which add additional cars and tracks to the game. All official DLC packs cost around ?60.00.

Key features:

  • Precise physics engine for realistic driving behavior
  • Extensive selection of cars, from street cars to race cars
  • Ability to customize vehicles
  • Variety of accurately modeled circuits
  • Support for modding
  • Beautiful graphics and support for VR

#6 RaceRoom Racing Experience

RaceRoom Experience, developed by Sector3 Studios, offers an extensive selection of officially licensed cars and tracks. The game focuses on realism and and detailed models of cars and tracks, and the online multiplayer races are one of the better ranked systems!

RaceRoom is a bit of a hidden gem in the world of simulation racing and is often overlooked or forgotten. I, too, made that mistake. In fact, this game is absolutely worth considering! In fact, this game is qua Force Feedback and car handling one of the better ones. The FFB is very smooth and the cars respond fantastically. It is a real pleasure to tear around the track in these cars.

RaceRoom also offers a variety of racing classes, including touring cars, GT3, DTM, WTTC, WTCR and Formula cars and more, allowing players to explore different disciplines. Unfortunately, the game engine is severely outdated, making it no longer the prettiest game in terms of graphics. But oh well, who cares? As long as the (online) races and the cars are good. In any case, rumors say that development Sector3 Studios is working on major improvements.

Price and available DLC content

RaceRoom is free downloadable at Steam and comes with a number of free cars and tracks. However, there are paid DLC packages available that add additional cars, tracks and other content.

Key features:

  • Officially licensed cars and tracks
  • Realistic graphics and detailed models
  • Variety of racing classes
  • Superior force feedback and car handling
  • Free game!

#7 F1 23

This game really should not be missing from this list, even though opinions are divided as to whether this F1 game should be counted as a true simulation. Nevertheless, the F1 franchise is and will always be unique of its kind and fun to play. Even though F1 2022 was a missed opportunity, I hope that F1 23 is going to take a serious step. F1 23, developed by EA Sports, is the ultimate choice for Formula One fans who want to experience the thrill of racing in the highest class of motorsports.

With official licenses from the FIA Formula One World Championship, F1 23 offers an authentic and immersive Formula One experience. Players can race on all the official tracks of the current F1 season and have access to a wide range of teams and drivers. The price of F1 23 varies depending on the edition you choose. The Standard Edition costs ?69.99 and for the Championchip Edition you will pay ?89.99.

Key features:

  • Official licenses of the FIA Formula One World Championship
  • All official circuits of the current F1 season
  • Wide range of teams and drivers

In conclusion: The Nominating Worth

Also worth mentioning are some other notable racing games that you should definitely not miss. Gran Turismo 7, a highly anticipated title for PlayStation 5, offers stunning graphics, an extensive career mode and a wide range of cars to explore. Do you race on a Playstation? Then this game, in addition to Assetto Corsa Competizione, is an absolute must-have.

Forza Motorsport, exclusive to Xbox, is known for its stunning visual presentation and extensive car collection. However, this game is more arcade than a true sim.

Project Cars 2 offers a versatile racing experience with a wide range of cars, tracks and challenging AI opponents. Each of these games adds its own unique elements to the sim racing genre and certainly deserves the attention of racing enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this game is no longer supported and is no longer available through official stores such as Steam. Too bad, because PC 2 was my absolute favorite a few years ago when I was still gaming on a console!

Finally, we are very excited and curious about the new racing titles Le Mans Ultimate and Rennsport that are going to appear this year. This year promises to be a fantastic year in terms of sim racing!

Wilco Verhaegh

For over 15 years I have been a passionate sim racer. My love for racing, motorsport photography and gaming are boundless. I am also proud of my book "Mastering The Art Of Sim Racing," in which I share my knowledge and insights with aspiring sim racers worldwide!

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