With sim racing exploding in popularity, what are the best racing games on PC?
Consoles are great for pick-up-and-play racing, but even the best racing games on PS5 and Xbox can't compete with the racing experience you can get on a PC.
Be it high-end beasts or gaming laptops, there are plenty of options for racers!
Best racing games on PC
We're looking at every racing game available on PC to see which are the best. They don't necessarily need to be PC-exclusive titles, but one thing to note is that you will likely need a sim racing wheel if you want to make the most of these games.
So what are the best racing games on PC? Let's find out.
Assetto Corsa Competizione
Let's start with arguably one of the most realistic racing sims out there.
Assetto Corsa Competizione specialises in GT3 racing and is the official licenced game of the SRO Motorsports Group, covering the GT World Challenge.
First released in September 2018, ACC might be lacking a little in quantity, but it more than makes up for it in quality. The game continues to see DLC packs that add new tracks and cars to the game, along with constant updates to the physics and handling to make the game as realistic as possible.
ACC offers a great single-player career mode and excellent online racing. It's also a great endurance racing platform, allowing you and your online racing buddies to take on races with driver swaps.
iRacing
iRacing is one of the oldest sim racing titles out there, having first arrived in August 2008. While it lags behind what ACC can offer graphically, when it comes to replicating physical racing iRacing is arguably unmatched.
iRacing operates on a subscription model, but don't go thinking it works like Netflix. There is some content included in your iRacing subscription, but the majority of it is locked behind further purchases.
This might not be the most popular idea when it comes to modern gaming, but iRacing does offer the best online experience. Thriving lobbies rank from rookie class all the way up to esports. If you're looking to grind your way through racing categories, iRacing is the game for you.
rFactor 2
rFactor 2 is less of a game and more of a piece of elite sim racing software. It's about as far as you can get from a game, with the title criticised for its difficulty to both launch and navigate.
However, once you're in, rFactor 2 is an incredible racing experience.
On track, rFactor 2 is simply sensational. Used for official esports championships like Formula E and the Virtual Le Mans Series, rFactor 2 is the pinnacle of sim racing.
With a good amount of content in the base game, rFactor 2 also has a huge library of DLC that will add new circuits and cars for you to race on. If you want to try Formula E this is the only place you'll get official tracks, while its other offerings are also superb.
F1 Manager 2023
A racing game where you're not the one racing. F1 Manager 2023 is all about running the team, developing the car, and managing your drivers through races.
As one of two officially licenced F1 games released this year, F1 Manager 2023 is an evolution from last year's series debut. Now Team Principals have to train their pit crews, manage tyre temperatures, and control their driver's driving style during offensive and defensive manoeuvres.
August's update introduced the ability for Team Principals to switch teams at the end of each season. Now players will have to build their reputation at each team they manage, before deciding whether to stick with their current team or twist by moving across the grid.
If you think you can build a better car than Red Bull, or manage a race strategy better than Ferrari, now's your chance to prove it.
The Crew Motorfest
The newest entry on our list, The Crew Motorfest is still new on the market. Although the game has been accused of being perhaps a little too similar to Forza Horizon 5, there's no doubt that The Crew Motorfest is a great racing title.
What makes The Crew Motorfest stand out is its playlists celebrating everything from racing royalty to well-known car culture. There's even a playlist teaching players all about Hawaii, the location of the game.
Beyond the racing, The Crew Motorfest is stacked with events to complete and collectibles to find. Dragons, Statues, Murals, and Trophies make up the majority of collectibles, and even the small island of O'ahu seems big when you're looking for them all.
With over 600 vehicles from launch, including cars, bikes, planes, and boats, The Crew Motorfest is guaranteed to have your favourite vehicle ready for racing.
The best racing games
We've shown you the best racing games available on Xbox, but what about on other platforms?
If you're an avid PlayStation player, why not check out the best racing games on PS5.
On the other hand, if you're an Xbox enthusiast you should read through the best racing games on Xbox Series X|S.
Want to see the best racing games of 2023? We have the perfect list just for you.
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