There are plenty of racing games out there that celebrate cruising around a track without the need to wear a helmet or traveling the world at high speeds. As fun as those games are, there are also those that simulate the challenges that race car drivers face. Here are six of the most realistic racing games available for computers and consoles.
1. Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 comes from a long line of legendary racing games. The most recent iteration of GT7 delivers not just realistic racing but also simulates the experience of having a real racing career better than other games. The game requires that players slowly and patiently build their record and car collection, at least in single-player mode. Gamers who love the Gran Turismo series also appreciate the primary reason why the game is superior to other, even more realistic racing games. Gran Turismo 7 has consistently offered top-notch graphics that border on photorealistic, making the rain, familiar reflections, and water droplets produced by the dynamic weather system look absolutely gorgeous.
The game itself has a challenging physics engine that will make players think about just how hard to push those buttons and take deep strategies into every turn and pass. Thankfully, the game also rewards racers with new cars, engine swaps, and many other rewards that lead to faster, more interesting vehicles. Much like how understanding bonus buy slots with casinos.com makes playing slots online a hell of a lot more fun, playing through the GT7 single-player campaign unlocks plenty of rewards that will keep you coming back for more.
2. iRacing
iRacing takes racing seriously. How seriously? Enough that some professional race car drivers play the game, including Max Verstappen, while drivers like Kaden Honeycutt have transferred their video game racing skills onto real-life tracks (which, to be fair, can also be said of Gran Turismo 7). Moreover, players say using a steering wheel controller is essential to doing well in the game, as the wheel provides the feedback players need to control their vehicle properly.
Real-life racers claim that braking feels the most realistic in iRacing, which makes sense because the game’s developers have listened to professional racers to get specific details right, including the impact of a vehicle’s suspension and tire wear. The level of realism also means that drivers will be thinking like pro racers when adapting how quickly they accelerate and turn based on the weight of the vehicle shifts.
3. Forza Motorsport
Forza has stepped up its game to make its tracks and cars look more realistic and is more competitive with Gran Turismo 7. The game is also fairly realistic, with consideration for allowing drivers to choose how much their gameplay will be like in real life. This isn’t quite iRacing level of detail, but players will still feel the effects of the track and tires changing with rain or cold.
To avoid confusion, there are multiple Forza titles available. Forza also offers a Horizon title that takes place in Mexico and is more of an arcade game, though it offers some realism. Forza Motorsport is the more serious racing simulator, with real-world tracks taken from professional motorsports.
4. MotoGP 24
For anyone unfamiliar with MotoGP, it takes the challenges that already exist with modern vehicle racing and puts them on just two motorcycle wheels. While many of us never have, and probably never will, ride a motorcycle, there are daring souls who are willing to take high-speed corners perfectly balanced with their limbs hanging dangerously close to the unfriendly pavement. MotoGP is fun, but most gamers would also say it’s quite difficult on the harder settings. This is one of those games that takes complete advantage of controllers capable of using pressure-sensitive buttons and having just the right touch to avoid spinning out or braking too hard.
5. Shift 2: Unleashed
Shift 2 comes from the same line as the Need for Speed series, which is better known for cop chases and street racing but offers an entirely different take. Instead, Shift 2 introduces a steep learning curve while also adding some settings that make the game a bit easier and keeping realistic controls that make vehicles sensitive to controller input and the environment. The game is one of the older realistic titles, as it was released in 2011, but that also means it should still play nice on dated computers.
6. EA Sports WRC
Most know this game simply as WRC, which stands for World Rally Championship, and it is one of few that offers the additional challenge of off-road rally racing. The weather remains unpredictable, and the game has a learning curve before drivers can accurately drift on the edges of dirt roads.
Gamers who enjoy watching rally racing on TV or don’t want to race purely on pavement should check this title out. WRC is slightly more obscure than others, but it’s fun.
Conclusion
We highly recommend avid racing fans who also enjoy video games to check out these titles. They are the closest one can to what really happens when a vehicle and driver are pushed to the limits. For some gamers, these games will require serious patience, but the time invested will be worthwhile. So, grab a controller (or steering wheel) and hit the gas!