The 7 Most Realistic Car Racing Sim Games, Ranked

Sim racing is a genre of gaming that focuses on recreating the driving experience through various games and gaming peripherals. The most simple setup involves a wheel and pedals, but you can go much deeper with cockpits, shifters, handbrakes, VR, and even motion platforms if budget isn't an issue.

These peripherals will make a drastic difference in how realistic your driving experience will be. For instance, a direct-drive wheel, directly connected to the motor that offers the feedback, will feel much better and more realistic than a gear-driven or belt-driven wheel.

There's a lot to say about sim racing peripherals. However, that's not the topic of today's article – maybe I'll do one on this subject in the near future. Today, I'm focusing on the games that offer the best feedback, driving feel, physics, and more.

You should be aware that there's no one-size-fits-all solution – what you might believe to be the most realistic game won't be true for others, as it's a subjective experience. Moreover, there are different sim racing games for various types of racers.

Numerous elements make a sim racing game realistic. Long story short, we have physics, which includes tire wear, downforce, weight transfer, as well as temperature and how it affects the tracks and tires. These are all calculated by the game's physics engine, which then translates the information into haptic feedback you feel in the steering wheel, pedals, and other components you use.

Then, we have car and track selection - the more options you have, the better. Moreover, customization of the car setup is also important. Specifically, how you adjust the suspension, brakes, and more makes the game more realistic, although also less beginner-friendly. I won't go into detail for each game since it would bore you. Each title on this list has all the things I mentioned above - some do it differently, some do it better or worse, but they all offer varying degrees of realism. Here are my top seven:

1. Assetto Corsa: best for tailoring your experience with mods

Available on: PC, PS4 (and PS5 through backwards compatibility), Xbox One

Many gamers will say Assetto Corsa is the quintessential sim racing game. It's certainly the most popular one out there. Released in 2014 by Kunos Simulazioni, this game has built a massive community of passionate sim racers.

Assetto Corsa combines good driving physics with attractive visuals to immerse you in the game. Its vehicle roster includes many iconic cars, as its maker signed licensing deals with brands like Porsche and Ferrari.

The base game offers 178 cars (including those in the DLCs) and 18 tracks. However, the best part about Assetto Corsa is its modding capability. In fact, that's how the game has managed to stay relevant ten years after its release. Die-hard AC fans have created most cars you can think of in the game, although the quality of the mods differs significantly. The mods are only available on PC – sorry, console gamers.

The available mods go beyond cars—you'll find a wide range of tracks (laser-scanned from real life for the highest degree of realism), gameplay mods, and a lot more. Perhaps the most important ones are related to the game's graphics, upgrading the base 2014 graphics to the current standard. These introduce day/night cycles, dynamic weather, and more.

Setting everything up might seem challenging at first, but trust me, it's worth it. You can also find a ton of tutorials online to guide you.

Regarding gameplay, the driving physics are good, albeit not the very best. The game uses Kunos' proprietary engine, and you have important factors, including tire wear, load changes, and weight transfer of the chassis, all adding up to provide a natural, seamless driving feel.

But Assetto Corsa makes up for it in other ways I mentioned above. It allows you to race, go for a chill Sunday drive on an Amalfi Coast mod map, drift, do a highway run with traffic (traffic is also a mod), and a whole lot more. It's definitely a game that should be part of any sim enthusiast's library.

2. Assetto Corsa Competizione: best for authentic GT racing

Available on: PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Five years after the release of Assetto Corsa, Kunos Simulazioni released Assetto Corsa Competizione. As you might be able to tell from its name, this game is focused on competition and racing.

It's based on the Blancpain Endurance Series (currently known as the GT World Challenge Europe) for GT3 racers. Like the standard Assetto Corsa, this game is officially licensed, which allowed Kunos to use all the critical information from real-life cars to make them feel as realistic as possible in-game.

Assetto Corsa Competizione uses Unreal Engine rather than the same proprietary engine that Assetto Corsa is based on. This change makes ACC a lot more visually appealing, but also more resource-intensive.

Regarding the driving experience, ACC does an excellent job of making you feel like you're in the seat of an actual race car. It does this through genre-leading sound design and fantastic physics.

The primary championships in ACC are open to GT3 cars, but there are also GT2, GT4, TCX, and single-make vehicle series.

The same care and attention of the same was taken to 15 laser-scanned tracks, a numebr that can be upgraded to 25 if you buy the DLCs. You get both popular circuits like Spa-Francorchamp, but also lesser-known circuits like Snetterton.

Although a single-player mode is available in ACC, if you get the game, you'll probably find yourself wanting to compete against other sim racers. If you're good enough, the official SRO Esports Series will make you feel like you're an actual racer, even though you do it virtually. ACC offers good matchmaking based on rating, and there are plenty of servers to join.

So, if you're into GT racing, this game will be a perfect match – there's a reason why ACC is the official game of Blancpain and the GT World Challenge.

3. BeamNG.drive: best for free-roam driving

Available on: Windows PC

BeamNG.drive takes virtual driving to a whole new level, unmatched by any game out there. Released in 2015 as a Steam Early Access title, BeamNG stands out with soft body physics, unlike anything you've ever seen, as well as realistic handling.

Each vehicle is made of numerous individual components, just like real cars, that can be changed, damaged, or replaced, which also impacts the vehicle's performance. If you use YouTube or social media apps, you might've seen crash compilations with Beam NG.

However, BeamNG is capable of so much more. You can drift, go off-roading, rock crawling, drag racing, try out scenarios (similar to missions), and a whole lot more. If you're tired of playing by yourself, you can hop online and do the same stuff with your friends or random players.

The gameplay is freeform, except for a career mode (which is a work in progress) and the scenarios I mentioned above. However, there are plenty of places to explore in the game's many maps. Moreover, a World Editor allows you to create your own scenarios and stunts.

Just like Assetto Corsa, BeamNG has a large community of modders. Many AC maps and cars have been transferred to BeamNG, and there are countless other player-built cars you can choose from, including many real-life cars and even other stuff you wouldn't expect, like cranes, planes, and more.

While you can race in-game on and off the beaten path, BeamNG might be a better choice for those who enjoy driving with no particular goal in mind. Crashing and creating general mayhem is also really fun.

That being said, the accuracy of the game's physics and driving feel make it worth having a spot on this list. It's still in Early Access, so there are many more things to come, including an extensive career mode.

4. iRacing: best for competitive online racing

Available on: Windows PC

If you're familiar with sim racing, you've probably heard of iRacing. This game takes sim racing very seriously - I'm not saying that the others don't, but you really can't mess around on iRacing.

iRacing was co-founded by Dave Kaemmer and John Henry of the Fenway Sports Group a while back in 2008.

What makes this game stand out is its safety-biased ranking system and matchmaking, which have been available since the game's release. Each driver has a rating, which helps match them with similarly skilled opponents to ensure fair and clean races.

When it comes to physics, the opinions of sim racers are pretty divided. Some say it offers the best one out there, while others feel like it provides a "knife edge" feeling of grip. What it does really well is the braking feel.

A wide variety of cars are available. While the visuals and simpler car models aren't the best, iRacing makes up for that with features like the Tempest weather system, released in March this year, which allows for very realistic driving in the wet.

One thing to consider with iRacing is cost. It operates on a subscription model, granting access to a vast array of content and regular updates. Somebody who's willing to pay a subscription will most likely be someone serious about sim racing.

The subscription costs $13 monthly, and you get 23 cars and 30 tracks. Here's where things get much pricier – any extra vehicle you want will cost a one-time fee of $11.95, while tracks range from $11.9 to $14.95. If you plan on building a wide roster of cars and tracks, your bank account will take quite a hit. However, there are some discounts and Black Friday deals,

5. Automobilista 2: best for experiencing a wide variety of motorsports

Available on: Windows PC

Brazilian developers Reiza Studio created Automobilista 2 as a sequel to 2016's Automobilista. The second game focuses on a few series, such as GT cars, stock car racing, karting, Formula racing through the decades, and even trucks. A 2020 DLC also adds various historical cars and tracks.

But how realistic is it? Automobilista 2 provides accurate physics, dynamic weather effects, and handling characteristics, simulating tire wear and track conditions, among many factors. It uses the Madness Engine, which features a physical tire model that behaves quite differently from its competitors. The suspension is derived from rFactor.

Modding is not as friendly as in other games. However, Reiza Studios provides a steady output of DLCs and updates. Reiza Studios added the Le Mans 24-hour race in one of the latest updates, which comes with dynamic weather changes with smooth transitions.

Automobilista features a user-friendly interface and a variety of racing genres, making it ideal for both beginners and seasoned sim racers. Oh, and one thing the game does really well is the VR experience - it offers excellent graphical fidelity and an immersive sensation. Many gamers claim this title is best if you use VR to sim race.

6. rFactor 2: best for competing against AI and customizing your racing experience

Available on: Windows PC

The first rFactor was released almost 20 years ago by Image Space Incorporated and was a popular choice among gamers due to the many modification options available.

The vehicle roster includes sportscars, touring cars, and open-wheel cars, with officially licensed content from Caterham, Porsche, INDYCAR, and more.

The sim's main strength is the incredibly wide range of options and variables, which might be overwhelming for a beginner sim racer. I'm referring not only to gameplay and simulation options but also to configuration files and mods.

The downsides to rFactor 2 are the unfriendly UI and the intense PC hardware requirements to run it. It takes many hours to tweak the game to make it run smoothly.

The game changed hands in 2016 when it was bought by Studio 397. The company changed its course, significantly improving the graphics and diversifying the car and track content.

Another issue is online stability, as players report lag, server outages, and random disconnections. There's nothing more frustrating than racing well and then getting kicked out of the race for no other reason than technical problems. However, the online experience has improved recently, so it's worth a shot.

You have scheduled races, and a license and a rating system. Moreover, you don't have to pay extra cash to race online.

The rFactor of 2024 is completely different from the one released in 2013. The UI is still a bit clunky, but the game offers an immersive and natural racing experience. You get nuanced force feedback, finely crafted dynamic road and weather features, and one of the best AIs in sim racing.

7. RaceRoom Racing Experience: best for low-budget sim racing

Available on: Windows PC

If you want to start sim racing on a tight budget, know that KW Studios' RaceRoom Racing Experience is free to play. Sure, it has content you can buy. Specifically, you'll be able to pick up all the sim's content for $75 when it's on sale. You can even try it before you buy it – no other game on this list offers that.

Even though it's free, RaceRoom has several official licenses, including for DTM and WTCR championships, as well as cars from GT3, GT4, and Formula 4 categories.

There are some downsides to this 11-year-old game, such as no dynamic weather or day/night transitions. However, KW Studios is still working on freshening up the fame. It dropped a new tire model in late 2023, and regular content drops are scheduled in the near future. Moreover, the sound design is on point, with expertly devised external and onboard exhaust notes.

Unlike other games on this list, RaceRoom's player base is quite modest. However, there are several special events throughout the year, such as the famed DTM Esports series that boasts a $50,000 prize pool.

Conclusion

We all have slightly different expectations of what a "realistic drive" should feel like. And let's be frank, very few of us are actual racing drivers, so how would we know if games properly simulate reality? Furthermore, even racing drivers I've researched have different opinions on what the most realistic sim racing game is. These are my top seven most realistic sim racing games, but yours might differ.

I'm sure that at least one of the titles on this list will be a great match for you. If you feel like any other game deserves a spot on this list or have critical details to add regarding the titles mentioned above, let me know in the comments below.