8 Best Racing Games That Started As PC Exclusives

Key Takeaways

• Racing games like rFactor & iRacing provide an authentic and immersive driving experience.
• PC exclusives like Assetto Corsa deliver realistic driving physics for players.
• netKar Pro offers extensive customization options, while GTR is a classic racing title from the mid-2000s. (character count: 120)

Few genres can offer as much excitement and top-speed action as Racing. Many titles out there have an amazing sense of speed that can make players feel like they’re inside the car they’re driving, and competing against expert pilots. In most cases, racing games are released for as many platforms as possible to increase a title’s chances of becoming massively popular.

However, in some instances, racing games can either be released on PC first and on other platforms second, or remain exclusives for PC. This article will touch on games that suit either case and expand on what makes them great. Here are some of the best racing games that started as PC exclusives.

7 rFactor

A Great Title That Was Limited By Its Time

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: August 30, 2005
• Developer(s): Image Space Incorporated
• Genre(s): Car racing game, Sports Video Game
• Authentic experience considering the game’s age
• This title was never as popular as Burnout or Need for Speed

rFactor is one of those games that, while it never reached mainstream popularity, delivered an amazing experience to players who wanted the authentic look and feel of driving a race car at the time. The game was released in 2005, so naturally, if players intend to compare its driving mechanics and graphics with what’s available today, they’ll probably be disappointed. This is true for both rFactor and any other game from that era.

But if they manage to look at the game for what it is and take into account that it’s almost 20 years old, the experience completely changes, and it becomes clear to see how authentic this title was in many regards.

6 Assetto Corsa

Good Driving Physics Offering a Realistic Experience

• Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, GeForce Now, iOS
• Released: November 8, 2013
• Developer(s): KUNOS-Simulazioni Sri, Digital Tales USA LLC
• Genre(s): Car Racing Game, Indie Game
• Great driving physics
• First released for PC and then for consoles

Like other games on this list, Assetto Corsa does a great job at delivering players with a racing experience that is meant to feel realistic through the use of driving physics that includes tire simulation mechanics and other technologies.

Assetto Corsa was first released for PC in 2014, and later for the PS4 and the Xbox One in 2016. Several years later, it also made its way to Apple devices through the iOS operating system, but naturally, the experience on mobile wasn’t as complete as it was on consoles and PC.

5 RaceRoom Racing Experience

A Thrilling Title With Realistic Car Behavior And Sounds

• There are several Game Modes
• Car behavior and sounds are very realistic

Offering different game modes, including Multiplayer Races, Custom Championships, Single Races against AI, Practice, Leaderboard Challenges, and Online Competitions, RaceRoom Racing Experience is a very complete title that gives players a ton of options.

As opposed to some other titles on the list, RaceRoom Racing Experience can be played in VR through the Valve Index, HTC Vive, and the Oculus Rift, which can help elevate the experience and make players feel like they’re inside a race car. In this title, cars behave and sound like they would in real-life, which says a lot about the developer’s attention to detail. Given that the game has been out since 2013, it’s one of those racing titles that can run well on low-end PCs today.

4 netKar Pro

The Sky’s The Limit When It Comes To Customization

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: April 10, 2006
• Developer(s): KUNOS-Simulazioni
• Genre(s): Car racing game
• Tons of customization options
• The game features Xbox 360 Controller support

While netKar Pro was never as popular as franchises like Forza, it is still a blast to play, as the game features tons of customization options for players’ cars, including aerodynamics, brakes, chassis and even transmission. In addition to this, players can also adjust their steering wheels to their liking and even decide the pressure they want their tires to be at.

Like other titles on this list, netKar Pro was only ever released for PC, leaving many console players wishing they could be a part of the experience. That said, the game offers Xbox 360 Controller support, which is great for PC owners who don’t want to drive using a mouse and keyboard.

3 iRacing

Players Can Feel Like A Real-life Pilot

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: August 26, 2008
• Developer(s): iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations
• Genre(s): Car Racing Game
• Dynamic track surfaces that change over the course of a race
• Licensed cars are designed in cooperation with real-life racing teams

While other games on this list might focus on both realistic simulation and offering an all-around enjoyable experience, iRacing takes things to a whole new level by implementing some of the most advanced mechanics out there.

According to the developers, this title not only has thrilling competition modes as well as open practice and testing, but also dynamic track surfaces that change over the course of a race, emulating real-life scenarios. The cars that are officially licensed to the game are designed in cooperation with real-life race teams, so players can rest assured knowing that their experience will be authentic.

2 Dirt Rally

A Wonderful Off-road Adventure

• Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Linux, macOS
• Released: December 7, 2015
• Developer(s): Codemasters, Feral Interactive
• Genre(s): Car racing game, vehicle simulation game
• Off-road competition in treacherous terrain
• Great environments and tracks

Many other racing games focus on F1 cars and NASCAR races, which are restricted to a track that’s been carefully designed and cleared of debris for safety. However, this isn’t the case for Dirt Rally, as it will take players to the farthest reaches of Earth to try to drive in treacherous terrain. Catlike reflexes, good eye-hand coordination, and a good sense of driving are required to win races and prevent accidents.

While the game was released almost a decade ago, it still holds up rather well, and could be considered one of the best rally racing games of all time.

1 GTR — FIA GT Racing Game

An Outstanding Racing Title From A Golden Era

• Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360
• Released: October 2004
• Developer(s): SimBin Studios, KW Studios
• Genre(s): Car Racing Game
• Recipient of many gaming awards
• Great racing title of the mid-2000s

Not only did GTR — FIA GT Racing Game win PC Gamer US’s “Best Racing Game 2005”, but it was also praised by many other gaming outlets for the experience it offered players and how fun it was to play. While nothing flashy compared to modern titles that have near real-life graphics, complex driving mechanics and dynamic weather systems, GTR — FIA GT Racing Game never let its era hold it back.

With a large variety of different vehicles to choose from, this title is arguably one of the greatest in the racing genre of the mid-to-late 2000s.