Most Realistic Racing Games

Driving through the streets of metropolitan cities in superfast cars is a dream come true for many gamers. Getting behind the wheels of supercars and motorbikes in a heated tournament can set the soul on fire.

Game developers have taken it upon themselves to recreate the rush of modern muscle cars and sports vehicles in a bid to make street racing a fun-filled fantasy for people of all ages. These racing games offer players an ultra-realistic simulation to put the pedal to the metal on tracks that can turn heads and push the limits of speed.

Updated on November 28, 2024 by Usama Ali: Racing fans absolutely love the thrill of realistic driving games that put their skills to the test. Unlike arcade racers, these racing sims focus on lifelike physics, detailed car tuning, and tracks that feel like the real thing. From adjusting tire pressure to mastering sharp corner turns, every decision counts in these games. The most realistic racing games make players feel like they’re behind the wheel of a high-performance car, navigating through dynamic weather conditions and stiff competition. They’re perfect for anyone who enjoys the challenge of perfecting their laps and pushing their limits. We’ve updated this guide with a few more highly realistic racing games that blur the lines between virtual and real-world racing.

28 Forza Horizon 4

Features A Bunch Of Sliders Players Can Fool Around With To Get Invested In The Driving Experience

While sim racing games are pretty engaging in their own right, there’s no denying that a lot of titles aim for mainstream appeal after investing so much in making their games as detailed and realistic as possible. For these players, the best course of action to take would be to check out a simcade racing game that lets players enjoy the best of both worlds, with the Forza Horizon series being a great example of the same.

Many people consider Forza Horizon 4 to be the best game in the series, which is hefty praise given the waves that its sequel made. Exploring the region of Great Britain and witnessing how the open world changes as the seasons pass make for a great time. With numerous vehicles and tuning options to mess around with, it’s easy to see why racing aficionados will love what Forza Horizon 4 brings to the table.

27 Shift 2: Unleashed

Builds Upon The Realistic Driving Mechanics Present In Need For Speed: Shift

Need for Speed: ProStreet was a new direction for the series to take. Fans took a while to digest the fact that a series focused on illegal street racing and breakneck cop chases would take things in a whole new direction with this game, with the mechanics being improved upon in both Need for Speed: Shift and its sequel, Shift 2: Unleashed.

Players who love realistic car physics and challenging gameplay mechanics will love what Shift 2: Unleashed brings to the table. Players must familiarize themselves with the game’s in-depth racing simulation before they can think of winning a race, with the steep learning curve ultimately letting people enjoy a rewarding experience that players will get hopelessly addicted to after a point.

26 EA Sports WRC

Codemasters’ Shows Off Its Racing Game Expertise In This Rally Game

Codemasters is known as a master of the racing sim genre, letting players enjoy numerous driving simulations across a host of different verticals. In the case of EA Sports WRC, players can check out the challenging nature of rally racing and how players must navigate courses with great finesse to attain victory.

Fans of the World Rally Championship will love the detailed racing mechanics of this title and how players are encouraged to take it slow and come to grips with the gameplay before attempting to win championships. To make things even better, players can customize their rally cars to make things more authentic.

25 NASCAR Heat 5

Get Behind The Wheel and Become A NASCAR Legend

NASCAR Heat 5 is a racing video game that simulates the 2020 NASCAR season. It features all the official teams, drivers, and cars from the three NASCAR National Series and even the Xtreme Dirt Tour. Players can race on 39 authentic tracks and compete to become the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion.

NASCAR Heat 5 is the perfect racing game for everyone who wants to experience the thrill of stock car racing with realistic physics and handling. It strives to replicate the real-world physics of NASCAR racing, including factors like tire wear, fuel consumption, and aerodynamic downforce. Players can fine-tune their car’s setup to suit different track conditions, making each race a unique challenge.

24 Automobilista 2

An Amazing Game Engine Fuels A Fun, Realistic Racing Game

Racing games need to do something unique to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack, especially with the majority of games looking and feeling the same. So, it’s clear that Automobilista 2‘s gameplay is brilliant if it has such a dedicated fan community.

The game’s focus on Grand Prix Racing certainly paid off, with its wide variety of cars being a blast to engage with. Players who are new to racing sims will find Automobilista 2 to be a bit daunting, but it won’t take long for them to get the hang of things and leave their opponents in the dust.

23 Assetto Corsa

A Realistic Racer That Prioritizes Customization And Moddability

The excellent racing sim gameplay of Asseto Corsa is a huge reason why this game blew up in the racing community. These fans were more than elated to find out that the title had extensive mod support, opening the floodgates for some truly new and engaging experiences to impress fans.

The online races are where Asseto Corsa shines. The game wastes no time in enticing players with its amazing gameplay, and players will be more than immersed in this game after a few play sessions.

22 Gran Turismo 7

A Dream Come True For Racing Enthusiasts

Those who enjoyed Gran Turismo Sport will surely love Gran Turismo 7. It’s the eighth main installment in the Gran Turismo series and aims to replicate the feel of real-world driving, with detailed car handling and physics. The game also retains the exciting features from Gran Turismo Sport, like GT Sport Mode, Brand Central, and the now-called Showcase.

Besides that, Gran Turismo 7 brings back the beloved single-player campaign, GT Simulation Mode, and features an impressive collection of classic tracks and cars. Players can enjoy Special Events, race other players in Championships, or hone their skills in Driving School. Gran Turismo 7 is praised for its stunning visuals, realistic driving physics, and extensive content. It’s considered a must-play for all racing game enthusiasts.

21 BeamNG.drive

Features Some Of The Most Impressive Physics And Damage Models Ever Seen In A Racing Game

Easily one of the more entertaining racing sims players can check out BeamNG.drive features one of the most impressive physics systems seen in a racing video game. Players who start out playing this game will love crashing their car to see just how accurate the damage model is.

Once players are more adept at playing this game, crashing will be the last thing on their minds. A single wreck can completely ruin a car, destroying all the hard work players put into a stage.

20 Ride 5

Superbike Racing Never Felt So Authentic

Ride 5 is an exhilarating racing bike game. It will make players feel energized by mounting a number of bikes that let riders race at break-neck speed. There are 35 hot tracks within Ride 5 that make each race rewarding. With over 200 superbikes to choose from, Ride 5 offers gamers plenty of options to find their edge.

The Endurance mode in Ride 5 allows riders to take part in races on long roads. People can race in Endurance mode without keeping track of time as they refuel between laps to reach top speeds for practice.

19 WRC Generations

Rally Fans Will Love This Authentic Racing Game

WRC Generations is a revolutionary racing game for rally fanatics. Drivers need to adapt quickly to their map as they race across opponents in WRC Generations. Gamers must preserve their battery in order to beat their competition and perform exceptionally well in special stages.

Players can pick from more than 40 teams from the 2022 season and cruise through miles of unique tracks in 22 countries. WRC Generations offers up to 37 legendary cars to rip through rallies to climb up the ladder. Enthusiastic drivers can create their own teams and manage members to emerge victorious in WRC Generations.

18 Forza Motorsport 2023

A New Era of Racing Simulation

Another one in the Forza series, Forza Motorsport delivers a hyper-realistic and immersive racing experience, with advanced physics and dynamic weather conditions. It features a diverse lineup of over 500 vehicles, including over 100 brand-new additions to the series. The remaining vehicles are returning favorites from previous Forza Motorsport titles.

Besides that, Forza Motorsport 2023 features real-time ray tracing on the track for more accurate lighting and reflections and a better-defined damage model that captures paint chipping and dirt buildup on vehicles. With all of these realistic driving conditions, no two laps on the race track feel the same. However, Forza Motorsport 2023 launched with a limited track list, missing many fan favorites and introducing some questionable ones.

17 Dakar Desert Rally

Off-Roading Is A Blast When It Feels So Authentic

Dakar Desert Rally is an off-road racing experience that features a wide range of licensed cars, motorcycles, SSVs, and quads. These vehicles can be used to take part in some of the largest rally races in the world.

People can race through over 30 stages that offer the full rally racing experience from previous years of Dakar Rally races. Players can drive across different racing tracks in any of the 4 seasons of the year. The Deluxe Edition of Dakar Desert Rally features the DAF Truck Turbo-Twin and the Peugeot 405 Turbo 16.

16 TT Isle Of Man: Ride On The Edge 2

Amazing Two-Wheeler Racing That’s A Blast In Every Way

TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 is a sports game for motorcycle enthusiasts. It has several game modes, such as a Career mode and an online multiplayer mode to give people a run for their money.

People can ride their motorcycles on twisted tracks at the Snaefell Mountain Course to beat their competition. It has more than 60 km of racing tracks to test the bravest of motorcyclists in TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2. Players can choose to ride over 10 motorbikes in the realistic racing game.

15 rFactor 2

A Racing Sim With Impressive Physics

rFactor 2 is a highly realistic racing simulation game. It has an advanced physics engine that provides a smooth racing experience across multiple race tracks with dynamic weather conditions.

People can plug in their VR headsets while playing rFactor 2 for a truly immersive experience. Compete against AI opponents or face new challenges from players online on dedicated servers in lap-based and time-based events. It has a camera that can be moved freely from any position to view the races from new perspectives.

Players can modify the cars and the layouts in rFactor 2 using custom plugins for a personalized experience. It also has a “Resume from Replay” mode that allows players to resume races from saved replays in the game.

14 RaceRoom Racing Experience

A Free-To-Play Racing Sim That’s A Blast To Engage With

RaceRoom Racing Experience is a free-to-play racing car simulation. Become a professional race car driver in the realistic car game and take part in online multiplayer mode to earn rewards.

The controls of RaceRoom Racing Experience provide a number of features and camera angles to make the races peak on international racing tracks. Players can beat the best racers from all over the world to battle friends and familiar rivals in RaceRoom Racing Experience. People can choose to race in top car brands, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Chevrolet.

13 Forza Motorsport 7

One Of The Best And Most Realistic Racing Sims Around

Forza Motorsport 7 is a realistic racing game that can run at native 4K resolution and offers a consistent 60 frames per second. It won the award for “Best Racing Game” in IGN’s Best of 2017 Awards and won the Best Racing Game at Game Critics Awards in 2017.

Players can customize and drive more than 700 supercars on 32 tracks in Forza Motorsport 7. People can race the toughest drivers and earn trophies and banners that can be put on display in their garage.

12 Project CARS 2

A Motorsport Simulator That’s As Authentic As Can Be

Project CARS 2 is a motorsport simulator. It offers people more than 100 tracks to race on, including Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Glencairn Karting Circuit, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Le Mans Karting International, Silverstone Circuit, Summerton Karting Circuit, and Wildcrest Racing Circuit.

The racing game has a dynamic environment with varying weather conditions such as blistering heat, pouring rain, and soft snow. These weather conditions can test the skills of seasoned drivers in a rich 12K resolution. Project CARS 2 has VR support enabled for an immersive experience.

11 Shift 2

A Fun Racing Game With Many Game Modes And Hardcore High-Speed Action

Shift 2 is a racing game with several game modes. Championships, Circuit Races, Drift Races, Endurance Races, Retro Races, Time Attack Events, Standing Mile, and Legends Championship are a few of the modes available in the game.

Tracks in Shift 2 include Circuit Dijon-Prenois, Donington GP, Glendale East, Hazyview Oval, Hockenheimring National, London Whitehall Drive, Miami Bayside Run, and Silverstone National. The Limited Edition of the game has exclusive cars such as Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV and Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640. Night racing sequences in Shift 2 are played extensively by racing game fans.

10 Grand Prix 3

A Complex Racing Sim That Takes A While To Wrap One’s Head Around

Grand Prix 3 is a racing simulator with realistic controls. The game featured most of the drivers and cars from the 1998 Formula One season. At the time of its release, Grand Prix 3 had sold over 300,000 units in one month. It was popular among European countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

The racing game has a single-player and multiplayer mode. An expansion pack was released for the game in August 2001 that included several drivers and cars from Grand Prix 3 2000 season.

9 Riders Republic

Covers A Wide Range Of Racing Activities

Riders Republic is an enthralling sports game with loads of activities. Mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, and wingsuit flying are the main activities in the game. The massively multiplayer game allows up to 64 players to compete against each other in mass races.

The open-world game has seven distinct locations that include Bryce Canyon, Yosemite Valley, Mammoth Mountain, Zion, and Grand Teton. People can enjoy the experience of the game through a career mode that lets them perform mind-boggling tricks to unlock new gears, outfits, and cosmetic items.