From beginner to advanced, including approachable arcade games and dedicated racing simulators, these are the best sim racing games you can play in 2024.
Racing simulators might sound like a daunting prospect for a novice gamer, but they can be as uncomplicated – and as inexpensive – as you want them to be.
Drive’s simulator set-up might cost nearly five figures, but we didn’t get there overnight. The team has collectively stepped through all kinds of hardware – and racing games – to make it to the expensive end of the spectrum, and we’ve picked up some knowledge along the way.
Here are the best sim racing games in Australia to suit every price point, every experience level, and just about all gaming platforms available to Australians – in no particular order.
Forza Motorsport (2023)
Platform: PC, Xbox Series X/S
Cost: From $69 RRP
Find out more: Forza Motorsport website
Why you’ll like it: Stunning graphics, plug-and-play action, a wide-ranging array of cars
Why you may not: Not as realistic as dedicated simulator games, simplistic campaign
Forza Motorsport is the simulator-leaning racing title proprietary to Xbox, and now available on PC. It’s a pure racing game bound to street tracks and dedicated race circuits of the world, with photo-realistic graphics and believable physics.
It is the eighth title in the Forza Motorsport series (despite its lack of sequential numbering) but the simulation aspect is better than ever – tyre wear, dynamic time and weather, and minute-detail damage will all impress players on Xbox or PC.
The car detail is simply astonishing and the car sounds are some of the most true-to-life of any car game. For sheer shock and awe, gamers can do a lot worse than Forza Motorsport.
Forza Horizon 5
Platform: PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Cost: From $99.95 RRP
Find out more: Forza Horizon website
Why you’d like it: Car customisation; beautiful real-world graphics; fun campaign; open-world arena
Why you may not: Unrealistic physics; not overly serious; lots of additional (at cost) content
Whereas Forza Motorsport leans towards the motorsports conscious and rewards drivers for pristine overtakes, adhering to the racing line, and respecting thy rivals, Forza Horizon is unashamedly about having fun in cars – no matter the cost.
The series is open-world meaning that players can roam around cities, countryside, and even go off-road if they please. Forza Horizon 5 is set in Mexico and has several real-life city remakes as well as representing the Mexican mountains and countryside in impeccable, high-quality graphics.
In the Forza Horizon series great emphasis is placed on car modification and expressing personality through vehicle customisation. But the racing is equally entertaining with a plethora of on-road, rally-style, and off-road events. Don’t go into it expecting a serious simulator, but the choose-your-own-adventure experience is enjoyable all the same.
iRacing
Platform: PC
Cost: $11.80 per month
Find out more: iRacing website
Why you’d like it: The biggest combination of race cars and tracks; professional drivers say it’s the best real-world racing simulation
Why you may not: No production cars; no career mode; subscription comes with limited cars and tracks, everything else costs more
iRacing is where driving simulators get serious. The game is subscription-based so you can pay for as much or as little gaming as you want, but its real point of difference is the closeness to which it mimics real-life driving.
There are a wealth of cars and race tracks to choose from – including plenty of Australian tracks – with more being released all the time. iRacing is continuously developed as a product with regular updates and fixes.
It provides support for steering wheels setups as well as virtual-reality headsets, which is why real racing drivers appreciate this simulator for testing and training. The game enjoyed popularity through the pandemic as real-life racing became increasingly difficult.
Gran Turismo 7
Platform: Playstation 5, Playstation 4
Cost: From $109.95 RRP
Find out more: Gran Turismo
Why you’d like it: The game is beautiful, all kinds of racing formats and options, Playstation controller feedback is awesome
Why you may not: Strict licencing system, campaign is too structured early on, weird music, always online single-player mode
Gran Turismo was one of the world’s first driving simulators and enjoys a steadfast reputation in the racing world. The latest iteration, Gran Turismo 7, is not only beautiful to look at on the TV, but the racing is realistic, the physics are spot-on, and the dynamic weather events unfold to provide an extra challenge mid-race.
While the game makes it easy for newcomers to get involved and explain all the features and functions needed to get started, it does feel a bit too rigid for dedicated gamers (at least early on in the game) simply wanting to choose a car and race. As well, the lack of a standing start is a shame considering a lot of race action occurs in the initial moments.
The Crew Motorfest
Platform: Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Cost: From $69.95
Find out more: The Crew website
Why you’d like it: Detailed open-world map set in gorgeous Hawaii, entertaining car customisation, best car handling in the series so far
Why you may not: Smaller open world map than previous The Crew titles, feels like a Forza Horizon copy, lack of AI traffic
Where previous The Crew racing games have focused on the underground racing scene, The Crew Motorfest follows Forza Horizon’s theme of having the game centred around a car cultural festival.
There’s a lot of freedom to the format despite a smaller map size than previous titles. Players can jump in and get started very easily, and it doesn’t take long to work your way into some big-dollar supercars.
This one is far more arcade than sim-racer, but it’s plenty entertaining and contains a big list of events to see you occupied for a while.
Dirt Rally 2.0
Platform: Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC
Cost: $44.95 (Xbox One), $39.95 (PS4)
Find out more: Dirt Rally 2.0 website
Why you’d like it: A simulator for rally enthusiasts, accurate representation of off-road traction, changeable difficulty settings
Why you might not: Newcomers may struggle to get acquainted, limited rally stages, older game now
Dirt Rally developers Codemasters have been in the racing game-making business for a long time now, and this experience shows in just how realistic Dirt Rally 2.0 is. It’s much more of a simulator than previous Dirt Rally titles, and it’s not the easiest for beginners to learn in-game car control, but the game is wildly fun and realistic.
The sounds, in particular, are incredible – with exhaust pops and crackles, dirt sounds, and accurate pace notes from a co-driver all crackling through the speakers sounding fantastic.
It’s a tricky game, but pays dividends to those who put in the effort.
Need for Speed Unbound
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Cost: $109.99 RRP (Xbox)
Find out more: Need for Speed website
Why you’d like it: Celebrity tie-ins, wild visuals, awesome car customisation
Why you may not: Not a serious racing game, handling is not realistic, cringe campaign scripts and storyline
Need for Speed has always leaned towards arcade-style racing and the latest Unbound title reenergises the franchise with cool visuals and an entertaining storyline (if slightly cringe).
If you’re a gamer who prioritises car customisation, car culture, and eye-catching settings above all else, Need for Speed Unbound is your game. The customisation is more impressive than ever, while features from celebrities such as rapper A$AP Rocky are sure to keep gamers enthralled.
Assetto Corsa
Platform: PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Apple iOS
Cost: $28.95 (PC)
Find out more: Assetto Corsa website
Why you’d like it: Similar to iRacing but with road cars, wide-ranging sliders for assists, supports virtual reality
Why you may not: Not the best-performing graphics, limited support for PS4 or Xbox, difficult for beginners
Assetto Corsa is much like iRacing in that it’s a simulator designed for the hardcore enthusiast. It started out being offered to PC racers, but is now available on both Playstation and Xbox platforms.
From the original self-titled Assetto Corsa game, the developers have released offshoots called Assetto Corsa Evo and Assetto Corsa Competizione. The former is even more focused, while the latter title concerns race cars only.
The driving is incredibly realistic, there’s a huge selection of tracks, and although the racing AI isn’t the smartest – the developers continue to update the game with incremental improvements.
Assetto Corsa Competizione
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Cost: $77.95 RRP (PS5)
Find out more: Assetto Corsa Competizione website
Why you’d like it: Awesome day/night cycling for endurance racing, engaging handling characteristics, features left-field European tracks
Why you may not: Lots of downloadable content at extra cost, limiting cars and tracks, expensive compared to Assetto Corsa
This is the endurance racing offshoot of the original Assetto Corsa designed for fans of the World Endurance Championship. Racing simulators dedicated to a single category aren’t common, but it has allowed Assetto Corsa Competizione developers to hone in on the nitty-gritty of European endurance racing.
It isn’t a turn-key experience that you get from other racing games, but put in the effort to setting up this bespoke title and you’ll be rewarded with excellent dynamics, unique racetracks, and lifelike car recreations.
F1 2023
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Cost: $109.95 (PS5)
Find out more: F1 2023 website
Why you’d like it: Detailed story mode, realistic physics, photoreal picture quality
Why you may not: F1 World offshoot mode is a bit tokenistic, about to be superseded
This game adaptation makes it exceedingly easy to immerse yourself in the world of Formula 1. With a plethora of real-life tracks and drivers, plus storylines to rival actual F1 Paddock happenings, the series is as entertaining off the track as it is engaging while racing.
Codemasters and EA Sports (the game’s developers) have fine-tuned the graphics down to a hugely believable level and the racing is as simulator-specific as ever. It’s not the most approachable racing game for newcomers, but it’s definitely worth practicing at because the racing is life-like.
What’s better, you don’t have to go to the lengths of having a simulator steering wheel setup because the gamepad controls are far improved compared to previous titles.
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