Racing games have always enjoyed great popularity among PC gamers. Unlike consoles where the selection is limited, PCs offer access to a much wider variety of racing titles. From realistic hardcore simulators to over-the-top arcade racers, there‘s something for everyone.
As we enter 2024, racing games continue to push boundaries with cutting-edge graphics powered by the latest GPUs and hyper-realistic physics. Support for VR headsets also elevates the immersive experience for racing enthusiasts.
In this guide, we pick out 5 of the very best racing games you can play on PC right now. These selections provide an excellent mix of features, vehicles, locations and gameplay styles to suit different tastes.
1. Forza Horizon 5
Key Features:
- Open-world map set in Mexico
- Over 500 licensed vehicles
- changing seasons impact world and driving dynamics
Without a doubt, Forza Horizon 5 stands on top in terms of sheer scope. Developed by Playground Games exclusively for Xbox and Windows, this open-world racer lets you speed through jungles, beaches, cities and historic sites across Mexico.
The star of the show is the sprawling map covering 11 unique biomes. With over 500km of roads and hundreds of unlockables, there is an incredible sense of freedom as you chart your own path to domination.
Backing this is a gargantuan car roster spanning over 10 decades. Vintage classics, monster trucks, JDM tuners – no matter your taste, there is a ride for you. Handling stays true to each vehicle‘s characteristics – muscle cars feel meaty while exotic hypercars cut corners with surgical precision.
The dynamic weather system makes races different every time. Blizzards in the mountains or thunderstorms along the coast present unique challenges. Emergent gameplay via roaming Drivatars also keeps exploration fresh and surprising. With so much to discover, Horizon 5 sets a lofty benchmark.
Vehicles: Over 500 licensed
Locations: Mexico (11 biomes)
Game Modes: Open-World Story Campaign, Multiplayer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Massive open world map | Requires beefy hardware |
| Hundreds of vehicles | |
| Dynamic seasons/weather |
Recommended System Specs
CPU: Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1070 or AMD RX 590
VRAM: 8GB
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 110GB HDD space
2. Assetto Corsa Competizione
Key Features:
- Officially licensed GT World Challenge series
- Laser scanned tracks for accuracy
- Extensive tuning options
While the Horizon series targets casual players, Assetto Corsa Competizione is unabashedly for the hardcore. Licensed by SRO Motorsports Group, every detail aims for simulation authenticity – right down to the tire squeals.
At the forefront lies meticulously laser scanned circuits from the GT World Challenge. Iconic tracks like Spa, Monza and the Nurburgring are recreated down to the curbs and grass textures. This level of accuracy lets you memorize braking points like real drivers.
The handling model is simply sublime with over 50 setup parameters for fine tuning. Tires, suspension, differential, aero – everything can be adjusted to suit your style. Mastering a car to extract every ounce of performance is immensely gratifying.
Add pit stops, dynamic weather and an esports centric multiplayer, and you have a platform ready for competitive online racing. For dedicated enthusiasts, Assetto Corsa Competizione is a premier choice.
Vehicles: Over 25 GT3 cars + DLCs
Locations: 13 Global circuits + DLCs
Game Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Realistic simulation | Steep learning curve |
| Meticulously detailed | Career mode lacks depth |
| Custom setup flexibility |
Recommended System Specs
CPU: Intel i5 8600k or Ryzen R5 3600X
GPU: Nvidia RTX 2060 or Radeon RX 5700
VRAM: 8GB+
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 80GB SSD space
3. F1 22
Key Features:
- Officially licensed 2022 FIA Formula One series
- Adaptive AI matches skill level
- Expanded F1 Life customization
As the official game for the 2022 season, F1 22 lets you race as your favorite driver alongside accurate teams, cars and liveries. This year‘s version builds upon strong foundations with improved visuals, updated rules and an expanded focus beyond just racing.
The marquee addition is adaptive AI that responds better to your inputs. Aggressive moves prompt clever blocks while mistakes lead to challenging but fair overtakes. With scalable difficulty, both rookies and veterans stay engaged. More replayable Career modes add depth via R&D trees and sponsorships.
For fans, F1 Life lets you customize driver avatars, collect supercars and furnish swanky apartments. It may not affect lap times but delivers personally expressing your fandom. Combine with two-player split-screen racing, and there is plenty to enjoy besides sweating through seasons.
While decidedly less realistic than titles like iRacing, F1 22 captures the essence straight from the source. Casual fans and seasoned veterans alike will find gratification from Codemasters‘ polished package.
Vehicles: 2022 F1 cars + classics
Locations: Official 2022 circuits
Game Modes: Singleplayer career, Multiplayer races, Split-screen
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Adaptive AI | Slightly dated graphics |
| Expanded off-track options | Engine sounds could be better |
| Scalable difficulty |
Recommended System Specs
CPU: Ryzen 5 1600 / i5 9600k
GPU: AMD RX580 / Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti
VRAM: 4GB+
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 80GB HDD space
4. BeamNG.drive
Key Features:
- Fully destructible soft-body physics
- Mod support for unlimited content
- Active community with constant updates
Tired of arcade racers on closed loops? BeamNG.drive offers an elastic sandbox fueled purely by your imagination. The sole objective: crash for joy.
Instead of scripted tracks, BeamNG generates procedural maps ranging from highways to logging paths. But scenic backdrops matter less when you have soft-body physics that deform cars realistically on impact.
Smashing, crashing and rolling produce visceral destruction across chassis, subframes and components. Seeing bodies warp, glass shatter and wheels crumple is grimly satisfying. Even better, all vehicles can be fully repaired with dents hammered out or engines rebuilt.
With endless mods adding maps, vehicles and customization via Steam Workshop, there is unlimited potential. Whether you want to race 24 car pileups or flip semi-trucks through the air, BeamNG fulfills gearhead fantasies.
Vehicles: 15+ base game cars + mods
Locations: Procedural test areas + mods
Game Modes: Free Roam, Scenarios, Challenges
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Realistic soft-body physics | Limited objectives |
| Fully destructible vehicles | No traditional races |
| Extensive mod support |
Recommended System Specs
CPU: Intel i5 / AMD Ryzen 5
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 / Radeon RX 570
VRAM: 4GB+
RAM: 8GB+
Storage: 10GB free space
5. GRID Legends
Key Features:
- Story-driven career with live action cutscenes
- Race variety from Touge to Airplanes
- Quick resume via Hop-in gameplay
Beyond being just a racing game, GRID Legends weaves its gameplay into an episodic narrative comparable to Netflix shows. Career events bookend races with live actor interviews and reality-TV style drama.
The eclectic mix of vehicles and event types keeps progression engaging. Street races, drift trials, endurance circuits, Elimination – successfully placing earns Stars to unlock higher tiers. Cars range from tuner imports like the Skyline GT-R to big rig trucks.
For quick action, Hop-in drops you into races without menus or loading times. With up to 22 human players online, multiplayer stays unpredictable and exciting. Cross platform matchmaking means healthy competition.
GRID Legends modernizes arcade racing with production values that rivals Hollywood. The game experiments just enough within familiar trappings to create something distinctly fresh. Casual audiences will easily be hooked.
Vehicles: 100+ Production cars to exotics
Locations: London, Moscow, Japan + circuits
Game Modes: Story Career, Multiplayer Hop-in
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Engaging career narrative | Middling AI Drivers |
| Race variety keeps pacing fresh | Limited customization |
| Quick resume via Hop-In |
Recommended System Specs
CPU: Ryzen 5 1600 / i5 6600k
GPU: Radeon RX 590 / GTX 1070
VRAM: 8GB+
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 80GB HDD space
Compare: Realism vs Accessibility
While all featured games involve steering vehicles around tracks, their aims differ vastly. Titles like Assetto Corsa focus exclusively on simulating every nuance of racing. This results in unforgiving experiences with brutal learning curves. You need patience to slowly develop expertise via incremental trial and error.
In contrast, arcade-style games offer instant gratification with simplified handling assists and flashy drift mechanics. Cars become extensions of your will, responding sharply to inputs without losing control. More gamified career structures quickly unlock faster rides and upgrades through progression gates.
Neither approach is intrinsically better – preferences depend on personal taste. However, realistic simulations typically demand quality peripherals like force feedback wheels and pedals. Casual games play fine on gamepads and keyboard/mouse setups.
In terms of hardware requirements, simulators rely heavily on processor performance for their advanced physics calculations. Having 16GB or more of system RAM helps load detail rich laser scanned tracks smoothly. Arcade titles can run adequately even on entry level GPUs although faster cards enable higher visual settings and frame rates.
Tips for Getting Started
Here are some general tips when getting into PC racing games:
Use a gamepad – Unlike FPS or RTS titles, racing games play best with analog input from controller sticks and triggers for precise throttle/brake control. Wheels are great upgrades later.
Lower driving assists – While aids like traction control, racing lines and braking assists help initially, lowering them expands skill ceilings. Gradually turn them down as technique improves.
Adjust camera settings – The default chase and hood cameras offer limited views around bends. Experiment with bumper or driver POV cameras for better visibility entering corners.
Tune control sensitivity – Every title handles differently. Spend time adjusting steering, throttle and brake sensitivities so car responds intuitively to stick movements. Let muscle memory gradually develop.
Focus on consistency – Lap times don‘t matter early on. Nail consistent racing lines, braking points and exits before pushing for speed. Good habits prevent faster crashing later.
The Road Ahead
As gaming technology continues evolving, racing games grow ever more immersive. Consumer VR/AR devices are still in relative infancy so designers are just scratching the surface of their potential. Future titles could let us race real tracks through VR using accurate laser scan data while AR overlays provide racing lines and telemetry.
Cloud computing can enable new types of persistence with machine learning algorithms generating intelligent AI based on aggregate player habits. Social integration via mobile apps augments the experience outside gameplay sessions.
Hardware will keep advancing as well – the upcoming generation of GPUs and CPUs promise performance leaps that can faithfully simulate complex vehicle dynamics across convoys of cars.
While the trajectory points to more realism, creativity in arcades racers will continue thriving. Concepts like vehicular transformations and multidimensional tracks depend less on tech advances and more on inventive game design and mechanics. The broad range ensures compelling options for all fans when they hit the virtual road.
FAQs
What PC specs do I need for 4k or VR racing?
VR requires GPUs like the RTX 3070 or RX 6800 capable of consistent 90fps+ frame rates. 4K demands cards with at least 8GB VRAM – recommendations include RTX 3070 Ti, RX 6700 XT or better.
Do steering wheels work with every PC racing game?
Steering wheel+pedal peripherals only work with games designed for them. Make sure titles list explicit support before buying wheels.
Which has more realistic handling – Forza or Gran Turismo?
While Forza aims for accessibility, Gran Turismo leans closer to simulation territory leading to arguably more precise control feel. However, Forza still offers satisfying depth once you disable driving aids.
