There are a ton of different racing video game titles out there. It's a big market and a wide variety of titles being released, which is great for newcomers and fans of the genre in general. However, those who want a more simulated approach to driving will find the list of titles a bit more limited.
In this list, we're going to focus on games that focus more on simulation-style driving rather than arcade racing games. It's not a long list either, but some of these simulation games have held up incredibly well over the years, and they're well worth playing today.
#8 Driving Essentials
Driving Essentials is quite a different game than some of the other driving simulation games on this list, but it's a solid choice for those not yet old enough to get behind the wheel. With Driving Essentials, children better understand the different aspects of driving. Think of it as an educational tool for those preparing for driver training.
It's a title that offers an overview of different lessons for beginners such as using signals, what certain signs can mean, driving a certain distance from another vehicle, using your mirrors, checking from blind spots, to different accident scenarios that may come from being distracted. It's a great way to start getting kids to understand the responsibilities of being behind the wheel.
# 7 Assetto Corsa: latest edition
Assetto Corsa was released a few years ago at this point after its initial market launch in 2022, but it's still a fan-favorite racing simulation video game. This video game is packed with content and it's thanks to the long line of DLC releases that bring over a hundred different vehicles into the mix. You'll find cars that vary in styles and eras, all of which seem to have a lot of detail. As a result, there's plenty of immersion here for fans who want to feel like they're driving in a different vehicle than before.
It's not just about the change in speed and design, but rather a change in how the car behaves on the road. For a slightly older title on this list, it's a game we can still recommend if you want a driving simulation style of gaming. That said, it's best to opt for Assetto Corsa: Ultimate Edition, which will come with all previously released DLCs.
# 6 Dirt Rally 2.0
Dirt Rally 5 may be the main release available, but those who want a simulation-style game might want to divert their attention to the 2022 release of Dirt Rally 2.0. This is a strict simulation racing game where players have to pay attention to the course beside their vehicle. If you're not the biggest Dirt Rally enthusiast, you might be better off enjoying Dirt Rally 5, which is certainly much more accessible everywhere. That said, Dirt Rally 2.0 will offer a driving simulation challenge.
The hand-built courses are not only beautiful to look at, but designed to mimic a white-knuckle race. Your vehicle will react to every bump in the road and if you're not careful you may very well run off course, off the coast or just flip your car. That said, this game offers the possibility to make several modifications to your car and recruit crew members who can further improve your tuning before the races.
# 5 SnowRunner
SnowRunner is a driving simulation game that puts more emphasis on the various challenging terrains you will drive through. Players basically take different paths which could be muddy mountains to snowy tundra. Although driving around these courses is one of the main objectives of the game, there are also a series of different challenges. These challenges can be varied, such as getting another vehicle into a tight spot or helping a stuck truck out of gas.
Of course, to traverse these different terrains, you will need to ensure that your vehicle is suitable for the job. This may require fine-tuning your vehicle or adding extra bonuses such as an exhaust snorkel. There's even four-player co-op gameplay, which means you can have a little more fun driving those tricky paths.
#4 Project Cars 2
The Project Cars franchise has three solid installments available, but there may be some debate between the latest installment, Project Cars 3 and the latest entry in the series, Project Cars 2. This latest installment tends to give players a more arcade feeling. . we chose to select Project Cars 2 for this list. Just because this game came out a few years ago doesn't mean it won't hold up today. It is a fantastic style simulation racing game that comes with all sorts of options as well as features. This title features a ton of different vehicles and a wide range of racing courses from around the world. It should be noted that you can modify the behavior of these courses a little thanks to the dynamic weather options.
Whether you want a calm sunny morning, a late night race, or get a little chaotic with options like heavy rain and snowstorm conditions, it's all there for players to enjoy. These conditions will of course alter the driving experience and only give players another stage of a more realistic style racing game. For those of you who like to work under the hood, there are options to make a variety of tuning selections for your vehicles, but even if you're not a pro at what to do when opening the hood, there are guides to give advice and suggestions.
# 3 F1 2022
2022 was a bit of a missed year for a lot of things, but we got a really solid F1 video game. F1's series of video game titles still offer great simulation-style racing, but F1 2022 takes things to a new level. Racing simulation is on point here and you will find there is plenty of realism to give F1 sports fans the feeling of racing through amazing courses.
However, where the game shines is not just the driving simulation, but the management component of a career mode. Players are not only the driver of an organization, but also the owner of an organization. You will create a team and start hiring various staff members. From there, it's about growing your organization, not just tweaking your vehicle.
That means keeping tabs on your profits and securing those sponsorship deals to ensure you're able to compete against other iconic teams. However, if you're new to the franchise and think this game will be a bit too much to handle, there are assist modes to help you along the way. There are quite a few assist options to this as well with different aspects such as fuel assist, DRS, to more traditional assist settings such as braking and steering control.
# 2 Nascar Heat 4
Nascar has a strong following and the latest installment available is Nascar Heat 5 in terms of video game franchise. However, Nascar Heat 4 is releasing the latest installment for many fans. This is a heavily focused simulation game and it can be a bit challenging for newcomers who might find all the mods and setting options cumbersome. The game features two career-style modes, one that you can take control of as a driver only, and another that gives you access to building your team. The latter will also come with its own set of challenges such as hiring staff, ensuring your establishment makes improvements, securing sponsorship deals, as well as controlling your finances.
Luckily, there's the option to start at any streak you want rather than having to complete each streak in succession to progress. So if you'd rather jump right into the Xfinity series, that's on offer, which I imagine is a plus for many fans. In the meantime, as I mentioned earlier, there is a fairly comprehensive selection of tweaks for your vehicle, and each course will require a new tune for your car. Players will be able to modify several aspects of their vehicle, from categories including tires, springs, shocks, to weight.
This will give your driving simulation experience a little more realism for the player, but again those new to the series or who may not have as much knowledge of the effects each decision may have difficult to adjust for each race. That said, if you want a little more tasking during your races, there are also a variety of challenges implemented in the game. These challenges can vary quite a bit, such as starting a race with a car that already has a huge lead.
# 1 Gran Turismo Sport
The Gran Turismo franchise is a popular racing simulation video game exclusive to the Sony PlayStation line of consoles. Each episode truly unleashes the power of the console with a wealth of detailed vehicles, courses and stunning scenery. One of the latest installments in the franchise is Gran Turismo Sport and creator Kazunori Yamauchi noted that it was the first installment in a whole new era of Gran Turismo video games. There are three main game modes featured here in this title which include campaign, sports mode and arcade mode.
While players can race both online and offline with Gran Turismo Sport, just like previous versions of the franchise, it will however lack dynamic weather and a day-night cycle. One of the biggest new features of the Gran Turismo series in this game was the fact that there is a VR option. Players could get an even more immersive gaming experience if they opt for the VR headset and go through the VR Tour mode. It definitely brings a more simulated experience if you have the headset. However, it's completely optional, so you're out of luck if you don't have PSVR.
