The 15 Best Racing Sims of All Time

From hardcore laser-scanned simulators to console-friendly crowd-pleasers, this grid spans rally stages, GT circuits and endurance classics. Which one deserves pole position?

1

Richard Burns Rally

The 2004 rally sim still regarded by purists as the most realistic stage-rally experience ever made.

1000pts

2

Assetto Corsa

The 2014 Italian driving sim whose open modding support made it a perennial favorite among hardcore sim racers.

833pts

3

DiRT Rally 2.0

Codemasters' 2019 rally sim with demanding surface physics across global stages.

833pts

4

Project CARS 2

Slightly Mad Studios' 2017 sim featuring live-track dynamic weather and a vast multi-discipline car roster.

500pts

5

Forza Motorsport

Turn 10's 2023 reboot of the Xbox racing franchise, often recommended as the gateway sim for beginners.

500pts

6

F1 24

Codemasters' official Formula 1 simulation with the full 2024 grid, calendar, and career mode.

500pts

7

RaceRoom Racing Experience

Sector3 Studios' free-to-play sim known for accurate touring-car and DTM content.

500pts

8

Le Mans Ultimate

Studio 397's 2024 endurance racing sim built around the official FIA World Endurance Championship.

500pts

9

rFactor 2

Studio 397's hardcore simulation prized for its dynamic tire and track physics in serious online leagues.

500pts

10

GTR 2

SimBin's acclaimed 2006 FIA GT simulation, a cult classic still modded two decades on.

300pts

11

Live for Speed

A long-running independent online racing sim cherished for its precise handling model and tight community.

300pts

12

Assetto Corsa Competizione

The GT3-focused sequel and official game of the SRO/Blancpain series, built around laser-scanned GT racing.

300pts

13

Automobilista 2

Reiza Studios' Brazilian sim built on the Madness engine, celebrated for its feelsome force-feedback physics.

300pts

14

BeamNG.drive

A soft-body physics sandbox sim famous for its uncannily realistic crash and vehicle deformation modeling.

1pts

15

Gran Turismo 7

The seventh mainline entry in Polyphony Digital's PlayStation series, blending realistic physics with mainstream accessibility.

1pts