Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! Motoring enthusiasts who like to spend their free time racing in the virtual world really are spoiled for choice these days.
Whether you’re into two wheels or four, racing, off-road adventures, realism, or wackiness, there’s a game available to suit your taste. Some are easily accessible and newbie friendly, others are best left to those with some experience under their belt and often require monthly subscriptions and high-end PCs.
Let’s look at some of the best video games car and motorcycle enthusiasts can play right now.
iRacing
iRacing is the big daddy in the racing sim world, and its fans will happily tell you about the physics and competitive races. They’re not wrong! As far as racing sims go, iRacing is hands down the best one out there, which is why you may eventually run into F1 champ Max Verstappen on one of the virtual tracks.
However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as you must pay to play. If you buy a game like Gran Turismo, you pay once and get a bunch of tracks and cars. iRacing requires you to pay a monthly subscription fee, which includes 25 cars and 30 tracks, and then you have to pay for additional cars and tracks. I don’t recommend it to beginners, but if you’ve spent some time racing in the virtual world, and you’ve bought all the essential sim racing gear, iRacing is definitely worth considering.
RaceRoom
If you don’t want to spend money to race online but already have a decent gaming PC, you should give RaceRoom a go. The basic game is free to play on Steam, and while it was largely overlooked up until recently, it has now received a graphics update and new cars, making it relevant once again.
While RaceRoom is free to play, it’s not entirely free if you want access to all the content, as you’ll have to pay a couple of bucks for additional cars and tracks, or around $150 for the Premium Pack containing everything that’s currently available.
Rennsport
There’s certainly been some controversy surrounding Rennsport, and much of the criticism is well-deserved, since the developers made claims they couldn’t back up. At the moment, it doesn’t really offer anything new to the genre, but I think it’s definitely a decent base for them to continue building on, and keep in mind that the full game hasn’t been released yet.
Like Assetto Corsa, there will be modding tools available. It has also been announced that Rennsport will launch on console as well, which I welcome wholeheartedly, and it supports full crossplay between all platforms!
Assetto Corsa Evo
Earlier this year, Kunos released an early access version of the brand new Assetto Corsa Evo game, and the complete game is expected to arrive later in 2025. Like the original AC, there will be mods, meaning users can add and create cars and tracks.
It also has an open world aspect, similar to what you’d find in Forza Motorsport, but with more realistic physics, allowing gamers to explore the Eifel region surrounding the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife. Rumor has it that ACE might be available on console, too.
Assetto Corsa Competizione
ACC is another aging racing sim by Kunos Simulazioni, but there’s no modder community here. ACC offers the ability to race in various GT classes and one-make series cars.
It’s officially licensed by the GT World Challenge Europe and the Total 24 Hours of Spa, and if you’re into these kinds of races, it’s the best game currently available.
Ride 5
Those with a penchant for scraping their kneesliders when cornering should check out Ride 5. Be warned, though, as it’s not really a newbie-friendly game. Many users have complained about the controls, but it works well once you’ve spent some time learning the physics.
If you want to race anything from regular street bikes to classic endurance models and brand new superbikes, on tracks and road courses from around the world, Ride 5 is the game for you. If you want an easier and cheaper motorcycle “sim,” consider its predecessor, Ride 4, instead.
MotoGP 25
Milestone, the same company that made the Ride games, also holds the MotoGP license. While it doesn’t offer street bikes and classic models like its cousin, MotoGP 25 is an all-around better motorcycle game.
Part of the reason for that is down to the handling and physics, which are more arcade-like than Ride and the two previous iterations of the MotoGP franchise. Hardcore enthusiasts might complain about that, but in reality, it makes the game much more accessible. In addition, it offers multiple gaming modes, real MotoGP bikes, a complete 22-track roster, and all the teams and riders from MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3.
TT Isle Of Man: Ride on the Edge 3
The Isle of Man TT is the world’s deadliest motorcycle race, but thanks to Ride on the Edge 3, it’s possible for us mere mortals to experience some of the thrills of riding the mountain without actually risking our lives.
The first two games in the series lacked convincing physics, but as RaceWard Studio took the reins for the 3rd game, that was guaranteed to be sorted (they previously made the very detailed RiMS Racing). All the 2023 IoM TT Supersport and Superbikes are present, along with the riders. Unfortunately, events and tracks such as the Macau GP and North West 200 aren’t present. Instead, there’s the full 37.73-mile Snaefell Mountain Course, along with side roads, meaning there are eight tracks that can be divided into smaller sections, for a total of 32 layouts.
Gran Turismo 7
The first Gran Turismo game arrived in 1997, and it was unlike anything we’d ever seen before. They may call it “the real driving simulator,” but in reality, it’s more of a simcade than a full-blown sim. Still, GT7 remains one of the best racing games for car enthusiasts, and there’s no shortage of extremely capable racers out there, such as Super GT and Rory Alexander.
GT7 offers plenty of cars that can be upgraded and modified, lots of tracks from around the world, and it’s one of the most popular games for e-sports tournaments. What more could we possibly ask for? Unfortunately, it’s only available on PlayStation.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is perfect for those who don’t want a racing game that takes itself too seriously. It’s an open-world racer set in Mexico, and it allows the player to get behind the wheel of modern supercars, old classics, everyday beaters, off-roaders, and anything else you can think of.
All the cars can be modified, and players can even create their own tracks and areas. If you’re looking for some vehicular entertainment rather than a serious track racer, FH5 is hard to beat.
Forza Motorsport
This is actually the 8th installment in the Forza Motorsport series, and it marked a new beginning for the franchise. It’s arguably Gran Turismo’s closest rival, and if you have an Xbox, it’s one of the best racing games available at the moment.
There’s no denying that FM was released with more than its fair share of bugs and issues; even today, it still lacks content. However, Turn 10 Studios is working on it and continuously releases new content and updates, such as the excellent Fujimi Kaido circuit that arrived with the last update. There’s also a vast selection of cars and upgrades, and both single-player and multiplayer modes.
Le Mans Ultimate
Le Mans Ultimate is the official game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24h of Le Mans, and focuses on a single race series and four Le Mans race car classes.
One could argue that LMU falls a bit short regarding the number of cars and tracks compared to some of the other giants on this list. However, it’s your best option if you’re into endurance racing.
EA Sports WRC
EA Sports WRC had some issues when it was released, but it’s now much better and actually playable. Those who enjoy going sideways at 100 mph on tight, twisty gravel roads will find a lot to like here. I’ll also add that I think the engine sounds are some of the best I’ve heard in a while.
As the name implies, EA Sports secured full WRC licensing for this game, and it includes plenty of tracks, cars, and customization options. In fact, players can even build their own car.
F1 25
F1 25 is another EA Sports game, which means it comes with full F1 licensing, which includes all the tracks, teams, cars, and drivers. Dyed-in-the-wool F1 game enthusiasts had some complaints about the handling in the previous game, but casual gamers seemed to prefer it to the more sim-focused predecessor.
Since F1 25 won’t be released until May 30th, the jury is still out on the handling and physics, but the graphics look absolutely amazing! My best advice would be to try before you buy.
Japanese Drift Master
Japanese Drift Master (JDM, get it?) is an arcade-style racer where you play as a foreigner who wants to become a drift racer in Japan. Yes, it sounds like the plot of F&F: Tokyo Drift, but it’s much better than the movie.
You can go sideways on 100s of miles of Japanese digital asphalt, ranging from urban areas to rural mountain roads. Focusing on JDM cars, it’s a given that they can be upgraded with both body kits and performance parts. The cars aren’t actually licensed, but they look a lot like certain real-world models.
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Those who played (and liked) the original Tokyo Xtreme Racer on Playstation 2 back in the day will find a lot to like here as well, as the formula is largely the same. It’s an arcade racer that takes place on Tokyo’s highways.
Choose a car, modify it with performance parts and body kits, then head out on the highway and look for opponents to race against. A fun difference between this game and others is that you have a life bar, like in a beat-em up, and it drains when you’re falling behind. Sadly, it’s only available on PC.
Expeditions: A MudRunner Game
If you’ve played the previous MudRunner or SnowRunner games, you already know Expeditions is not about going fast. Instead, you’ll be clawing your way through challenging terrains and exploring the wilderness.
The slow pace of Expeditions is, honestly, a welcome change after spending hours upon hours hot lapping famous racetracks in cockpit view. Those who dream of leaving it all behind to embark on the overland expeditions of a lifetime will certainly enjoy it.
Super Woden GP2
Those who grew up with top-down racing games may just fall in love with Super Woden GP2. It’s like Gran Turismo with an isometric angle. In fact, even its menu is a lot like what you’d expect from the GT franchise.
Unlike GT, SWGP2 doesn’t have the licenses to use actual cars, but they look a lot like certain real-life models. Like racing games of the past, it’s very accessible, and while the graphics aren’t mindblowing, they’re ok, and they’re accompanied by a great soundtrack.
Bonus: Project Motor Racing
Project Motor Racing will be out sometime later this year, and things are looking promising. The visuals are stunning, the physics and handling are said to be very realistic, and driving at high speeds can be downright terrifying. Honestly, I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
As an added bonus, Project Motor Racing is said to be released on console as well, and it might just show GT7 and Forza Motorsport a thing or two.
Bonus: Endurance Motorsport Series
With Assetto Corsa Competizione, Le Mans Ultimate, and even Rennsport, there’s no shortage of games featuring GT3 racing. Heck, even Forza Motorsport has some GT3 cars. And soon, there will be another game available; Endurance Motorsport Series, or EMS.
Interestingly, EMS is set to deliver an experience that sets it apart from the rest of the field, as it lets you play as a driver or engineer, or even both. It’s designed to make gamers feel like they’re actually part of a team. Just like in real racing, you won’t always know what position you’re in, so you’ll have to contact the engineer and ask, and it’ll also inform you about things like flags, the weather, and the pit strategy. I can’t wait!
