Top 7 Best Sim Racing Games To Play

Choosing from the best sim racing games can get confusing fast. Some titles feel excellent on a controller but lose depth once you connect a proper wheel and pedal setup. Others don’t show their full value until you’re using a direct drive wheelbase, load cell pedals, a stable cockpit, and a display setup that gives you a clear view into the corner.

Our team at Gamer Gear Direct has tested sim racing hardware across cockpit-mounted wheelbases, pedal sets, ultrawide monitors, VR-ready layouts, and complete racing simulator setups. We’ve used that hands-on experience to review how the best sim racing games feel once you move beyond casual racing and into a proper rig.

This guide isn’t just about which game has the biggest car list. It’s about force feedback, physics feel, setup difficulty, online racing, hardware support, content depth, and how each title works for different drivers.

To make this guide more useful, we looked at each game from a hardware-first point of view. That’s how many drivers experience sim racing after buying their first proper wheel, cockpit, monitor, or pedal setup.

We judged each title on how it feels through a mounted wheel, how clearly the tyres communicate grip loss, how easy it is to configure force feedback, how well the game works with different display layouts, and how approachable it is for new drivers. We also looked at online racing, single-player depth, content variety, DLC value, modding, VR use, and long-session comfort.

At our Dandenong South showroom, customers often ask which games work best with a new rig. That’s why this best sim racing games guide is written around real setup decisions, not just trailers or spec sheets. The answer depends on the platform, budget, driving style, and how much setup work someone wants to do. A PlayStation driver building a PS5 racing simulator will have a very different shortlist from a PC driver setting up triple screens, a shifter, and a high-torque wheelbase.

The best sim racing games need to do more than look good in screenshots. The best sim racing games should also feel believable once the wheel, pedals, cockpit, and screen are working together.

Force feedback is one of the biggest differences. A good sim should let you feel the front tyres load up, the rear start to rotate, the kerb unsettle the car, and the braking zone change as tyres wear. If the wheel feels vague or inconsistent, it becomes harder to trust the car.

Physics also play a major role. The best sim racing games don’t just make the car slide; they make the slide readable. You should feel the difference between cold tyres, worn tyres, wet track grip, aero load, and brake balance changes.

Hardware support is just as important. Many drivers now use direct drive wheelbases, load cell pedals, H-pattern shifters, handbrakes, ultrawide monitors, triple-screen setups, and VR headsets. The best sim racing games make calibration clear, offer usable force feedback settings, and don’t turn basic setup into a weekend project.

Content depth also counts. A big car list is great, but quality matters more than quantity. Licensed cars, scanned tracks, active updates, and a healthy online community can keep a game relevant for years. This is why older titles like Assetto Corsa can still compete with newer releases.

Finally, accessibility shouldn’t be ignored. Some drivers want a demanding PC sim. Others want a polished game they can enjoy after work without spending an hour changing settings. The best sim racing games respect both types of player.

Assetto Corsa remains one of the best sim racing games for PC players who want freedom. The base game has been around for years, but its community has kept it alive through cars, tracks, graphics updates, servers, drift content, traffic maps, and niche motorsport builds.

In our testing, Assetto Corsa works best for drivers who enjoy experimenting. Once you add community tools and quality mods, it can feel completely different from the standard install. That flexibility makes it a great fit for PC racers who want to try drifting, touge roads, track day servers, road cars, GT racing, and custom content.

The physics still hold up well, especially when you’re using a stable cockpit and a decent wheelbase. It gives clear steering weight and a convincing sense of grip, although force feedback can vary depending on the car and mod quality. Some mods are excellent. Others feel rough, unbalanced, or unfinished.

Assetto Corsa is not the cleanest experience for beginners. It can take time to install content, adjust settings, and get the game looking modern. If you want a polished menu system and guided career, Gran Turismo 7 is easier. If you want a flexible PC sandbox, Assetto Corsa is still one of the best sim racing games to own.

Best for: PC players, modders, drift fans, custom car builds, and drivers who like experimenting with one of the best sim racing games for custom PC racing.

Best hardware match: MOZA racing wheel, load cell pedals, H-pattern shifter, handbrake, ultrawide monitor or triple-screen PC setup.

Le Mans Ultimate is one of the best sim racing games for drivers who love endurance racing. It’s the official game of the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so the focus is much narrower than a general racing title. That focus is also its biggest strength.

Instead of trying to cover every type of motorsport, Le Mans Ultimate centres on modern endurance racing. Hypercars, LMGT3 machinery, changing track conditions, traffic management, long stints, and weather strategy all make it feel different from a short sprint-race sim.

From a hardware point of view, this is a game that rewards a proper setup. A stable cockpit, accurate pedals, and a direct drive wheel make a big difference because endurance racing depends on consistency. You’re not just chasing one lap. You’re trying to brake cleanly, manage grip, handle traffic, and keep your rhythm over longer runs.

It’s not the first game we’d suggest for every beginner. The racing style is more focused, and the game makes the most sense if you already enjoy WEC, Le Mans, or multi-class racing. But for PC drivers who want modern endurance racing with proper atmosphere, Le Mans Ultimate belongs on any list of the best sim racing games.

Best for: WEC fans, endurance racers, Hypercar fans, and PC drivers who want one of the best sim racing games for longer racing formats.

Best hardware match: motion sim racing setup, direct drive wheelbase, load cell brake, ultrawide or triple-screen display.

Gran Turismo 7 is still one of the best sim racing games for PlayStation drivers. It’s polished, easy to understand, and packed with cars, tracks, licence tests, tuning, missions, online events, and single-player progression.

The biggest strength of Gran Turismo 7 is how smoothly it brings new drivers into sim racing. You can start with assists and controller play, then gradually move into a wheel, pedals, cockpit, and VR. For customers building their first PS5 racing simulator, it’s usually the easiest game to recommend because it doesn’t demand deep PC setup knowledge.

In our testing, Gran Turismo 7 feels best when the wheel and pedals are mounted properly. A stable cockpit gives you more confidence under braking, and a better pedal set makes licence tests, trail braking, and longer races far more consistent. The physics aren’t as demanding as iRacing or rFactor 2, but they’re engaging enough for a huge range of players.

Gran Turismo 7 also has one of the strongest car cultures in racing games. The campaign structure, car collecting, tuning, photo mode, and regular updates make it easy to keep coming back. It won’t satisfy every hardcore PC sim racer, and some players dislike the in-game economy, but as a console racing package it’s excellent.

Best for: PlayStation drivers, beginners, car collectors, casual racers, and anyone who wants one of the best sim racing games for a clean console rig.

Best hardware match: sim racing steering wheel, PlayStation-compatible pedals, fixed cockpit, PS VR2, or single-screen living room setup.

Automobilista 2 is one of the best sim racing games for drivers who want variety. It covers a wide spread of cars, tracks, eras, weather conditions, and racing styles, from vintage open-wheel cars to modern endurance content.

The game’s biggest strength is how alive the conditions can feel. Dynamic weather, day-night transitions, and evolving track surfaces can change how a race plays out. That gives Automobilista 2 a lot of replay value, especially if you enjoy testing different car and track combinations.

In our testing, Automobilista 2 works especially well for drivers who want immersion without committing to a strict online league structure. It’s also a strong VR option, and the sense of speed can be excellent with the right display setup. For customers using an ultrawide screen or VR headset, it can feel more immediate and energetic than many older sims.

The handling has improved over time, but some cars still feel more convincing than others. That’s the trade-off with a game that covers so many categories. Still, for drivers who want a broad motorsport library in one place, Automobilista 2 earns its spot among the best sim racing games.

Best for: VR users, variety seekers, historic motorsport fans, and players who like changing track conditions.

Best hardware match: sim racing monitor, VR headset, direct drive wheelbase, load cell pedals, and a rigid cockpit.

iRacing is one of the best sim racing games for competitive online racing. It’s built around ranked events, licence progression, safety rating, iRating, scheduled races, and structured series. If you want clean racing against real people, iRacing is hard to ignore.

The biggest difference with iRacing is discipline. You can’t treat it like a casual public lobby and expect good results. Clean driving affects progression, race splits, and the type of competition you’ll face. That structure is exactly why many drivers love it.

In our testing, iRacing makes the most sense once your hardware is stable and consistent. A cockpit that doesn’t flex under braking is important. Load cell pedals are a major advantage because they make braking more repeatable. A direct drive wheelbase also gives clearer feedback when you’re pushing the car at the limit.

The downside is cost. Between membership, cars, and tracks, iRacing can become expensive compared with other titles. It also has a steeper learning curve. But if your goal is ranked online racing, league racing, or improving through regular competition, iRacing is one of the best sim racing games available.

Best for: Online racers, league drivers, clean racing, NASCAR, sports cars, open wheel, and drivers who want progression.

Best hardware match: sim racing bundle, aluminium profile cockpit, direct drive wheelbase, load cell pedals, and triple-screen setup.

rFactor 2 has a reputation for deep physics, detailed tyre behaviour, and excellent force feedback. It’s one of the best sim racing games for drivers who care more about driving feel than presentation polish.

The game can feel demanding at first. Menus, setup options, content management, and performance can be less friendly than newer or more polished titles. But once you’re on track with the right car and settings, rFactor 2 can deliver a highly detailed connection between the tyres, track surface, and wheel.

In our testing, rFactor 2 rewards patience. It’s the kind of sim where small setup changes, tyre temperature, braking technique, and track evolution can change the feel of a session. That makes it a great choice for experienced PC racers who want to understand what the car is doing underneath them.

It’s not the best first step for every new driver. Gran Turismo 7, RaceRoom, or Automobilista 2 may feel easier to approach. But for drivers who want one of the best sim racing games for physics depth and wheel feedback, rFactor 2 deserves attention.

Best for: Experienced PC sim racers, physics-focused drivers, setup tweakers, and force feedback enthusiasts.

Best hardware match: High-torque wheelbase, load cell or hydraulic pedals, rigid cockpit, and a PC display setup with strong field-of-view control.

RaceRoom Racing Experience is one of the best sim racing games for drivers who want a low-cost PC entry point with official racing content. The base game is free-to-play, and you can add premium cars and tracks as needed.

The standout feature is sound. RaceRoom’s engine audio, transmission noise, downshifts, kerbs, and cockpit ambience give it a raw race-car feel. That makes a big difference when you’re driving in a cockpit with speakers or headphones.

RaceRoom is especially strong for touring cars and official series content. It doesn’t have the same visual impact as Gran Turismo 7, and it lacks some of the dynamic weather depth found in other sims, but it still feels convincing on a wheel.

In our testing, RaceRoom is a smart recommendation for PC drivers who want to start without committing to a large upfront spend. You can test the platform, buy the content you care about, and build from there. It’s also easier to approach than iRacing if you’re not ready for a subscription-heavy competitive platform.

Best for: Budget PC racers, touring car fans, DTM fans, WTCR fans, and drivers who want one of the best sim racing games with strong audio feedback.

Best hardware match: Entry-level cockpit, direct drive wheelbase, load cell pedals, and headphones or speakers with clear engine detail.

The best sim racing games depend on the setup you own and the type of racing you enjoy.

If you’re on PlayStation, Gran Turismo 7 is the strongest all-round choice. It’s polished, accessible, and works well for drivers building a console rig around a PlayStation-compatible wheel and pedals.

If you’re on PC and want endless freedom, Assetto Corsa is still the standout. It takes more setup work, but the modding scene gives it huge long-term value.

If you want ranked online racing, choose iRacing. It costs more, but the structure, safety systems, and scheduled races make it the most competitive option for drivers who want clean online racing.

If endurance racing is your focus, Le Mans Ultimate is the most relevant pick. It’s built around WEC and Le Mans, so it gives you a more focused experience than broad racing sandboxes.

If you want VR, weather, and variety, Automobilista 2 is a strong choice. If you want physics depth and force feedback detail, rFactor 2 is still worth the learning curve. If you want a free-to-start PC sim with excellent audio, RaceRoom is a smart entry point.

For drivers building a full setup, the best results usually come from matching the game to the hardware. A stable cockpit improves braking consistency. Better pedals improve lap time control. A direct drive wheelbase improves detail through the wheel. A better screen setup improves field of view and corner placement. The game matters, but the gear you use will change how much of that game you can actually feel.

If you’re choosing between the best sim racing games, think about your hardware path at the same time. A game like Gran Turismo 7 works well with a simple console cockpit. Assetto Corsa, iRacing, Automobilista 2, rFactor 2, RaceRoom, and Le Mans Ultimate can reward a more advanced PC setup.

A rigid cockpit should be the first priority if you’re using stronger wheelbases or load cell pedals. Flex in the frame can make braking less consistent and force feedback less useful. That’s why a proper racing simulator cockpit is more than a comfort upgrade.

Pedals are just as important. Many drivers focus on the wheel first, but braking consistency usually has a bigger effect on lap times. A good set of sim racing pedals gives you more control under pressure, especially in iRacing, Le Mans Ultimate, and rFactor 2.

Display choice also changes the experience. A single screen is simple and clean. An ultrawide gives more side vision. Triple screens give the most natural cockpit view for many PC racers. VR can be highly immersive, especially in Automobilista 2 and Gran Turismo 7 with PS VR2.

If you’re upgrading step by step, start with a stable cockpit and pedals, then move into a direct drive wheelbase, better display setup, and extra racing simulator accessories such as a shifter, handbrake, button box, or motion platform.

The best sim racing games cover very different types of drivers. Assetto Corsa is the flexible PC sandbox. Le Mans Ultimate is the endurance specialist. Gran Turismo 7 is the best console entry point. Automobilista 2 is the variety and VR pick. iRacing is the online competition benchmark. rFactor 2 is the physics-focused option. RaceRoom is the budget-friendly PC choice with excellent audio.

If you’re new, start with the game that matches your platform and setup. If you’re already using a proper rig, choose the title that rewards the way you drive. The best sim racing games don’t all do the same job, and that’s why choosing the right one can make your simulator feel more natural, more immersive, and more rewarding every time you race.