For a number of years now, sim-racing has been gaining ground as a discipline in its own right, integrating with the big names in motorsport. Nowadays, many drivers and teams use sim-racing set-ups for training purposes. This practice is common in other sporting disciplines, so I don’t see why sim-racing should be an exception.

Race simulation often means configuring state-of-the-art peripherals. Players such as Fanatec or Simucube focus on the realism and immersion of their sim-racing peripherals, and that’s what makes the difference with racing drivers and pro sim-racers.

But equipment and peripherals are only part of the sim-racing equation, and the simu you’re on is just as important. Racing drivers don’t train on Need For Speed before they race, they train on a simulator worthy of the name, which perfectly reproduces the behavior of racing cars.

Of course, not all riders have the same needs. Some just want to have fun and pass the time, while others are out to conquer podiums and lap times. Then there are the drivers who are just looking to improve and train before the real race.

In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to the various racing simulations available on the market. I’ll talk you through a few titles by simu type and tell you who they’re best suited for.

The best games at a glance

The different types of racing simulation

Before getting down to business, it’s imperative to take stock of some of the elements that characterize sim-racing, namely the types of simulation. At present, there are 3 main categories of racing simulation. You have arcade-style racing games, titles halfway between arcade and simulation ( semi-arcades) and pure simulations.

These three main categories exist for the simple reason that not all sim-racers and runners are the same, and therefore have specific needs. As I said earlier, some racers just want to have fun, decompressing into sim-racing, while others want to smash the times as realistically as possible.

As a result, we have a number of different categories of racing simulator, with the aim of satisfying every driver’s needs. I’ll tell you more about each category below, with a few examples.

Arcade-style titles

In this category, we have titles that are accessible to the general public, whether on consoles or PC. The aim of these titles is to entertain you, to give you a dose of fun while you play, without being super-realistic. Well, you do have a degree of realism, but it’s generally quite low, just enough to feel the speed, bumps and so on.

Among these titles are licenses such as Need For Speed, Forza Horizon, Grid, Burnoutetc. Typically on these titles, you have racing cars, Super Cars, Hyper Cars that can be upgraded with kits, tuning, etc. to develop more horsepower, better grip and so on. Titles like Forza Horizon add a tuning layer for vehicles to adapt them to circuits/tracks.

As I said earlier, these titles are aimed at the average gamer who just wants to have fun in a car, racing in open-world mode or on a circuit. In terms of realism, it’s not very advanced: for most of these games, damage management is non-existent, and the settings are mainly there to improve certain car stats.

These titles are designed to be played with a controller, but having a sim-racing setup still brings its own dose of realism, especially on consoles. If you’re a fan of sim-racing, this game/title category shouldn’t interest you at all. At worst, you can spend some time there just to kill time, decompress or have fun together. Honestly, we all got our start on titles like NFS, and for many it was the key to entry into the simulation categories that follow.

Semi-arcade titles

Now we’re getting to the heart of the matter with the semi-arcade titles. To fully understand this type of simulation, it’s important to remember that games in this category are halfway between arcade games and simulation games. The aim here is to offer far greater driver immersion (sim-racer) thanks to race cars, tuning, better physics of tracks, circuits and cars, damage management, tire management and sometimes fuel management, without making the game too difficult for novices to get to grips with.

On these titles, cars can be controlled using a joystick, but it is highly recommended to have a sim-racing setup with base + steering wheel and pedals to fully enjoy the games and their realism. Here we find licenses such as F1, Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport or Project Cars. Not all these games are true simulations, but they come very close, especially if you have a sim-racing setup with high-performance peripherals.

As with many video games, semi-arcade titles can be found on a variety of platforms. Some are exclusive to Sony consoles, others to Microsoft, and we also have cross-platform titles.

Formula One saga (from any year)

As its name suggests, this title is devoted exclusively to single-seaters, the ultimate discipline in motor racing. Developed by EA , the title is available on virtually all platforms: Xbox, Playstation and PC.

This game is released every year with a new version of the F1 season. Basically, Formula One is not a simulation game, but a semi-arcade game, as the driving here is certainly realistic, but simple enough for everyone to play without too many problems. This game supports sim-racing setups, as well as joysticks.

There’s also a high degree of realism, with qualifying sessions, trials, GPs and all the rest of F1. As far as I’m concerned, Formula One is an excellent sim-racing title for fans of the sport.

The Forza Motorsport saga

Forza Motorsport is another sim-arcade title straight out of the Microsoft studios. This time, the title is only compatible with Xbox and PC.

So, Forza Motorsport is the semi-arcade variant of Forza Horizon. Technically speaking, the two titles are based on the same foundation (graphics engine, etc.), but in Motorsport we have damage management, highly advanced graphics, hundreds of cars, mythical circuits, and so on.

Even if Forza Motorsport isn’t a pure simulation title, it’s still one of the best for any sim-racer in the world. It’s easy to get to grips with, and offers compatibility with sim-racing controllers and setups. By the way, Fanatec has officially licensed Forza Motorsport steering wheels.. As far as I’m concerned, it remains an excellent title for amateur or semi-pro sim-racing.

The Gran Turismo saga

Gran Turismo more or less launched sim-racing on the first Playstation of the name, and continues to make us dream more than 25 years after its release on Sony’s console. As you can probably guess, this title is exclusive to Playstation, as the Japanese games console manufacturer doesn’t like to mix with others, even if this has begun to change for some time now on PC.

Like Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo is not a racing simulation at all, but a semi-arcade title. The aim here is to appeal to everyone by offering a game that is accessible and, above all, controllable by a wide range of racers, whether using a sim-racing setup or a controller.

Nevertheless, Sony’s title still features damage management, beautiful graphics, career management and more. It’s pretty comprehensive, as are the titles in this sim-racing segment, and they all look pretty much the same if you ask me.

As with Forza, Fanatec has released a bundle specially designed for Gran Turismo fans, in partnership with Sony: the GT DD Pro. You get a Gran Turismo-specific steering wheel, a 5 or 8 nm CSL DD base and a pedal unit, all for €700/850. Honestly, the wheel is very basic and plastic, far from Fanatec ‘s standards in this price bracket. However, the base is the best in the segment, and we can forgive it for that.

The Project Cars saga

This title, or rather this saga, comes very close to pure simulation. To date, only 3 titles have been released on consoles and PC, and a fourth is said to be in development. As far as I’m concerned, Project Cars is the game that comes closest to simulation, with damage, fuel and tire management, pit stops that have to be taken into consideration, the day and night cycle, weather that changes in the middle of a race, brake temperatures that have to be closely monitored to avoid Brake Fade, etc. It’s still a complete title for sim-racing pros, without going into pure simulation.

What’s more, Project Cars allows complete vehicle tuning, from tire pressure to suspension components and engine mapping. It’s a racing car enthusiast’s paradise, and a title I highly recommend to sim-racers.

Simulation titles

Now it’s time for the real sim-racing warriors, the pure and simple simulation titles. For the other categories, we saw that there were multiplatform titles. Here, it’s practically all PC. Why? Well, for the simple reason that most high-end sim-racing peripherals capable of giving you ultra-realistic sensations only work on PC. Here’s why.

iRacing

iRacing is considered by many racers to be the sim-racing game, and many real racing drivers agree. iRacing is not like any other title where you just buy it and that’s it. The concept of this game is different: you pay a subscription fee and you have content obtainable through microtransactions.

Quite frankly, it’s an expensive proposition, as you’ll have to pay the full price to get the most out of this title. But once you’ve got past the big bill, iRacing is a true reference in sim-racing, and for practically everyone.

On this title, you’ve got a whole raft of very advanced settings – sometimes too advanced – you’ve got loads of cars in all categories, official licenses for the 24H du Mans, IndyCar and Nascar, and the list goes on. It really is a complete sim-racing title for pro racers, and above all one of the most popular in the world. However, you need to have a certain level of riding skill to enjoy it, otherwise you’ll find yourself at the back of the pack for quite a while.

Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa is considered by many to be THE simulation TITLE for consoles and PC. This game is around 10 years old (released in 2014), and has aged rather badly on consoles, but not at all on PC. As with Skyrim and The Witcher 3, Assetto Corsa’s strength lies in its incredible community.

In terms of graphics, the PC version still holds its own thanks to mods, but the same cannot be said of the console version. As far as driving sensations are concerned, it’s very realistic, giving you the impression of being in a real racing car, especially if your sim-racing setup is of good quality.

As for settings, well, there are plenty to choose from. You can adjust virtually everything to your preferences, and on all cars. It’s on a par withiRacing in terms of vehicle customization, and in every respect.

Assetto Corsa touches on everything in terms of motor racing, with a wide range of cars and circuits, each as mythical as the next. What’s more, given that the game will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary, it’s available at very low prices.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

So Assetto Corsa Competizione is the same recipe as the base game, Assetto Corsa, but for GT3 and GT4 competitions. If you’re a fan of motor sports and the setup that goes with it, I highly recommend Assetto Corsa Competizione.

On this title, everything is officially licensed: drivers, teams, circuits, cars, sponsors, absolutely everything. And it’s the same for the feel and sensations: everything is ultra-realistic, down to the smallest detail. Aspiring drivers will certainly find something to their liking with Assetto Corsa Competizione. The only drawback is the platform on which it is available. At present, this game is only available on PC, and I think that’s a good thing, because this kind of title is only 100% usable on PCs with very premium sim-racing peripherals. However, a console version is currently in development and should be released one day.

Which one to choose?

Choosing a sim-racing title is the same as choosing your setup and peripherals: you have to choose what suits you best. It’s true that I spend a lot of time on pure simulations like Assetto Corsa and iRacing, but I also like to relax on a Forza from time to time. Your choice shouldn’t be influenced by my preferences, because in the end, you’re the one who’ll be driving the racing cars on the legendary circuits.

What I can advise you is to choose a title according to your setup. If you have a configuration of the quiet kind, such as a Logitech G29 or G923your best bet would be to choose a semi-arcade title if you’re a fan of sim-racing, for the simple reason that these peripherals won’t provide much in the way of sensations.

On the other hand, if you have a setup with a Load Cell pedalboard and Direct Drive base, and you’re a fan of sim-racing, your best bet is to go for a pure simulation title. But in any case, you need to choose a title you like, one where you’ll have the most fun.