Which PC racing games are the most enjoyable? Whether you prefer navigating through muddy tracks in Dirt Rally 2.0 or exploring the beautiful landscapes of Forza Horizon 5 in Mexico, these games are the top choices. It is suggested that using a controller or a wheel would enhance the experience, rather than a mouse and keyboard.
Unfortunately, Gran Turismo 7 is not currently available on PC, but there are still many exceptional racing games to choose from that cater to different preferences.
1. Forza Horizon 5
Playground Games' latest racing game, which is set in Mexico, has an open-world arcade style and is called Forza Horizon 5. It is larger than the previous game, Horizon 4, which was based in the British Isles, by 50%. The game's environment includes open desert roads, quaint Mexican towns, and breathtaking canyons. Additionally, the game features new seasonal effects, such as storms that can create sudden ferocious winds.
Although there have not been significant changes apart from the weather, it is still a great game as Playground Games has perfected the racing game format. You can choose from various types of races, co-op campaigns, stunt jumps, seasonal championships, and endurance tests, and drive different speedy and stylish vehicles, including modified dune buggies, pick-up trucks, and one-off hypercars.
With weekly changes in the in-game seasons, new events appear alongside them, offering more content to enjoy. Completing these events will earn you points that can be redeemed for exclusive cars.
2. Dirt Rally 2.0
Dirt Rally 2.0 is a hardcore racing game that might not be suitable for players who are unfamiliar with rally racing. If you prefer a more relaxed driving experience where you drive from point A to B faster than usual, Dirt 5 might be a better option. In Rally 2.0, your co-driver will provide instructions, numbers, and directions quickly and frequently. If you can't handle the various terrains and hairpin turns, you might crash into a tree before you know it.
As mentioned in our Dirt Rally 2.0 PC review, the game is designed to be hardcore and unforgiving, unlike casual racing games. Failure is common, and even minor mistakes can result in harsh consequences. The intense crashes overwhelm the senses, and if you fall behind, the surface degradation feature makes even driving straight a challenge. However, if you're familiar with rally racing, there are few better games that capture the essence of this demanding discipline than Dirt Rally 2.0.
Players should expect to crash frequently since there is no tutorial, and they will only learn from their repeated trips to the hospital. Additionally, the procedural track-generating system, Your Stage, is not included in this version. Instead, each race is meticulously hand-crafted, requiring devoted fans to memorize every twist and turn. That's the only way to master Dirt Rally 2.0, and if you don't embrace its singular vision, you will most likely end up finishing last.
3. Shift 2
Shift 2 strikes a balance between realism and accessibility that is difficult to find in other racing games. It's not just the handling of the cars that is menacing yet capable, but also the way the game considers what players need to perform at a high level. Instead of a fixed view from the hood or requiring TrackIR for head movement, Shift 2 has a dynamic view that adjusts subtly based on the situation. When approaching a gentle right-hand turn, for example, the view shifts slightly as the driver avatar looks toward the apex, while for a sharper corner, the view swings more for a clearer sense of direction.
The attention to detail also extends to the depth-of-field effect, which is often overused in other games but is used effectively in Shift 2 to draw attention to where it's needed. Objects in the distance become fuzzier when a car is closing in on you, while mirrors become clearer for a sharper view of what's behind. In traffic, the cockpit becomes less distinct, but other cars come into focus. All of these effects contribute to a natural driving experience that feels like driving a real car. Overall, Shift 2 is a game that focuses on the fun and satisfaction of performance driving, and it does so with great success.
4. Wreckfest
The objective in Wreckfest is to usually win the race, but winning doesn't always mean coming in first. To lessen the health of the other racers and improve your chances of winning, you can also cause damage to their vehicles. If you're confident in your driving, another option is to try to outpace every competitor. The game also offers a variety of vehicles to pick from and elimination modes in which the last vehicle standing wins. The damage model is impressively accurate, and you can pit vehicles as varied as school buses and golf buggies against each other. With its humorous and entertaining gameplay, Wreckfest is a great game to play with friends online.
5. Project Cars 2
Real cars don't usually spin out of control the moment you turn the steering wheel or press the gas pedal. They are designed to handle corners with ease. Project Cars 2 takes this into account and makes performance cars even better at turning. When you drive a Ferrari or Lamborghini in the game, you'll have more fun than worry about not having a rewind button in real life.
Slightly Mad Studios is aware that many driving simulators make driving overly difficult, and they've made an effort to fix this problem in Project Cars 2. The cars in the game handle well, even when you accelerate hard. Even if you use a steering wheel rather than a controller, mistakes are still possible, although they don't always result in a collision with a trackside barrier. The follow-up offers a larger variety of vehicles and a more predetermined career mode while maintaining player autonomy. The AI opponents are also better, and there's a fantastic weather system that takes into account various factors to produce stunning rain and wet weather effects. Overall, Project Cars 2 feels more like real driving than most other racing games.
6. Art of Rally
Although an isometric racing game doesn't sound like a promising concept, Art of Rally is an exception and is possibly the most delightful racing game available. It blends a stylized, minimalistic art style with rally cars spanning from the 1960s to the infamous Group B in the '80s. You can explore open world environments to hunt for collectibles or progress through traditional rally stages, all set against stunning and vibrant backgrounds. The soundtrack is fitting and comprises mellow, lo-fi tunes that accompany you on your journey through countries such as Finland, Germany, and Kenya. Art of Rally may not be a typical racing game, but it is the most distinctive one on this list.
7. TrackMania 2: Canyon
Experienced gamers know that well-designed tracks are crucial for a top-notch racing game, and this is where TrackMania 2: Canyon excels. While other racing games may be satisfied with hairpin bends or high-speed straights, TrackMania 2: Canyon takes a unique approach with Hot Wheels-inspired tracks that feature sweeping barrel-rolls, impossible jumps, and platforms that defy the laws of physics. What really sets this game apart is the online community where players can race on the imaginative, complex tracks created by others.
The multiplayer competition is fast-paced and intense, with missed jumps and unexpected turns leading to comical moments. The game's racing mechanics are easy to pick up, making it a great multiplayer game to play for hours without realizing. Despite the easy controls, winning first place on the absurd tracks is a challenging feat.
8. F1 22
F1 22 is the most recent release in the official Formula One game franchise, developed by racing game veterans Codemasters and published by EA. The dropping of '20' from the game title is due to the change in publisher. The inclusion of supercars and F1 Life cosmetics has received mixed feedback from fans, but the wheel-to-wheel racing experience has been improved thanks to the new real-life car designs. The game now mimics real-life tyre temperatures, making it more challenging to get the perfect start off the line if your tyres aren't warmed up during the formation lap.
The game offers the standard single-player career mode, as well as time trials and online multiplayer. The two-player co-op career mode, which debuted in F1 2021, has also returned. Additional content is being added on a regular basis, such as one-off liveries for McLaren and Alpine, the entire F2 season, new MyTeam icons like Mika Hakkinen, and new in-game tracks like the Shanghai International Circuit. If you're looking for a chance to experience driving the fastest motorsport in the world, F1 22 is the game for you.
9. Driver: San Francisco
Driver: San Francisco is a game that embodies coolness and would be the perfect representation of Steve McQueen if he was a video game character. The game has an overall 70s style and showcases American muscle cars, intense driving, and the hilly and winding roads of San Francisco. It also boasts a fantastic soundtrack and diverse event types.
Being able to instantaneously swap between any car on the road, as opposed to being bound to one, is one of the game's most distinctive characteristics. This implies that the vehicle you start a race in might not be the one you finish it in, and that you might teleport across traffic to confuse and annoy your rivals during chases.
10. GRID Legends
The GRID series has undergone many changes, but the latest game's single player mode draws inspiration from Netflix's Drive to Survive series, a dramatic documentary focused on Formula One. This mode includes real-life interviews with fictional characters and racing scenarios in which you compete against several opponents to establish yourself in motorsport.
Additionally, there are numerous multiplayer game modes available, and the drop-in/drop-out function lets you control AI racers in real-time competition at any time. There is still enough of exciting racing to be had even though it is not a racing simulator and leans more toward an arcade approach.
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