Racing games were one of the earliest formats to appear, so it makes sense that they’re also one of the most advanced today.
The equations involved in calculating how cars behave in Forza Horizon 5 are unimaginably complex. Updating the stats in iRacing takes a whole development team. Meanwhile, the attention to detail in the form books of Starters Orders 7 means that even the most eagle-eyed trainers miss a vital stat sometimes.
Here’s a rundown of some of the very best racing-themed PC games, whether involving horses, cars, motorbikes, and more.
iRacing
iRacing has something of a reputation as The Grand Poobah of racing sims, and it certainly lives up to its title. This racing game has managed to recreate some incredible cars and tracks with unmatched attention to detail. Even the most dedicated racing fan will struggle to find a flaw in the minutiae of this game.
If you’re the kind of racer that wants to hop in and drive, this game probably isn’t for you as it’s quite involved. The racing rules are something to be studied, and the qualities of cars and tracks need to be properly researched before launching into race mode.
It’s worth mentioning that the price of iRacing is on the higher end of simulation games, costing around $50 per year. However, in this case, you really do get what you pay for.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza is one of the most played franchises in the entire gaming industry, not just the racing genre. The latest edition leaves the British Isles behind and takes some pretty impressive supercars to the streets of Mexico.
The map for Forza 5 is huge at around 50% larger than the last instalment. You’ll be able to drive through such detailed landscapes that it’s easy to drift away into believing you’re really there. Explore windswept orange deserts, traverse bridges across gaping chasms, and speed through the backstreets of colorful Mexican towns.
There is a plethora of different race modes to choose from including seasonal championships, which are super satisfying for the expert racers. Not only this but there’s a greater range of cars available than ever before. You can race around in a dune buggy, trundle along in a pick-up and speed around in hypercars.
Starters Orders 7
It’s not all about cars in the world of racing, there are some brilliant horse racing titles too. Starters Orders 7 has been described as the Football Manager of the horse racing world. This game is all about statistics so analytical gamers will enjoy exploring the minutiae of this game.
You’ll need to spend plenty of time trawling through horse racing results to get a good idea of how your horse likes to run. They even include the form of real-life horses so that you can compare how yours stack up against the legends of the track.
You can play as either a punter, a trainer, or an owner/trainer combination. These different modes all test different skills. As a punter, you’ll need to spot potential winners (and make money betting on them), while as a trainer, it’s up to you to enter horses into the right races and keep them in top form.
SBK22
SBK22 is one of the most hotly anticipated games of the decade. It’s been a whole ten years since the first installment was released and this is a massive step-up. Along with its beautifully-crafted visuals, it also features a huge championship taking place over 12 stages.
Curate your team of staff, choose the parameters of your bike down to the suspension in the joints and then hit the track. This game is ruthlessly lifelike and once you’ve got to grips with things, you’ll love its attention to detail.
I'm a published author and proud US Army veteran who happens to be a gamer, so I decided to combine the two and love every minute of it! Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and I'll be sure to get back to you.
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