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Racing games cover a huge range. You can slide a rally car around a mountain pass with one thumb, or spend months learning tire temperatures, braking points and race craft in a sim that feels like a second job. Both are legitimate ways to get your fix, and the best choice depends on what you want out of it.
This guide explains the sim versus arcade split, then walks through the long-running franchises fans keep coming back to: Gran Turismo, Forza, the F1 series, iRacing, Assetto Corsa, MotoGP, MX vs. ATV and NASCAR. We also cover which platform suits which game and what gear is worth buying. Release schedules and licenses change, so check each game's store page for what is current.
Sim vs. arcade: what's the real difference?
Think of it as a dial rather than a switch. At the arcade end, cars grip forgivingly, brakes are strong, and the game wants you to feel fast. Collisions cost you little, and a controller is all you need. At the sim end, the physics model tries to copy how a real car behaves. Weight transfers under braking, tires lose grip when they overheat, and a mistake at the limit can end your race.
Most popular games sit in the middle. Developers call these "sim-cade" or "simulation-lite" titles, and they usually let you turn assists on or off. Traction control, stability control, braking lines and automatic gears can all be adjusted, so the same game can suit a beginner and a veteran.
A rough guide to where games sit:
- Arcade-leaning: Mario Kart-style kart racers, Need for Speed and the Forza Horizon open-world games.
- Middle ground: the Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport series, plus the official F1 and MotoGP games with assists turned up.
- Sim-leaning: iRacing, Assetto Corsa and its Competizione spin-off, and the same official games with assists turned off.
The console heavyweights: Gran Turismo and Forza
Gran Turismo arrived on the original PlayStation in 1997 from Polyphony Digital and creator Kazunori Yamauchi. It built its reputation on a huge car list, a career that works like collecting, and a love of car culture. It has always been a PlayStation franchise, and it is a good fit if you like cars as much as racing. You learn about road cars, tuning and licence tests as you go.
Forza Motorsport debuted on Xbox in 2005 as Microsoft's answer to Gran Turismo. It leans on a deep car list, tuning and livery painting, and a strong community that shares designs. The Forza Horizon spin-offs, which started in 2012 and come from Playground Games, take a different approach. They drop you into a big open world with a festival theme, and the driving is more forgiving. For many players, Horizon is the easiest way into racing games.
If you want relaxed, car-focused racing with a controller, either franchise is a safe place to start. Both reward patience with their tuning and upgrade systems.
Official series: F1, MotoGP and the two-wheeled and dirt games
The F1 games have been developed by Codemasters, now part of EA, and have long been the official Formula 1 title. Each edition lets you take a driver through a season or build a career. You can adjust assists, so a newcomer can enjoy the cars while a veteran turns everything off for a real challenge. Because the game updates with each season, you get the current drivers and cars, though older editions are also worth a look if you want to play a past era.
MotoGP comes from Italian studio Milestone, which has made the official game for years. Bikes are harder to control than cars. You manage lean angle, braking and the front tire, and a small mistake can send you flying. Expect a learning curve, but one that pays off when you finally carve through a corner cleanly. Milestone also makes the Monster Energy Supercross and MXGP games for fans of motocross.
MX vs. ATV is the old-school favorite for off-road fans. The series started in 2005 with MX vs. ATV Unleashed and was developed by Rainbow Studios. It mixes dirt bikes and quads in a loose, forgiving style, with big jumps and freestyle fun. Newer motocross games lean toward realism, so decide whether you want arcade fun or a technical challenge.
The PC sims: iRacing, Assetto Corsa and NASCAR
PC is where the serious simulation lives. iRacing launched in 2008 and focuses on organized online racing. You race real people in licensed series with a safety and skill rating system, and the tracks are laser-scanned for accuracy. It runs on a subscription, and you buy extra cars and tracks as you go, so the full cost adds up. If you want structured racing with clean opponents, it is a standard that sim racers measure everything else against. It is also the home of a lot of NASCAR-style oval racing.
Assetto Corsa, from Italian developer Kunos Simulazioni, came out in 2014. It is known for good driving feel and for its modding community, which has produced huge numbers of extra cars and tracks for the PC version. The follow-up, Assetto Corsa Competizione, focuses on GT World Challenge racing and has a more specific, serious aim. Both are good if you want a high-quality sim without a subscription.
NASCAR has a long history in video games. Papyrus released the PC sim NASCAR Racing in the 1990s, and the team behind it later helped found iRacing. EA Sports ran its own NASCAR series for years, and the NASCAR Heat games filled the console space afterward. Official licensing moves from one publisher to another over time, so check which games currently carry it. Oval racing is a skill of its own. Drafting, tire wear and holding your nerve in a pack are the heart of it.
Which platform should you play on?
PlayStation is the home of Gran Turismo, and the F1 and MotoGP games run well on it. Xbox is the place for Forza, and it also supports the main official series. Both consoles are simple to set up, and a controller is all you need for most games, though a wheel makes a big difference.
PC gives you the widest choice. It is the only place for iRacing and the best place for Assetto Corsa and its mods, and it supports the widest range of wheels, pedals and shifters. It takes more effort to set up and a capable computer, but it is the best choice for sim fans.
Nintendo Switch is the platform for Mario Kart, which is one of the best party racing games ever made. Mobile has plenty of arcade racers too, but the serious sims are not really there. Before you buy a wheel, check which consoles it supports. Some are made for PlayStation and PC, others for Xbox and PC, and wheels are often not cross-compatible.
Wheels and gear worth considering
You can enjoy every game above with a controller, but a wheel and pedals change how you feel the car. You get far more precise control of steering and braking, and force feedback tells you when the tires are losing grip. Start with a modest set and upgrade only if you find you are hooked.
What to look for: force feedback, a solid clamp or mounting system, and pedals that feel firm. A wheel stand or a desk clamp helps if you do not have a dedicated rig.
A long-standing entry-level choice with force feedback that works with consoles or PC, depending on the version.
Check priceA well-known brand with options from beginner to enthusiast, in console-specific and PC-compatible versions.
Check priceA step-up option for sim racers who want stronger force feedback and a modular setup.
Check priceA foldable stand keeps the wheel and pedals steady without a desk clamp.
Check pricePedals that measure pressure rather than travel make braking more consistent.
Check priceA good controller with adjustable triggers is all you need for casual racing.
Check priceFAQ
Should I start with a sim or an arcade racer?
If you are new, start with an arcade or sim-cade game like Forza Horizon, Gran Turismo or an official F1 game with assists on. You can turn the assists down as you improve, then move to a harder sim when you are ready.
Do I need a racing wheel to enjoy these games?
No. Most games play well on a controller. A wheel adds realism and precision, and it matters most in the serious sims, but it is a nice extra rather than a requirement.
Which game is best for NASCAR fans?
iRacing is the long-standing choice for realistic oval racing. NASCAR licensing changes between publishers over time, so check which console and PC games currently carry it.
Is PC better than console for racing games?
For serious sims, yes. PC supports iRacing, mods for Assetto Corsa and the widest choice of hardware. For simple setup and games like Gran Turismo or Forza, a console is easier.
Pick the game that matches how you like to race, not the one that sounds most realistic. Start with assists on, add a wheel when you are hooked, and enjoy getting faster.