The 10 best PC sim racing games in 2025

What are the best PC racing sim racing platforms available today? It’s a tough question, but we will attempt to answer it as objectively as we can below.

Naturally, all list-type articles carry an element of personal preference to them, so if your favourite sim didn’t place as highly as you’d have liked, please don’t take it personally, it’s just a bit of fun!

Nevertheless, while trying to rank sims in some kind of order, I was struck by the fact that most of the titles on this list are over 10 years old, which is a sobering thought when considering the future of sim racing.

However, with full v1.0 releases of Project Motor Racing, Rennsport and Le Mans Ultimate on the horizon, there’s much to be excited about.

Honourable mentions

Assetto Corsa EVO will hopefully make this list one day, but for the moment, it’s too early to judge. Given Kunos’ past form, we’re sure it’ll be right up there once complete.

EA SPORTS WRC was also a consideration for the top 10, but its car physics – although fun, especially on gravel – are ultimately not as wieldy as other games.

Thanks to its diverse range of content, stunning graphics and VR performance, Project CARS 2 was also a consideration, but its car physics feel a little sub-par in comparison to the other sims. It was also delisted in 2022, so it is now effectively impossible to buy.

Kart Racing Pro was our pick of the three available kart sims, while Live For Speed continues to offer an impressive driving experience despite recalcitrant graphics and sounds. Rennsport, on the other hand, still struggles to capture our imagination ahead of its v1.0 release later this year and needs a fair bit of fettling before it can match the likes of iRacing, Assetto Corsa or rFactor 2.

10. TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3

RaceWard Studios’ TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 was released back in 2023 and was something of a departure for publisher Nacon.

Moving away from the arcadey handling of the previous two TT games developed by Kylotonn, RaceWard used its experience of developing motorcycle sim RiMS Racing to produce a hardcore representation of the Isle of Man TT.

The physics are weighty, with the Superbikes and Supersport classes feeling suitably physical to shift between the hedges and walls of the Snaefell Mountain Course’s 37.73 miles of public roads, however, it’s not all positive.

The game sadly lacks content, with its free-roam ‘Open Roads’ mode allowing players to explore the Isle of Man further, but minus traffic and AI opponents. This makes it a lonely experience, and it’s a similar story online, unfortunately.

It’s also very challenging to play, with newbies likely to be put off by the game’s vertical learning curve. For the purist, however, it’s the best way to ride the TT without shelling out for a full set of leathers.

Sadly, however, Traxion understands RaceWard (now a division of Nacon’s Milan studio) will not be creating a sequel, which is a great shame in our opinion.

9. BeamNG.drive

All-encompassing crash-em-up BeamNG.drive has been around for a while but it’s still something of an enigma in sim circles. Is it a drift game, a rock-crawling game or a rally game? The truth is, it’s a bit of everything, and a true representation of the phrase: ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’.

The underlying vehicle physics are fun to drive but lack the ultimate feel of most of the sims on this list, but the sheer variety of things to do and interesting scenarios to complete make it a pure joy to play.

The fact that everything is hinged on the most detailed damage model in gaming enhances the whole offering further, so even when you get things wrong seeing your vehicle crushed, smashed and destroyed in the ensuing carnage counts as a satisfying outcome.

Although it’s unlikely to ever reach v1.0 status when it’s this much fun in Early Access does the fanbase even care? 

8. RaceRoom Racing Experience

Alongside the Rallysimfans version of Richard Burns Rally, RaceRoom Racing Experience is the only genuine free-to-play sim on this list.

Although the free content is largely unlicensed and fairly limited in scope, RaceRoom does have a wide variety of top-tier content available, especially for touring car fans. Recently, developer KW Studios added classic DTM and BTCC cars and tracks from the ‘90s to give players a nostalgia-fest.

RaceRoom also continues to be the official sim of the modern-day DTM championship, with plans afoot to implement 2025 DTM content soon.

The game should also experience a new lease of life soon thanks to the addition of a ranked multiplayer system. Currently, RaceRoom suffers from a lack of online features, so fully-fledged online matchmaking could make a huge difference to player numbers.

RaceRoom features excellent audio design and its own adaptive AI opponent system, while it often ranks as one of the best VR-enabled sims. Although it lacks dynamic weather it has undergone a visual refresh in recent times and it looks set for a brighter future.

7. Assetto Corsa Competizione

Released out of Steam Early Access in 2018, Assetto Corsa Competizione really picked up a head of steam during COVID-19, when many lapsed sim racers and new converts to the genre suddenly found themselves time-rich.

But the game was more than good enough to justify its position as the GT3 simulator of choice, as it had incredibly immersive visuals and audio that left many real-world GT3 drivers impressed.

A so-so single-player offering was boosted by the game’s online attraction, however, as it became the platform of choice for SRO Esports, and its popularity with notable streamers like Jardier and James Baldwin further enhanced its appeal.

Today, ACC has seen its GT3 advantage eroded somewhat by the increasing presence of Le Mans Ultimate’s LMGT3 cars, and with Assetto Corsa EVO now the main focus for developer Kunos Simulazioni, it looks like ACC will gradually fall out of favour among the sim racing fraternity.

6. Automobilista 2

Reiza Studios’ took the bold step of using Slightly Mad Studios’ proprietary Madness engine to power Automobilista 2 and the risk has partially paid off for the Brazilian developer.

Although the game suffers from the same handling idiosyncrasies of SMS’ Project CARS series, Reiza has improved the game’s physics immeasurably since its 2020 release date, while its VR performance is almost unrivalled in the sim racing space.

Varied content covering dirt, oval and road disciplines underpin AMS 2, while its recent commercial tie-ins with IMSA and Low Fuel Motorsport indicate that the future is bright.

Although older Reiza fans miss the driving purity of the original Automobilista, there’s a lot to like about AMS 2, especially as it runs so well on mid-range gaming PCs.

5. iRacing

Admittedly, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but iRacing offers a ton of content for sim racers and a fairly bulletproof online matchmaking system to go with it.

The biggest iRacing-related stumbling block for most is how expensive it is in comparison to its peers, with a monthly subscription required alongside one-time purchases for track and car content.

There’s a decent range of free content, however, with plenty of races to sink your teeth into. iRacing also has perhaps the best wet weather model of any modern sim and is undoubtedly the number one choice for oval racing fans, thanks to its licensed NASCAR, IndyCar and World of Outlaws content.

Despite its ageing graphics and knife-edge road course physics model, iRacing is still enjoyed by thousands of regular racers today, with the development team planning to incorporate more physics and graphical improvements in the months and years to come.

And let’s not forget its offline, Adaptive AI-boosted racing or its excellent damage modelling.

4. Le Mans Ultimate

Still in Early Access, Le Mans Ultimate is Studio 397’s follow-up to rFactor 2, and, after a rocky start, it has rapidly become one of the best racing sims out there.

Although it emerged in early 2024 laden with bugs and scant content, S397, along with publisher Motorsport Games, has flipped the narrative to produce a sim that accurately represents the 2023 and 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship seasons.

The game’s physics are its strong point, but graphics and audio aren’t far behind, with WEC’s complicated Hypercar hybrid systems accurately modelled alongside a roster of laser-scanned tracks.

Controversially, MSG opted to release a tranche of DLC and a subscription system with the game still in Early Access, but the community has largely got on board given the title’s undoubted potential.

However, LMU still suffers from a lack of single-player content and important features like driver swaps, with optimisation and bug-fixing still high on the priority list. 

When (or if) the game is finished, it’ll likely place much higher on this list. Again, much of LMU’s long-term success rests on the fate of MSG…

3. rFactor 2

Although Studio 397’s motorsport sim has had its thunder stolen somewhat by the emergence of Le Mans Ultimate, rFactor 2 still represents one of the best-feeling racing sims on the market.

Initially developed by Image Space Incorporated, rFactor 2 boasts excellent force feedback for steering wheel users, plus an array of motorsport disciplines, including fully licensed Formula E, BTCC, IndyCar and GT3 content.

Mods are also a huge factor in rF 2’s success, with integration with the Steam Workshop ensuring players can grab the content they want as efficiently as possible.

It may run a bit shonkily at times, but there’s still a beautiful driving experience underneath all that faff. And with up-to-date BTCC content promised up until 2026 Studio 397 hasn’t finished with rF 2 just yet. 

Well, a lot of that depends on whether parent company Motorsport Games survives long enough to make it happen or has the capacity to do so…

2. Richard Burns Rally

Warthog’s venerable 2004 sim may have imploded spectacularly soon after its inception, but thanks to a feverish modding scene Richard Burns Rally maintains relevance today.

It’s not just relevant; it’s still the go-to rally sim for those looking for a more realistic rallying experience, featuring hundreds of scratch-made stages, modern cars and countless utilities that help bring the game close to modern standards.

Its continuing popularity can be partially attributed to the work of the volunteers at Rallysimfans, who have put together an all-in-one package – with the help of RBR modding guru WorkerBee – that makes it easier than ever to enjoy the classic title. And it’s free!

Featuring VR compatibility, support for multiple controllers and countless online rallies and communities to participate in, RSF and RBR look set to satisfy the thirst of rally aficionados for years to come.

1. Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa is a sim that’s getting a little long in the tooth, but Kunos Simulazioni’s title still draws in the crowds today, easily surpassing the player numbers of its more modern brethren Assetto Corsa Competizione and Assetto Corsa EVO combined.

Although the base game is decent, what really sets AC apart from most of its peers is its burgeoning modding scene. AC has proved to be the perfect platform for multiple sub-genres of driving, including drift and free-roam communities, with countless mods for tracks and cars beefing up the game’s online racing offerings.

Compatibility with platforms like Low Fuel Motorsport helps boost player numbers too, with modders implementing photorealistic graphics, day-to-night cycles and dynamic weather into the game.

Sure, its force feedback doesn’t quite match up to the likes of rFactor 2 for precision, but when there’s so much to do, does it even matter?

Interestingly, without mods, the likes of Assetto Corsa and Richard Burns Rally wouldn’t place so highly on the above list (which opens up a whole new debate for another article), but it shows the power that an engaged community can have for a sim. 

Will future sims struggle in this regard? With both Assetto Corsa EVO and Rennsport hinting at a new approach to modding, only time will tell…

What would your top 10 PC racing sims list look like? Let us know in the comments below!