The racing sim genre is packed with top-quality games these days, ranging from iRacing to Gran Turismo. Newcomers to the genre may find the list of available games a little daunting. Nevertheless, there are several out there that are perfect for sim racing novices.
With new racing sim releases seemingly coming out on a weekly basis, gamers have a vast array of titles to choose from. From quirky indie titles to big, blockbuster AAA franchises, there is something for everyone in the sim racing gaming world. Levels of difficulty range from title to title, but some racing sims are perfect for newcomers. Here are the top racing picks to get novices to the genre up and running.
7 Forza Motorsport 7
Alongside Forza Horizon, Forza Motorsport is one of Xbox's big exclusives. The games are similar, as the titles suggest, but Motosport is geared towards closed-circuit races on tracks as opposed to Horizon’s more open-world approach.
For new players looking for out-and-out racing, Forza Motosport 7 is a great way to start. The graphics are phenomenal, and the racing is top-notch. When starting out, players can get a fancy, new car for free, which sets the gamer up nicely to start winning races early on.
6 Wreckfest
Wreckfest is a unique title on this list. While the others mainly concentrate on racing, this one turns its focus on players causing as much damage to their opponents as possible. Of course, racing is still a huge part of Bugbear Entertainment’s game, but smashing up other cars is way more fun.
Wreckfest does not need much of a tutorial, and players can get up and running with races and demolition derbies in no time. With Wreckfest available on all platforms, the game can be enjoyed by everyone. Players new to the genre might find this game an easy way in.
5 Gran Turismo 7
After years and years of waiting, Polyphony Digital finally released Gran Turismo 7 in early 2022. The game no doubt had its flaws and critics, but early patches fixed a lot of issues, and now Gran Turismo 7 is one of the best racing games to play, even for newcomers.
Gran Turismo has been around since the early days of PlayStation. In fact, the first edition was released in 1997. Over the years, it has grown into one of the biggest racing sims in the world of gaming. Whether a Gran Turismo pro or a racing sim newcomer, all gaming fanatics can enjoy the latest edition, with Gran Turismo 7 being incredibly easy to get into.
4 RaceRoom
RaceRoom is not the most popular entry on the list, but the game is renowned for realistic gameplay and excellent graphics. It is also free on PC, with new players able to race five different cars over three unique tracks.
RaceRoom is one of those games that can be as hard or as easy as the player wants it to be. There are loads of different options to choose from in the settings. Once the player masters the game, this sim racer from Sector3 Studios can be very satisfying to play.
3 F1 2022
First and foremost, F1 2022 is a gorgeous-looking game. It can be enjoyed by all ages too, as this particular version has a whole host of difficulty sliders to make the game as easy as players wish. There are over 100 difficulty options, allowing the gamer to play with no damage or fuel limits. There is also a very handy flashback option, which lets the player rewind gameplay if a mistake is made.
With Formula One being one of the biggest and most popular sports on the planet, it deserves a good racing sim. F1 2022 does not disappoint, and F1 diehards and racing sim newcomers can have a blast playing this game.
2 The Crew 2
The Crew 2 has been around for quite some time now, but this Ubisoft-backed game has picked up a cult following along the way. There is no manual option to change the difficulty, instead, events are labeled with a Normal or Hard setting.
The Crew 2 is easy to get the hang of due to its open world and free-roaming gameplay. The map is also a scaled-down recreation of the US, which is there to be explored. New content is added frequently, and new racing sim players should definitely check out The Crew 2.
1 Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5
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For those gaming fans looking for their motorbike fix, check out Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5, which is Milestone’s fifth entry into the AMA Supercross gaming world. This one differs from the other games on the list, mainly because it just involves bikes on a dirt track.
It may not sound too appealing, but once the player gets the hang of things, Monster Energy Supercross can be a joy to play. Of course, there are difficulty settings along the way, with a flashback option available. There is also a free-roam mode in the Compound. For newcomers searching for something a little different, Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 5 is a good place to start.