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My Top 5 Favorite Racing Games

Here are racing games I still enjoy.

By Inspiring YouTuber and GamerPublished about a year ago 9 min read
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Photo by Max Titov on Unsplash

I have been gaming ever since I was a child, and ever since then, one of my favorite gaming genres has been racing games.

I first got into racing games when my father bought me Need for Speed: Most Wanted when I was very young, and it left a strong impression on me.

In this post, I will be introducing my top five favorite racing games that I still actively play.

1 — Need for Speed

Need for Speed is a long-running video game franchise that has been popular among gamers for more than two decades. The game series is known for its fast-paced racing gameplay, customization options, and diverse car lineup.

The series has seen many iterations, each with its unique storyline and features. The gameplay typically involves competing in street races, evading the police, and completing challenges to progress through the game. As players advance, they can unlock new vehicles, upgrade their cars, and customize their appearance with various modifications.

The Need for Speed franchise has also been known for its advanced graphics and sound design, which immerse players in the game’s world. The latest releases of the game offer high-quality 3D graphics and realistic sound effects, enhancing the gameplay experience.

In addition to its single-player campaign, the game also offers online multiplayer modes where players can compete against each other and show off their customized vehicles. The online community of the game is robust, with players from around the world participating in various races and events.

The Need for Speed franchise has been popular among gamers for its thrilling gameplay, stunning graphics, and customization options. With its latest releases, the game has continued to evolve, offering new features and improvements that keep players engaged and entertained for hours.

I’ve found that Need for Speed is a game that can be played on a racing wheel but is more suited for a controller.

2 — Forza Horizon/Motorsport

Forza is a popular racing game franchise that has been around for over a decade. Developed by Turn 10 Studios, the game series is known for its highly realistic driving physics, stunning graphics, and wide selection of cars from various manufacturers.

The Forza franchise offers different games for different platforms, including Forza Motorsport for Xbox and Forza Horizon for both Xbox and PC. Forza Motorsport is a simulation-style racing game that emphasizes precise car control and tuning, while Forza Horizon is an open-world racing game that offers a more relaxed and fun experience.

The game offers various game modes, including single-player campaigns, multiplayer, and free roam. In the single-player campaign, players progress through a series of races and events, earning rewards and unlocking new cars and tracks. Multiplayer mode allows players to compete against each other online or locally, and free roam mode lets players explore the game’s world and take part in various challenges.

Forza also offers a vast array of customization options for cars, including performance upgrades, visual modifications, and paint jobs. Additionally, the game offers a robust community with dedicated players who create and share their custom designs, liveries, and tuning setups.

Overall, the Forza franchise offers a highly immersive and engaging racing game experience with stunning graphics, realistic physics, and an extensive selection of cars and customization options. The game’s community and frequent updates also ensure that it remains fresh and exciting for its players.

Although Forza games generally have realistic driving mechanics, I’ve found that it’s still a lot easier to play with a controller instead of a racing wheel. But the game can still adequately be played with a wheel.

3 — Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa is a racing simulation game developed by Kunos Simulazioni. The game has gained a reputation as one of the most realistic and challenging racing games available, featuring accurate physics and a variety of high-performance cars.

The game offers an extensive selection of cars from various manufacturers, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and McLaren. It also features a wide range of tracks, both real and fictional, that allow players to experience various driving conditions and terrain.

Assetto Corsa’s physics engine accurately simulates real-world driving, including tire wear, aerodynamics, and suspension tuning. The game’s handling model requires precise inputs and is unforgiving of mistakes, making it a challenging but rewarding experience for players who enjoy a more realistic racing game.

The game offers several modes: single-player campaigns, online multiplayer, and time trial challenges. It also allows players to customize their vehicles, from performance upgrades to visual modifications, and features a robust community of modders who create and share their custom designs.

The game’s graphics and sound design are also top-notch, offering a highly immersive racing experience. The game’s attention to detail and accurate representation of real-world cars and tracks make it a must-play for racing enthusiasts who want a realistic and challenging game.

Overall, Assetto Corsa is a highly regarded racing game known for its realistic physics, extensive car selection, and challenging gameplay. The game is popular among racing enthusiasts and is a must-play for those who want a true-to-life racing simulation experience.

Assetto Corsa is 100% designed for a racing wheel since a normal player would not be able to make the precise adjustments required to properly play. You do have the option to play with a controller but I do not recommend it.

4 — Dirt

Dirt is a racing game franchise known for its off-road racing and rally events. Developed by Codemasters, the game series has been popular among gamers for over a decade and offers a unique racing experience that blends speed and skill with rough terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.

The Dirt series features many vehicles, including rally cars, buggies, trucks, and more. The game’s physics engine provides a realistic simulation of off-road driving, with players having to manage their speed, weight transfer, and vehicle setup to navigate the game’s various tracks and terrain types.

The game offers a variety of game modes, including single-player campaigns, online multiplayer, and time trial challenges. The career mode is a major feature of the game, allowing players to progress through different racing disciplines and earn rewards for their performance.

Dirt also features an extensive customization system that allows players to modify their vehicles, from performance upgrades to visual modifications. Additionally, the game has a strong community of modders who create and share their custom designs.

Dirt's graphics and sound design are also impressive, offering highly detailed vehicle models, realistic environmental effects, and dynamic weather systems that can change during races.

Overall, Dirt is a racing game franchise that offers a unique off-road racing experience that is both challenging and fun. The game’s realistic physics, wide range of vehicles, and extensive customization options make it a must-play for racing enthusiasts who want a different kind of racing game.

Dirt is a game that can be played on either controller or a rating wheel, but it does feel a lot better playing on a racing wheel.

5 — Project Cars

Project Cars is a racing simulation game developed by Slightly Mad Studios. The game has gained a reputation for its attention to detail and realistic driving physics, offering a highly immersive and challenging racing experience.

The game features a wide selection of cars, from classic roadsters to modern supercars, and allows players to customize their vehicles with performance upgrades and visual modifications. The game’s tracks range from famous circuits like Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone to lesser-known courses like the Azure Circuit in Monaco and the fictional California Highway.

Project Cars features a career mode that allows players to progress through various racing disciplines and earn rewards for their performance. The game also offers various game modes, including single-player campaigns, online multiplayer, and time trial challenges.

The game’s physics engine provides a realistic simulation of real-world driving, with advanced tire physics, aerodynamics, and suspension tuning. The game’s handling model requires precise inputs and is unforgiving of mistakes, making it a challenging but rewarding experience for players who enjoy a more realistic racing game.

The game’s graphics and sound design are also top-notch, offering a highly immersive racing experience. The game’s weather system and day/night cycles provide additional challenges for players navigating changing weather conditions and lighting.

Overall, Project Cars is a highly regarded racing game known for its attention to detail, realistic physics, and challenging gameplay. The game is popular among racing enthusiasts and is a must-play for those who want a true-to-life racing simulation experience.

The overall experience of Project Cars is enhanced when playing with a racing wheel. It can be played with a controller, but I’ve found that it’s a lot less enjoyable.

Final Words

I am a racing game enthusiast and have listed my top five favorite racing games, which I still actively play.

The list of games includes Need for Speed, Forza, Assetto Corsa, Dirt, and Project Cars.

I provided a brief overview of each game, highlighting its strengths and unique features.

Overall, I provide a personalized list of recommendations for racing game enthusiasts and serve as a guide to the best games to try out for anyone looking for an immersive and thrilling gaming experience.

How about you? If you are into racing games please leave a comment.

If you enjoy my posts and would like to stay updated on the latest gaming-related news, technology advancements, design trends, and social media insights, I invite you to follow my profile.

I will continue to share my thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics in the world of entertainment and technology.

With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

The original version of this story was published on another platform.

About the Author

I write articles in my field covering gaming, filmmaking, media, technology, and design. You can subscribe to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium and Vocal Media. I support Illumination Integrated Publications as an editor and moderate the Slack Workspace, where you can share your Vocal Stories with thousands of members free of charge. I own and manage two publications, one for gaming and one for YouTube. You may join via my referral link if you are new to Medium. You can also join Vocal Media to share your inspiring stories. I look forward to reading your posts on both platforms.

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About the Creator

Inspiring YouTuber and Gamer

I specialise in Media, Design, and Filmmaking. I support Illumination Integrated Publications on Medium as an editor and YouTube coordinator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9DhuGQYbpI& I also own two publications for Gaming and Podcasts.

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