My sim racing library has grown quite a bit since I moved from console to PC gaming. Each sim has its own strengths, and I find myself switching between them depending on what kind of racing experience I’m after.
Let me walk you through my current collection and how I use each one.
My Top Racing Sims
Le Mans Ultimate
This is my go-to racing game right now. The LMP2 and GT3 cars are exactly what I love to drive. The online racing community is active, and the competition is solid. I’ll be honest though, the VR experience isn’t the best in my collection. Both Assetto Corsa and rFactor2 deliver better visuals in VR. But the car selection and online racing more than make up for it.
Assetto Corsa (fully modded)
An old game that refuses to die, and for good reason. I’ve loaded this thing with every mod I could find, and it transforms the experience completely. This is my number one choice for F1 racing. The physics are still unmatched for open-wheel cars. In VR, this sim absolutely shines. The combination of mods and VR creates something special.
rFactor2
Great VR quality and excellent car physics make this a solid choice. The game might not have the biggest following, but the racing experience is top-notch. When I want clean VR racing with realistic physics, this is where I go.
iRacing
The most well-known sim in the community. The VR implementation is really good, and the online competition is serious. But here’s the problem: it’s expensive to maintain. You need to keep buying content and renewing your subscription. I decided not to extend my subscription because I wasn’t racing it enough to justify the cost.
Automobilista 2
Good sim with decent VR quality. The AI is actually one of the best I’ve raced against. My main issue is the limited content. It’s fun when I race it, but I don’t reach for it as often as the others.
RaceRoom
I struggle with this one. The VR setup is hard to configure, and the menus aren’t user-friendly. The initial content is free, which is nice, but you need to pay for the additional content required for online play. I don’t play it much.
Assetto Corsa Evo (pre-release)
Still in early access with a long way to go. The VR support is improving with each update. I’m watching this one closely. If the developers continue on this path, it could move way up my list by the time it fully releases.
Games I Moved Away From
Assetto Corsa Competizione
This was my first sim when I switched from console to PC. I eventually uninstalled it because I stopped playing it. Once I discovered Assetto Corsa with mods, there was no reason to keep this installed.
F1 2024
Uninstalled. The game is massive, takes up too much space, and feels too arcade-like. Assetto Corsa with F1 mods gives me a far better F1 experience.
On My Wishlist
Project Motorracing
I’m interested, but they haven’t made any clear statement about VR support. I’ll wait for reviews after release before I consider buying it. VR is non-negotiable for me at this point.