This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Ian Ferdock. Find him on Instagram at @ianferdock. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Do you have a passion for cars and an unyielding need for speed? Do you resent your parents for not throwing you in a go-kart when you were 6 so you could be the next Max Verstappen? Or maybe you just casually like cars and want an easier way of experiencing them that doesn’t require you to win the lottery. If you find yourself in any of those situations, I present you with the best possible solution: sim racing. So let’s discuss what sim racing is, why you should do it, and some of the best sim racing games.
What Is Sim Racing?
For those who don’t know, sim racing is a genre of video games dedicated to providing a life-like experience driving cars. There are a range of gaming platforms and games to choose from, but they all share a common goal. That is to provide users with realistic racing experiences. You can use a controller to play many sim racing games, but more serious users often use a sim rig. This can include a range of accessories. A humbler setup, like my own, merely includes a wheel attached to a table with pedals in front of my couch. However, at the other end of the spectrum, you can get metal frames that emulate the cockpit of a real race car with fancy screens surrounding you along with other complex technological accessories.
Why You Should Sim Race
Whether you have been thinking about sim racing for a while or this is the first you’ve heard about it, there are plenty of great reasons to select this as your new hobby. Let’s talk about why sim racing is beneficial and what some of the best sim racing games are.
The Cost
Video games have undeniably become a more expensive hobby in recent years. Nonetheless, sim racing does offer the cheapest way to get some racing experience. Don’t get me wrong, all the extra accessories like steering wheels and pedals can pose an upfront challenge. However, the costs associated with sim racing are substantially more manageable than actual racing. Even if you aren’t aiming to land a seat in a formula series which can cost well into the millions, amateur racing still costs thousands of dollars that many of us don’t have. Sim racing offers people a realistic, adrenaline-filled way to quench their thirst for speed.
You Get To Drive Tons Of Different Cars
If you’re like me and have an unreasonably expensive taste in cars, the only way you’re going to be able to experience your dream cars short of winning the lottery is sim racing. The holy grail for me will always be the Porsche GT3 RS. Since I’m short of a quarter of a million dollars the best way for me to experience it is on Gran Turismo 7. However, many sim racing games have an incredibly wide selection of cars. There are endless options from the 1966 Le Mans winning Ford GT40 MKII to simple Toyota Corollas. My point is that it doesn’t matter what series of race cars interests you, or what era of production cars excites you. You’ll be able to find something you like.
This is truly a great way to experience your dream car or even to test out some normal cars instead of spending unnecessary time in a dealership. I have even been able to relive my teenage glory days by driving a Volvo 240 again which was my first car.
Improve Your Real-World Driving Skills
There will always be at least some difference between driving a real car and a simulated one. But, there’s more carry-over than you might think. While I’ve always prided myself on my skills behind the wheel, I do believe sim racing has made me a better driver. To be clear, I am not advocating to go racing down the highway or some secluded backroads. When you learn how to drive high-horsepower cars or even the lazy old boats of the 70s, you learn a lot about handling. Furthermore, many sim racing games aren’t restricted to normal road surfaces. You can also gain experience driving in dirt or snow.
Improving your ability to handle a car does have real-world applications. If you have more skills in your arsenal, you’ll be able to drive more safely and react better to those around you if you’re placed in a dangerous situation. Additionally, when you get comfortable racing around other cars and learn how to overtake properly, you also learn how to better predict the movements of other cars. This is another skill that can help you stay safe on normal roads, even at modest speeds. Plus, if you haven’t learned to drive yet, this is without a doubt the safest way to start.
Join An Online Community
Most sim racing games have a few options on how to race. The easiest way to get some action is to race against AI bots, but there are also multiplayer options. Some games still offer local multiplayer but if you don’t have any friends around, you can race online. To be fair, online racing can get a bit contentious. There are plenty of players who will happily punt you off track for the high crime and misdemeanor of attempting a clean overtake. However, many players just want to race as well. Different games have options to join leagues to take part in scheduled races with players of comparable skill levels. There are also Reddit forums where you can connect with other users and join a community of racing enthusiasts.
Comparing Platforms
The three main platforms video game enthusiasts rely on are PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. However, your options are rather limited if you prefer Xbox which renders this console less than ideal if you want to begin sim racing. Overall, you will have more options on the PlayStation platform, particularly if you have upgraded to a PS5 simply because new games are now exclusively released on the current generation of consoles. While I have yet to embark on this investment, the largest variety of content can be found on PCs. Furthermore, PC games have increased detail and more life-like simulations. Conversely, traditional consoles maintain a slightly more arcade-like approach.
The Best Sim Racing Games
PC
Since a PC can offer the most realistic simulations for racers it is no surprise that the gold standard in sim racing is exclusive to this platform. IRacing is without a doubt the most realistic and competitive option available. However, that does come with a price in the sense that you don’t just have to purchase the game. Instead, iRacing relies on a subscription-based model. If you are serious about sim racing this is a great option, but because it costs more money over time than other options it probably isn’t the best starting place for beginners.
Xbox
On the bright side, consoles do offer some great sim racing options as well. Even though Xbox has the least number of options, it is currently the exclusive home of the popular Forza series. Forza is known to possess less realistic qualities, but it is a respectable title. Assetto Corsa is also available on Xbox and provides an increased level of realistic qualities.
PlayStation
Even though I am currently stuck in the dinosaur age with my PS4, I can confirm that PlayStation is the best console to use if you want to get into sim racing without plunging into buying an expensive PC. The biggest advantage of this platform is that it grants you access to Gran Turismo. This series has been the bedrock of sim racing from the very beginning. The latest title is still relatively new, at least compared to GTA V, as Gran Turismo 7 was released in 2022. I have played various Gran Turismo titles through the years, but it was GT Sport And Gran Turismo 7 that got me hooked on sim racing. There is a wide range of real-life and fictitious tracks available in the game. There are also literally hundreds of cars to choose from. Additionally, Assetto Corsa is also available on PlayStation.
For Real Though, You Should Start Sim Racing
Sim racing can be a great way to reduce stress, or even stress-inducing. But seriously, it is a ton of fun. Even if you aren’t as massively obsessed with cars as I am. My girlfriend has a modest interest in cars at best. Despite usually refusing my offer for her to join me when she does, she somehow always suspiciously walks away with a smile on her face.
There are plenty of games between different platforms to choose from. Some games tend to focus on specific forms of racing while others provide an opportunity to get a taste of everything. No matter how serious you are about sim racing, or what cars you love there is an option you’ll enjoy. Even though sim rigs can cost a pretty penny, there are still a variety of accessories to meet all price points.
Let us know in the comments if you have been thinking about getting into sim racing and what you think some of the best sim racing games are.
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