Racing games have come a long way since Atari's historic Pole Position racer dominated '80s arcades, faster and more powerful computing technology has transformed gaming from child play to simulation quality experiences.

Without racing games, most gearheads will never experience the adrenalin rush of storming Laguna Seca in a supercar, gaming is the perfect digital escapism. The launch of any new title brings a rush of expectations of new cars, better tracks, and more believable handling, these aren't just games they are real-world simulations.

10 Real Racing 3

Real Racing 3
Via Wallpaper Cave

Advances in mobile technology have transformed daily life to one of more convenience, internet access, email, navigation to name just a few. Bored with those daily tasks and need some gasoline-fueled fun? EA Games Real Racing series might just be the ticket.

Real Racing 3
Via Pocket Gamer

Despite smaller screens and compromised control methods, this pocket racer has every base covered, from road cars to racers and everything in between. Don't be fooled into thinking this is just an arcade-style affair ether, RR3 has a large community of online gearheads waiting to step to the challenge. Best of all, this one is free to download.

9 Wreckfest

Wreckfest
Via YouTube

We all love to blast around a race track as quickly as possible, seemingly impervious to any form of physical harm, and yet we still avoid on-screen collisions like it's our real-world pride and joy. But, deep down, the primitive urge to wreak havoc and destruction lays in wait for a suitable release.

Wreckfest PS5 updated
Via Market Research Telecast

Wreckfest is that release, what better way to spend an afternoon than in real-world cars crashing into pretty much anything that does or doesn't move if it stops? Hit them again for good measure. With a host of new hardware available, the best destruction-derby racer is back, better visuals, and improved collisions should keep any pangs of destruction at bay.

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8 Gran Turismo Sport

Gran Turismo Sport
Via Playstation Blog

Recently announced Gran Turismo 7 is heading this way, quite when Sony will deliver the next installment in the famous racing series is another question, all we know for sure is that GT7 will have big boots to fill. Currently, making do with Gran Turismo Sport is no hardship, the most recent racer regularly receives updates adding more cars and tracks.

GT Sport Nations Cup
Via YouTube

More than just a game, Gran Turismo Sport is one of the most accurately detailed racing series to date, real-life tracks, and cars alike are digitally reproduced down to the last detail, as a result, GT7 is FIA Certified. So fancy a shot at big-time racing, Sony indirectly has given gearheads a race driver training program that is recognized the world over.

7 Project Cars 2

Project Cars 2
Via Twitter

Crossing the boundary from friendly arcade-style racing to something more brutally realistic, Project Cars 2 isn't a race for casual gamers. Actual race events follow real-world formats, practice sessions, and qualifying all serve a purpose to familiarize yourself with the car and track before competing for real.

Project Cars 2
Via YouTube

Having mastered the basics count for nothing. All too easily, gamers can find themselves going from hero-to-zero in a few seconds with one misplaced tire off track. Still, if Project Cars 2 was easy where would the challenge be? In terms of visuals, there are betters racers, but none deliver the knife-edge thrills of Bandai's race series.

6 Formula 1 2020

F1 2020
Via Forbes

Every season brings a host of driver and team changes that can only mean another F1-based racer, Codemasters taking care of the franchise since 2009. Another highly-regarded racing series, F1 2020 proudly boasting its FIA certification means that every detail has to pass the governing body's scrutiny.

F1 2020
Via Pinterest

Anyone can fire up F1 2020, select their car, and win the championship ahead of the all-conquering silver arrows, it would be a dull game otherwise. Here's the thing, offline gamers get lured into a false sense of ability that quickly vanishes when competing against other players online. From the lights turning green until the last lap, Codemasters delivers the ultimate armchair F1 experience.

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5 Dirt 5

Dirt 5 Loading Screen
Via YouTiube

Not quite the hardcore gravel spewing rally sim most had hoped for, Codemasters reworked the recipe for Dirt 5 to be a bit hipper with the in-crowd, think Colin McRae meets Drive Club and you wouldn't be far off the mark.

Dirt 5 Launch images
Via Pinterest

Admittedly, some of the finer details associated with rallying have been lost, but this just serves to make Dirt 5 more enjoyable for a larger audience who don't always want to get bogged down with tire pressures, spring rates, etc. The only real-world omission likely to upset diehard gamers, a lack of crash damage associated with the earlier Dirt 2 installment.

4 Assetto Corsa Competizione

Assetto Corsa Competitizione
Via YouTube

Unlike other racers we have looked at, Assetto Corsa Competizione is a little different. Its developers aiming to produce an ultra-realistic racing sim based on the 2018 Blancpain GT Series.

Assetto Corsa Competitzione
Via Pinterest

Anyone after dozens of tracks to master should look elsewhere, Assetto Corsa true to the race series has just 10, each a laser scanned representation of the real circuit down to the last detail, including some of the most realistically modeled weather we have seen. Originally exclusive to PC gamers, Assetto Corsa made its way to both Playstation and X-box in 2020.

3 Ride 4

Ride 4
Via YouTube

Unless you have the cat-like reactions of Valentini Rossi, riding a sports bike is much harder than storming around a track in Corvette, gravity with four wheels is more likely to be your friend. We think conveying the thrills and sheer speed of a bike is why there are relatively few bike racing games out there.

Ride 4 PC Format
Via YouTube

Appearing in 2020 to critical appraise, Ride 4, for many, is the best motorcycle game ever. Stunning visuals and high frame rates deliver a believable sense of speed that will have most gamers leaning into imaginary bends. If you're a biker then the learning curve will be easy to adapt to before tackling that first daunting online race, other less serious gamers might struggle with a lack of tutorials, but hey we're guys, we don't read manuals.

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2 iRacing

iRacing Simulator
Via YouTube

Here things take a more serious turn, iRacing isn't your average racing game, instead, the developers have produced the most technically accurate racing sim in the world. So serious are the participants that digital racing licenses are a reality, little wonder then that membership has a monthly fee.

iRacing track action
Via YouTube

We know what you are thinking, how good is it? Good enough to host some of the best drivers in the world from Formula 1, Indycar and, NASCAR when the 2020 pandemic forced races to be abandoned. Outside of filling some time, several race teams use iRacing to acclimatize rookie drivers with new surroundings. Unlike some other racing games, a steering wheel, pedals, and seat are pretty much essential.

1 Wipeout Omega

Wipeout Omega
Via Metro

We might still be waiting for jet-powered hover cars of the future, but Wipeout deserves to be included in any list of racing games. Over various platform generations, Sony's racer has gotten bigger and faster, speed is what gamers want.

Wipeout Omega
Via Metro

One of the earliest PS1 games changed the face of gaming forever, thumping techno soundtracks accompanied mind-blurringly fast visuals to make it the fastest racing game we had ever seen, drawing crowds of new fans that would have otherwise dismissed gaming as nerdy.

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