Virtual Racer – Five Ace Racing Games

For the most part, we’re still in a situation where we have to stay indoors due to the pandemic. We could use this time to build that flat-pack chest of drawers we bought eight months ago. Or, we could sort out the garden. Perhaps we could engage with our kids? Or, how about we do none of that and play some computer games instead? Yes, let’s immerse ourselves in a digital world of our choosing and engage in some vehicular fun time. 

The computer game industry is, for lack of a better word, gargantuan. Grand Theft Auto V, for example, recently became the highest grossing media/entertainment title in the world. Ever. More than films, TV and music. A game in which you assume the role of a criminal. But you don’t need to be a digital ne’er do well. Instead, there are myriad motoring titles out there to satiate your need for speed. Like, um, Need For Speed – one of the most successful racing game franchises ever. Or of course, there are the following five titles.

1) BeamNG Drive – PC Only

BeamNG Drive isn’t a racing game as such, though there are races within it. It’s more of an open world game for just messing about in cars. But here’s the thing; the cars wreck like they would in real life. And because of that, the game is addictive. You’ll be jumping trucks into ravines, you’ll be flinging sports cars off cliffs and pick-up trucks down mountains just to see what happens. You’ll get hooked on the ‘scenarios’, like long rally events that need real-world caution due to the realistic damage engine. Or chasing trucks in a Police car or… the potential is limitless. 

2) Forza Horizon 4 – Xbox and PC

Microsoft’s Forza series brought the fight to Sony’s long-standing Gran Turismo series with a collection of racing games that took vehicle physics and racing dynamics to another level. Forza Motorsport is now on number 7, and it’s well worth investing in. However, if you want an open world take on Forza, you need Horizon 4. You enter a UK-based racing world/competition in which you have to work up through the ranks. You buy cars, houses, modifications, clothes, anything. It is completely immersive and ridiculous amounts of fun. 

3) DiRT 4 – Playstation, Xbox and PC

If you like your digital cars to be muddy, you need to spend some time on the DiRT series of games. Five has just been announced, but until then there is 4. Immerse yourself in the world of the WRC competition. Battle your way through long, realistic stages in different weather, on different road surfaces and in different cars. Work with your co-driver to get the fastest split times possible, and do so in the company of rallying legends. The dedication to getting the world of rallying ‘right’ is exceptional. 

4) Wreckfest – Playstation, Xbox and PC

If you liked BeamNG, you need to give Wreckfest a go. This game, which harks from Norway of all places, is full-contact, maximum destruction, high speed racing. The damage is pretty faithful to real world cars if you choose the right settings. The tracks are fun and feature jumps and obstacles that produce maximum carnage, and you get to drive cars like old P5B Rovers in full ‘banger’ spec. It’s a difficult game to master, as the AI cars are incredibly competitive, but once you master it, you’ll feel like a driving god. 

5) Project Cars 2 – Playstation, Xbox and PC

If you want some seriously real, immersive, captivating racing, you can’t go far wrong with Project Cars 2. This independent title is focused on realism, and as such, it’s one to consider if you have a computer steering wheel and pedal setup. You can race in a number of different car classes, from hot hatch through to full-on LM spec cars. You can do short races, or you can commit to races that last for hours. If you truly want to feel like a real race car driver, this is the game. To such an extent that genuine racing drivers use it to stay sharp, so detailed is the format. Jump in and lose yourself to the world of digital motorsport.