Ultimate VR Racing Games Guide For 2021

Ultimate Guide to VR Racing Games for 2021

Joe Terrell

02/26/2021

February 26, 2021

game guides

As VR continues to revolutionize modern gaming, let's take a look at the best games out there to deliver the ultimate VR racing experience.

Introduction

Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa Competizione

Motorista 2

DiRT Rally 2.0

Gran Turismo Sports

iRacing

Live For Speed

Project CARS

Project CARS 2

Project CARS 3

RaceRoom Racing Experience

rFactor 2

Best VR headsets in 2021

Conclusion

Introduction

Although many gamers saw virtual reality as a gadget that would never take off, it continued to thrive even without the support of tech giants like Microsoft.

Recent years have provided an ever-increasing improvement in the VR experience, and game developers have started to focus on virtual reality more than ever when creating new games for the market.

We believe that the future of virtual reality is going to be fascinating after witnessing the rapid progress in recent times.

Just a few years ago, the idea of ​​putting a helmet on in your house and diving into a fully immersive world where you find yourself in the cockpit of your favorite race, or drift cars, seemed almost laughable by any stretch of the imagination. p>

Yet rapid technological advances continue to amaze us. With some phenomenal virtual reality headsets becoming more affordable than ever to the general public, it's an exciting time to witness the transition of gaming enthusiasts into the world of virtual reality.

With the COVID pandemic forcing the closure of most racetracks around the world, VR has remained pandemic-free, allowing you to step into the cockpit anytime, from the comfort of your own home.

Racing or driving games are perfectly suited for the VR experience. Combined with a steering wheel and pedal setup, it offers the perfect escape from the real world, as well as providing the speed, adrenaline and excitement that comes with racing.

We don't often call the term "game changing" very often, but we think it's the perfect way to start explaining the feeling that comes with VR racing. We're pretty sure you'll never be tempted to go back to racing “pancake screen” again.

Where we'd once need a three-screen setup to get the right field of view. out of our side windows when playing drifting games, a simple turn of the head is all that's needed.

Once you have a VR headset, you'll be grateful for the extra space you gain without the need for a triple-screen setup too!

It's time to combine the present with the future and experience the best that virtual reality has to offer by taking a look at the jaw-dropping virtual reality simulation racing world.

We're excited to share our favorite VR racing (and drifting, of course) games to see which will be the perfect choice for you.

The Best VR Racing & drift games

What one person classifies as an amazing game, another person may disagree.

We often find this to be the case in sim racing, where some people may be interested in the idea, but when it comes to getting behind the wheel, they realize their talents aren't quite there yet. the height.

For this reason, there are various games on the market, some of which offer an arcade-style racing experience, and others are designed for world-class professional drivers to hone their skills off the track.

On the other hand, some may be looking for an out-of-this-world experience, where they can plug in their VR headset and drive some of their favorite cars on their dream tracks.

Others may want to explore what third-party mod communities have to offer, creating the most expansive collection of cars and tracks imaginable.

With so many considerations to keep in mind, we've chosen to keep this list in alphabetical order rather than ordering it from b is at worst since we've already eliminated games that we personally wouldn't consider playing.

Let's take a look at our favorite VR racing and drifting games!

Assetto Corsa p>

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

We start our list with Assetto Corsa, which coincidentally is not only the number one game alphabetically, but many would say it's also the best VR racing simulator.

At first, there were several issues regarding the HUD menus/systems for those trying to enjoy the VR experience, which led to a lot of complaints online. We're happy to report that these issues have since been resolved, so we'd advise looking beyond that.

Assetto Corsa is arguably (and many will happily voice their opinion) the ultimate game for anyone looking to make drifting a priority.

It's so popular that we even wrote a

complete guide to the Assetto Corsa VR

.

Not only does it offer an amazing driving experience with a great price, but the

drifting mod community

for this game is far beyond any other game on our list.

We can almost guarantee that just about any (half-decent) track or car you can think of will have a mod available - completely free.

I want to launch

JZX100

on the famous jump

Ebisu Minami

? Assetto Corsa has what you need.

There's a reason why so many

pro-level drifters

started competing online with Assetto Corsa recently, and we think this backs up our claims that it's the best drift sim game out there.

It may not be the most extraordinary when it comes to graphics viewing pixels, but the advantage is that it will consume less resources on your PC. Assuming your PC can run VR, this will likely be more than enough for AC.

If you have a high-end gaming PC, crank the graphics to the max, and we're sure you've won don't be disappointed.

We strongly recommend that you consult the

Content manager

for the ultimate experience for those of you thinking of going down the< /p>

Assetto Corsa Route

.

Although Assetto Corsa provides a great experience for PC gamers, console gaming will not allow you to install mods, which is one of the main advantages of games.

For this reason, it may be worth thinking about switching to the PC.

If you like the sound of AC, but are looking for a dedicated GT racing game rather than a drift game, then be sure to check out Assetto Corsa's younger brother, Assetto Corsa Competizione.

Assetto Corsa Competizione

Compatibility: p>

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

Assetto Corsa Competizione is Assetto Corsa's latest game, and although many enthusiasts were hoping it would be AC ​​2, it's not.

There was a specific target market with Competizione, and that was GT3 endurance racing enthusiasts. Think of it as the GT3 equivalent of the F1 series of games.

ACC is undoubtedly gorgeous and very enjoyable, but given its narrow target market, it won't be as favorable as Assto Corsa when it comes to mass-appeal.

When it comes to sound, visuals, physics, and weather, ACC is arguably a step in the right direction over its older sibling.

However, this comes at the cost of system resources, so you may need to consider a

GPU upgrade

to ensure you are able to reach your full potential.

If you are looking for a GT3 racing simulator, then look no further.

If you're beyond GT3, we recommend going with the original game.

Motorista 2 p>

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

Automobilista 2 is one of the newest entrants to the world of VR gaming, and it has received a lot of praise from sim racers.

Built on an evolution of the “Madness Engine” Slightly Mad Studios used for Project CARS 2, it's arguably the best-looking racing game in VR right now.

The AI ​​was somewhat questionable during our experiences with the game, but these kinds of bugs will no doubt be ironed out with updates.

AMS 2 offers a great VR experience out of the box, where we wouldn't expect to have to spend too much time tweaking settings, which is one of the main complaints from ACC players.

All in all, a great option to consider for those looking for an awesome VR racing game. As it is still new to the market, there are bound to be plenty of updates and DLC content to come.

In-game drifting is possible with a decent RWD setup, but it certainly won't compete with Assetto Corsa for the drifting crown.

Currently, it is only available for PC, but they are planning to bring the game to consoles further.

DiRT Rally 2.0< /p>

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

If you are a VR simulation enthusiast, we highly recommend checking out what DiRT Rally has to offer.

We found it to be one of the most enjoyable yet unforgiving and intense VR games that offers a truly unique experience.

It probably won't come as much of a surprise that it's all about rally cars, so the Scandinavian films are about the closest to drifting.

We found that bumpy off-road tracks with endless tight turns made for a stomach-churning rollercoaster experience at first - it's probably not the perfect game right after a big meal!

Jokes aside, it can take a bit longer to develop your motion sickness abilities, so we recommend starting with the track racing sim before jumping straight into DiRT Rally.

Although it's only rally cars, there are plenty of classes and eras in the game to keep it interesting, we really enjoy it, and it remains in our constant VR game rotation.

Unfortunately, there is once again disappointing news for those hoping to play DiRT Rally 2.0 on the PSVR, as Codemasters has decided not to integrate the PSVR platform.

However, the original DiRT Rally does support PSVR and is still worth considering.

Gran Turismo Sports

Compatibility:

PlayStation VR (PSVR)

PlayStation's popular racing simulator has made great use of its own PSVR system.

Although racing games are rare for the PlayStation console, both this and the original DiRT Rally game will provide more than enough to satisfy most beginning gamers.

GT Sport provides amazing graphics with insane attention to detail. Although it's not a "hardcore" simulator like most of the games on our list, it is a great introduction to VR racing.

Although Sony has welcomed the future of VR gaming, Microsoft has not. keen to do so with the Xbox console, which gives GT Sport an edge over

Forza Motorsport 7

in this regard.

All in all, GT Sport is a worthwhile purchase for those of you who already have a PSVR headset.

However, if you're a PC gamer, we certainly wouldn't be rushing to buy a PlayStation console.

iRacing

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

Many VR sim racers consider iRacing the undisputed champion, and it's true that they're right.

There are now more professional racing drivers than ever honing their skills in off-road iRacing, which speaks to the realism of this game.

If you're looking for the ultimate racing experience that's every bit as unforgiving as the real thing, then iRacing might just be the answer.

I mean, everything seems perfect. Is not it?

Well, almost.

There is one small issue with iRacing, and that is the cost.

To put things into perspective, you could get your hands on Assetto Corsa for $19.99, assuming there were no discounts at the time.

On the other hand, iRacing will cost you $13 per month.

That's right - if you opt to pay monthly over a year, you'll need to spend $156 to enjoy what iRacing has to offer.

Granted, that cost comes down to $110 with an annual subscription or $199 for two years, but it's still insanely expensive compared to most games.

Oh, and that's for the base package.

If you want extra cars and tracks, expect to part with $11.95 or $14.95 - EACH. p>

Now we understand that for incredibly dedicated sim racers, it can be worth the price. You are likely to encounter serious competition on online servers, including some of the best drivers in the world.

However, for an inexperienced hobbyist getting into VR simulation racing, we definitely wouldn't start with iRacing.

We also wouldn't consider iRacing if you're a casual gamer or like to alternate between a range of games, as you're unlikely to get what you pay for.

p>Assuming you're talented behind the wheel, looking for the ultimate racing simulator, and don't mind paying the price, this is the game for you.

Live For Speed

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

Live For Speed ​​has been a popular drift simulator for many years, and many would argue that LFS provides a better drift sim experience over Assetto Corsa.

In our opinion, we'd say LFS is a great starting point for experimenting with simulation drifting, but for us, Assetto Corsa takes it to the next level.

It's certainly up there with the best drift games, but for us the sheer amount of mod content provided by Assetto Corsa makes it the most appealing choice.

Project CARS

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

We'll forgive you for wondering why we're talking about the first Project CARS game when we're now down to PC3.

The reason is that the Pagani edition of the game is available for free on the

Steam Store

, and we think it makes a perfect introduction for VR gamers on a budget.

Sure, it might not be as polished as its successor, Project CARS 2, but many would say it's superior to Project CARS 3.

Either way, if you're looking for a free VR racing simulation game to decide if it's worth investing in, this is the perfect opportunity.

With a full career mode alongside a huge variety of vehicles and tracks, we have no doubt that Project CARS will keep you entertained while you save for your perfect racing simulator.

Project CARS 2

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

After making a great impression with the franchise's first game, they've made some fantastic improvements for the second game.

Project CARS 2 features a selection of over

200 cars

, including some of the best-known drift cars, such as Vaughn Gittin JR's Mustang and Mad Mike's Radbul.

Games such as iRacing are more hardcore simulators, while PC2 delivers a polished package with excellent graphics and physics in a slightly more arcade-style package.

If you are a

Forza Motorsport fan

who is looking to take advantage of virtual reality, PC2 is about as close as it gets.

With recent advancements in game editing, a new modding community

Project CARS 2

has grown over the recent months, offering some exciting new developments.

It's not as good as

Assetto Corsa

when it comes to drifting, but it still offers an enjoyable experience, alongside a wide variety of unique motorsport disciplines.

An excellent out-of-the-box package with plenty of content to keep you entertained, PC2 is considered by many gamers to be the best choice in the Project CARS franchise.

Project CARS 3

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

If you want to see how not to treat your existing fan base, then find out how the launch of Project CARS 3 went.

As Project CARS 2 has grown in scale from its predecessor, many Project CARS fans were excited to see the third game hit the market.

...until they play it.

Where Project CARS had earned its reputation as a “user-friendly” simulator that's more forgiving than the likes of iRacing, they opted to go in the complete opposite direction for Game 3.

We chose to keep it on this list to let you know it's changed drastically, but also because it has great visuals, a great sense of speed, and fantastic VR.

Project Cars 3 will still be enjoyable for those looking for a more tolerant Virtual Reality game to get them started in the world of sim racing.

Seasoned runners, we highly recommend looking elsewhere.

RaceRoom Racing Experience

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

One of the less common choices in the VR simulation racing business is RaceRoom Racing Experience.

This free and realistic racing simulation to play is another great game to introduce you to virtual reality.

We initially spent quite a bit of time playing RaceRoom and found the game to be enjoyable, with great collision physics.

All in all h Onety, we felt the other games on our list had more enduring appeal and simply ticked more boxes than R3E.

One of the main advantages is that it will run very well on a base game. -spec PC, assuming it's capable of running your VR rig, making it perfect for beginners.

Since it's completely free, there's no harm in giving it a try - many gamers are big fans. p>

rFactor

Compatibility:

Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/Quest

rFactor 2 seems to be the love/hate champion when it comes to VR simulation racers.

While some insist it's as good, if not better, than Assto Corsa when it comes to drifting, others think it's incredibly overrated.

On the other hand, rFactor fans will often say that the game offers the best physics of all the fun on our list, as well as the best VR experience.

We advise you to try the game with the

before forming your own opinion. Who knows, it might tick the right boxes for your needs!

Best VR Sim Racing Headsets in 2021

As with everything, different people may prefer specific brands of VR headsets, so it might be worth deciding which headset is best for you. Think of it as the 'Xbox vs PlayStation' or 'Apple vs Samsung' argument!

However, there's a standout product on the market right now from Oculus, and we don't think their rivals, such as HTC, have caught up with a competitive offering for what you get for the money.

For that reason, here is our personal “Drifted Choice” recommendation in 2021.

Drifted VR Headset Choice

The Drifted helmet of choice is used by several of our staff for online tandem drift sessions at Assetto Corsa, and we believe it represents by far the best value for money currently. p>

Oculus Quest 2

If you've already started researching VR headsets, then our recommendation probably won't come as a surprise.

Oculus has brought several revolutionary headsets to market, such as the Oculus Rift, Oculus Touch, the original Quest, and now the Quest 2.

Featuring an LCD display with 3664 x 1920 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 100 degree field-of-view, it's the perfect setup for experiencing what Project CARS 2 has to offer without having to spend a lot of money.

The only downside for many players was integrating a mandatory Facebook login to use the Quest 2, which did not go down well with many enthusiasts.

Aside from the Facebook login, we're sure it won't leave you disappointed.

Our choice of Premium VR headset

If you have a lot of cash to spend and are looking to build the ultimate racing simulation rig, we also have a higher premium offering, but that comes at a price.

Valve Index VR Complete Kit

Valve Index has brought this incredible piece of kit to market with a full AMOLED display, a maximum resolution of 2880 x 1600, a field of view of approximately 130 degrees, and an insane refresh rate of 120Hz or 144Hz in experimental mode.

I had the pleasure of using this setup once, and while it's stunning, the Oculus Quest 2 is likely to be more than enough for most day-to-day gaming needs.

How much is Sim Racing Cost?

As you can probably guess, this question is similar to the “how long is a piece of string?” question. It depends on how extreme you want to go with your build and what you already have.

For example, here's an idea of ​​just how extreme things can get:

However, we don't have a million dollars in our pockets, so let's look at some rational alternatives.

Drifted Wheel/Pedal Choice

We have had great success with the

Thrustmaster TX wheel/pedal configuration

, and we highly recommend it for the price.

Although there are cheaper considerations on the market, like the Logitech G920, we soon found ourselves opting for a higher configuration, so we'd recommend jumping straight to the

Thrustmaster TX

.

Premium Wheel/ Pedal Choice

If you've opted for the Valve Index, then naturally you're looking for the best matching wheel/pedal combo.

If so, then look no further than the

Fanatec Clubsport

.

It's a serious kit, with an exorbitant price, but it's the closest to reality.

Is it worth it? Only you can decide. It's on my dream wish list. One day!

Conclusion

Virtual reality has already advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, and we feel like there's still plenty of room to make the experience even more amazing than it already is.

The inclusion of mixed reality has made things even more exciting, with the ability to merge both the real world and virtual reality to provide a trippy combination!

As VR headsets continue to improve and prices continue to drop, we believe mass adoption is closer than ever. We also believe that more and more developers will continue to focus on enhancing the true capabilities of what VR has to offer.

We think these are still in the early stages of what sim racing really has to offer, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.

In this guide, we've explored what we think are the best VR racing games available today.

We hope we've covered everything you need to know, whether you're looking to shave seconds off your lap time, scrape walls while drifting, or throw Scandinavian movies in your rally car!

So we have it! We hope we've covered everything you might want to know about VR racing games in this guide.

Thanks for reading our guide to VR racing games.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it with the buttons at the bottom of your screen. If you found this information useful, please take a moment to share it with other sim racing enthusiasts. We appreciate your support.

Photo credits

We thank the following entities for the use of their photographs in this article:

FZA on Flickr

clucksworld on Flickr

Tags:

racing games

,

vr

Written by Joe Terrell

Founder of Drifted.com, automotive journalist and enthusiast of versatile cars. Learn more about Joe and the Drifted team on our

about us

page.

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