VR technology has been around for a while, but it’s only in recent years that it’s becoming more accessible and affordable to the masses. The immersive experience provided by VR headsets has made it possible for gamers to experience things they never could before.
Some of the best VR racing games like Assestto Corsa, iRacing, Gran Turismo, etc, can be perfect examples of this, as they offer an easy escape from reality right from the comfort of your seat by providing the speed, adrenaline, and excitement that comes with racing.
In this article, we will list the best racing games out there that you can play in VR, and give you some tips and suggestions on the VR headsets you can use.
Which VR Racing games are the best for you?
While VR racing games can provide different types of experiences, you should first figure out which one is right for you. These can be split into two broad categories:
- Sim VR Racing: Sim racers are games that provide realistic gameplay and visuals that go hand in hand with VR by providing an incredibly immersive experience. This usually also involves using racing wheels and pedals along with the VR headset. If you are looking for a realistic and immersive experience, this is what you should consider playing.
- Arcade VR Racing: This is more on the casual side, with most games in this category having stylized visuals. They also have non-realistic gameplay that feels more like a game than a simulation. Regardless, these arcade experiences can also be improved with VR headsets.
Best VR racing games for sim racing
Want to get immersed in the world of competitive racing? Listed below are VR Racing games for sim racing enthusiasts:
Assetto Corsa (2014)
This 2014 title still holds up as one of the best sim racers out there, while also being one of the best contenders for VR racing. It features visuals that still compete with newer titles while also providing brutally realistic physics and handling.
What makes Assestto Corsa so great is its modding community. You can mod just about any car you can imagine, the same goes for playing on any of your favourite tracks. The community has also made its own unique modes with its own servers like the No Hesi server. This server lets you race on the Tokyo Shutoku Expressways as you weave through traffic in tuned-up cars with your friends.
If you are fascinated by drifting, many servers and mods give amazing drifting experiences like no other game can. All this can be experienced in VR, which makes for near-infinite content to get immersed in.
iRacing (2023)
iRacing is one of the best VR Racing games out there if you are looking for a truly hardcore competitive experience. It provides an incredibly authentic and realistic sim racing against online players. The cons? Akin to World of Warcraft, you need to subscribe monthly. So, it only makes sense if you plan to get into this seriously and put time into it.
If you are a hardcore racing person, this game might be the right choice for you. It is not recommended for entry-level racers looking for an enjoyable and relaxing time in VR racing. Professional racers play this game. And if that is the kind of challenge you are looking for, then this is a perfect choice.
Dirt Rally 2.0 (2019)
Dirt Rally 2.0 is a great choice for rally and offroad enthusiasts. Rally racing can often involve sliding your cars as you turn. The cockpit view can fall short when playing without VR; but with it, you can turn around and look to your sides in full 360 degrees as your car slides through the mud.
The game offers everything that is in the non-VR version into the VR version which gives you lots of content to play around with. Sliding through the perfect turn through the gorgeous Scandinavian locations makes this one of the best VR Racing games for rally fans.
Gran Turismo 7 (2022)
Gran Turismo 7 is the best racing sim out there on consoles. And with recent updates it now supports PSVR2. The game provides a huge selection of cars from all around the world. It also has incredible levels of customization and tuning. Also, you’ll encounter upkeep mechanics like having to change the oil and cleaning the car.
The VR racing experience as you race through its iconic tracks is incredibly immersive and one of the best out there for consoles despite being on the easier side of sim racing. However, if you are a PC player, this option is not available for you as it’s a PlayStation and PSVR2 exclusive.
Project Cars 2 (2017)
Project Cars Series has always been a beloved series in the racing community. It also offers an amazing VR racing experience by giving you incredibly realistic visuals and handling as you race through varied weather conditions and dynamic day/night settings.
Project Cars 2 is recommended as it is one of the best VR Racing games in the series. The graphics are top-notch along with the car selection and locations. If there is anything you should avoid, it is Project Cars 3. Due to all the poor changes and lack of features, it wasn’t received well by the players.
Live For Speed (2022)
Live For Speed or LFS is a great entry into drift sim racing. It has an active drifting community and provides a beginner-friendly environment. While Assestto Corsa is still better with its mods and tools, LSF can be a good alternative.
The VR experience is thrilling as you drift through the turns sideways while looking around in full 360. This game is compatible with most VR headsets and also demands less from your system so if that is what you are looking for, this is one of the best VR racing games for you.
Raceroom Racing Experience (2013)
One of the earliest adopters of VR racing was Raceroom Racing Experience or RRE in short. It aims to be a realistic sim racing experience by featuring official race series like DTM, WTCR, WTCC, etc.
Many of the racing elements found in this game are hard to come across in other games. The best part about this one is that it is free to play through Steam. So, if you are looking for a VR experience that is free to play, this is the right choice for you.
Best VR racing games for arcade racing
If you are a player who is trying to have an enjoyable time in casual or party-type settings, then these VR racing games listed below are the ones for you:
Mini Motor Racing X (2019)
This cartoony arcade game lets you experience being an RC car racer from the top-down perspective. It is a unique feeling to see your car go around the track in VR as you control it through the remote control in your hands.
You can also play this in a first-person cockpit view, which only adds to the experiences this game provides. It is by far one the most fun VR arcade racer out there and worth giving a shot at for VR experiences in general.
Drift Club (2019)
Drift Club aims to give you a drifting experience in a light and easy package. It is simple to get into and understand and gives you enough for drifting around in VR easily. The premise is simple, drift around the track, burn some rubber, and collect as many coins as you can.
Despite lacking in content, its cheap price and easy gameplay make this one of the Best VR racing games for a fun and enjoyable arcade experience.
Dash Dash World (2020)
Ever imagined what a Mario-Kart-style game would look like if it was played in VR? Well, look no further than Dash Dash World. This is yet another unique arcade racing experience that adds more to its fun by including VR compatibility.
If you are a fan of Mario Kart-like racing, this game will be the best choice for you as it lets you experience the ever-changing race through wacky cartoony worlds, all within the immersion of a VR headset.
Void Racer Extreme (2020)
Fans of the classic racing series WipeOut will instantly recognize the style and type of racing featured in Void Racer Extreme as it is inspired by it. Like Dash Dash World provides a VR Mario Kart experience, Void Racer Extreme aims to be the same for WipeOut-style racing.
This is one of the best VR racing games when it comes to high-octane arcade racing. Flying through the twisting futuristic tracks through the sci-fi settings is mesmerizing on its own. Void Racer Extreme is recommended if you want a good balance of fun and competitive VR racing experience.
Best VR headsets for racing games
The VR market now is filled with multiple headsets with different features and price points. While there are only a few standouts, they have a host of differences among them that might make or break it for you.
So, to make things easier for you in case you are yet to buy one of those, we have listed below three of the best VR headsets for racing games:
HTC Vive Pro 2
The key factor that makes this headset particularly good for playing the best VR racing games listed above, is its 120-degree field of view. This lets you view more around you which helps you get a good sense of the cars around while racing.
Added with 5k resolution and a smooth 120hz refresh rate, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is one of the best VR headsets to play racing games on. However, be ready to pay a hefty cost for the incredible technology within it.
Meta Quest 2
Originally known as the Oculus, the Meta Quest 2 is an incredibly feature-packed VR headset at a fairly affordable price point. It features an LCD with a 3664 x 1920 resolution and 90hz refresh rate which are decent specs.
However, it does require you to have a Facebook account to use it. This turns off a lot of people; but if you are okay with this, it can be the best bang for buck VR headset for you.
Valve Index
The Valve Index is one of, if not the best VR headset out there right now. It is expensive, but it packs the punch. With the Valve Index, playing the best VR racing games will feel more immersive than ever.
It features an IPS display with an RGB subpixel array that eliminates any screen-door effects. It has a wide 130-degree FOV with the highest refresh rate in its class, coming in at 144hz max. If you are looking for the best possible VR racing experience, this is the one to go for.
VR racing can be a fun way to experience the thrill of racing without the dangers that come with it. If you are a car enthusiast, you will enjoy the games in our best VR racing games for sim racing, and if not, the arcade VR racing games are always there to be enjoyed. Make sure you take breaks in between and have fun in these diverse worlds of racing.
