The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (2023)

Whether you're into real-life motorsports or not, racing video games offer the exhilarating experience of sending fancy cars hurtling around tight asphalt bends or down dirt tracks in ways you'd never dream of doing out there in the real world. Add a racing wheel and pedals to the mix, and things get even more immersive as you suddenly have to drive your vehicle almost exactly like you would a real car.

And with so many great wheel-compatible racing games on the PS5, Xbox Series S or X and the PC, there's no shortage of excitement, whether you want true-to-life sim racing or more of a frantic joyride across open worlds. It's a sizable investment to get a good setup, but it's worth it if you're a fan of this type of game.

My current favorite racing wheel is the Thrustmaster T-GT II wheel, which includes a separate three-pedal footboard. It'll set you back a sizable $800, but its high torque and real-time force feedback means it offers an extremely lifelike racing experience, letting you feel everything from differences in ground textures to tires slipping as you take a corner too quickly. It's sturdy, comfortable to hold and works on both PS5 and PC.

While you can get various racing frames and stands to play in front of your living room telly, I simply clamped mine to my desk, putting the pedals on the floor and playing via my existing monitor.

Once you're set up, you're ready to race. These are some of the best racing games I've found benefit most from the added realism of using a wheel and pedals set.

The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (2)

Gran Turismo/Sony

Available on: PS5, PS4

A PlayStation icon, Gran Turismo's latest outing brings exactly what you'd expect from the series; photo-realistic graphics, a fleet of cars to choose from and rigorously modeled real-world racing tracks from all over the world. The game is stunning and lets you dive deep into the world of car modifications and tuning setups, if that's your thing.

It's best played with a wheel and pedals set, letting you feel exactly like you're behind the wheel of cars from the likes of McLaren, Aston Martin, Dodge or a wealth of others. Sure, it's not perfect; earning money is slow going and, yes, you can controversially just buy more with in-game microtransactions, as if paying the whopping $70 (£70) price for the game wasn't already enough.

(Video) Best Racing Games To Play With A Wheel In 2020

But if you want to experience tracks like Silverstone or the iconic Nurburgring in pristine detail behind the wheel of some of your favorite cars, GT7 is a no-brainer for PlayStation owners.

$70 at Best Buy$70 at Target

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The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (3)

Codemasters

Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC (via Steam)


If you've been hooked on Netflix's Drive To Survive series, then maybe it's time you took your own step into the F1 racing world. F1 22 maintains its formula of putting you behind the wheels of the biggest, most powerful, most expensive racing cars on the planet, sending you hurtling around real-world racing tracks and daring you not to take the best racing lines.


You can start your own racing team and battle names like Verstappen, Hamilton, LeClerc and Norris as you progress through the game. The physics feel excellent with a racing wheel (although how theyactuallycompare to real life F1 racing I've no idea) and despite an often relentless focus on "proper" driving, it remains fun and enjoyably challenging to play.

$70 at Best Buy

$32 at Amazon

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(Video) The Best Racing Wheels for Consoles and PC - Budget to Best

Read more:PS5 Review: Exclusive Games Power Sony's Space-Age Console

The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (4)

Microsoft

Available on: Xbox, PC

The Forza Horizon series has been my favorite racing franchise since its launch, and the fifth generation is no exception. Set in Mexico, Horizon 5 maintains the glorious open-world scenery, letting you send a huge variety of real-life cars hurtling down volcanoes, over sand dunes or around sweeping coastal roads at tire-squealing speeds.

I fully completed the game on the Xbox Series X using a standard controller, but trying it out with a wheel and pedals was a huge revelation for me. It was harder at first, but I quickly fell in love with how much fun it was to actually steer my Bugatti Chiron at top speed around the map or to practice my drift skills in one of the Hoonigan vehicles.

It's an exceptionally fun game and well worth playing with a racing wheel and pedals.

The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (5)

iRacing

Available on: PC

(Video) 10 Best Racing Games With Steering Wheel Support 2023

If Forza Horizon's attitude is "drive it like you stole it," then iRacing's is most definitely "drive it like you borrowed it off your boss and your career is over if you get so much as a scratch on it." You'll find no driver assistance, auto braking or steering guides here, nor any kind of rewind mechanic or even a mini map of the track you're on.

Instead, iRacing is about pure realism, with tracks and physics modeled with brutal accuracy and a focus on genuine skill and knowledge of the tracks and cars in order to do well. Unlike others on this list, iRacing is an online subscription game, where progression takes place via competing in races against real players at set times of the day. Furthering your journey doesn't just involve winning; you earn your next license instead by driving safely, avoiding colliding with other cars or coming off the track.

As a result, it's arguably the least "fun" game on this list, but its laser focus on realism means it's the nearest you'll get to actually feeling like you're behind the wheel of a race car on a track and it's why real-life pro racers reportedly use iRacing as a training ground.

Read more: Best Gaming Laptops

The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (6)

Codemasters

Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC

When you want to ditch the smooth, asphalt tracks in favor of some rain and mud, Dirt 5 is the game to look toward. This rally racer leans less into the hardcore simulation elements of others in the series, instead offering a more accessible arcade-style gameplay that I really enjoyed.

The variety of tracks is good, the graphics are stunning, and power-sliding the numerous vehicle types around rough corners felt great with my wheel and pedals. There are driver assistance options (which I used, because I'm here for fun, not for a lesson in car physics) but you can adjust these to suit.

The career mode itself is pretty forgettable, but you'll keep coming back for fun races and the gorgeous settings.

$35 at Amazon

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(Video) Best racing games to play with a wheel

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The Best Racing Games and the Wheels and Pedals to Play Them With (7)

Codemasters

Available on: PS4, PS5 (backward compatible), Xbox, PC

I loved that Dirt Rally 2.0 took me back to playing the original Colin McRae Rally on the PS One back in 1998. It's a similar game to be fair, with full-length rally courses set across beautiful locations in rally countries like Wales, Greece and New Zealand. Thankfully, the graphics and physics have somewhat moved on in the last 25 years, with gorgeous visuals and car handling that reacts to the environment, weather and car damage.

Tracks are well-modeled, and putting in good times means focusing on your driving, making full use of your brake pedal, and paying close attention to what corners or jumps are coming up. It's much more of a rally sim than Dirt 5, but it's still accessible enough for racing tourists like me to fire up and have a ton of fun sending my car around tight bends.

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Game console reviews

  • Sony PlayStation 5 Review
  • Microsoft Xbox Series X Review
  • Microsoft Xbox Series S Review
  • Nintendo Switch OLED Review
  • Meta Quest 2 Review
  • Valve Steam Deck Review

See the latest CNET gaming coverage here.

(Video) Start Sim Racing CHEAP in 2022

FAQs

Which is No 1 racing game in world? ›

Mario Kart is the biggest name in racing games, and after a few years of wonky design choices, Mario Kart Tour has finally come into its own. It's the classic Mario Kart experience built for mobile, with plenty of unique features.

What is considered the best racing game of all time? ›

These are the 50 best driving games of all time
  • Daytona USA - Arcade (1993) ...
  • Burnout 3: Takedown - PlayStation 2, Xbox (2004) ...
  • Forza Horizon 4 – Xbox and PC (2018) ...
  • Out Run - Arcade (1986) ...
  • Super Mario Kart - SNES (1993) ...
  • Sega Rally Championship - Arcade (1994) ...
  • Gran Turismo - Sony PlayStation (1998)

What is the racing game with wheels on hands and feet? ›

Kinetica is set in the future versions of Earth's major cities, outer-space, and some fictional locations in the Earth's distant future. Twelve racers compete while wearing "Kinetic Suits", which have wheels on the hands and feet, giving racers the appearance of motorcycles.

What is the coolest racing game? ›

Forza Horizon 5

Newcomers will be wowed by the racer's many, creative riches. In short, Forza Horizon remains the best racing game series, and Forza Horizon 5 is yet another example of why it's so beloved.

What is the most popular racing? ›

Formula 1, or F1, is the most popular racing series in the world right now. Formula 1 cars are open, single-seat cars, known as some of the fastest vehicles in the world, if not the absolute fastest. Formula 1's roots go back to the 1920s, but officially, F1 racing began in 1946 with the creation of FIA.

What is the most famous racing? ›

The Le Mans 24 hour race is quite arguably the most famous motorsport event in the world. It first took place in 1923, and it has been an annual feature on the motorsport calendar since 1949.

What is the most realistic racing game 2022? ›

Assetto Corsa Competizione is one of the most beautiful and realistic early access new racing games that will challenge its players. This brilliant racing simulation game lets its players explore the game's stunning and atmospheric open world while experiencing an authentic GT3 championship.

Which is the very best car game? ›

10 Best Racing Games For Android And iOS 2023
  • Asphalt 9: Legends.
  • Traffic Rider.
  • Mario Kart Tour.
  • F1 Mobile Racing.
  • CSR Racing 2 – Car And Drag Racing Game.
  • Need For Speed: No Limits.
  • Hill Climb Racing.
  • Real Racing 3.
Sep 20, 2020

What is the #1 best video game of all time? ›

In ascending order, here are the best video games of all time, ranked.
...
Best Video Games of All Time
  1. The Last of Us Part II (2020)
  2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) ...
  3. Super Mario World (1990) ...
  4. Tetris (1984) ...
  5. Minecraft (2011) ...
Jan 15, 2023

What is the most realistic game car? ›

Our research found that 2021's Forza Horizon 5 has the most realistic depiction of real-life cars in video games, according to brake horsepower (bhp).

What is the coolest game right now? ›

The 25 Best PC Games to Play Right Now
  1. Half-Life: Alyx. Valve's first Half-Life game in 13 years reminded us of the signature innovation that's made this series so special, and why its return was so anticipated.
  2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. ...
  3. XCOM 2. ...
  4. Disco Elysium. ...
  5. Elden Ring. ...
  6. Crusader Kings 3. ...
  7. Hollow Knight. ...
  8. Outer Wilds. ...
Jan 23, 2023

What is the hardest type of racing? ›

Open-wheel racing, like Formula 1 or IndyCar racing, is often considered the most difficult and requires exceptionally skilled drivers worldwide. Formula 1 racing is called the pinnacle of driving. Millions of dollars are invested in Formula 1 cars, and their drivers are some of the best in the world.

How do you play big feet race? ›

Big Foot Race
  1. Step 1: List of Tools and Materials. I used basic tools and materials that I already had on hand. ...
  2. Step 2: Make Your Marks. ...
  3. Step 3: Drill and Sand the Holes. ...
  4. Step 4: Time to Sand. ...
  5. Step 5: Paint, Paint, Paint. ...
  6. Step 6: Cut the Strap and Hose. ...
  7. Step 7: Add the Handle. ...
  8. Step 8: Finished Handle.

What is the Hot Wheels game called? ›

Hot Wheels Unleashed is a 2021 racing video game developed and published by Milestone based on Mattel's Hot Wheels toyline. The game was released on September 30, 2021 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

What is Open-Wheel Racing called? ›

American open-wheel car racing, also known as Indy car racing, is a category of professional automobile racing in the United States. As of 2022, the top-level American open-wheel racing championship is sanctioned by IndyCar.

What state is known for racing? ›

Indiana is a Midwestern state known for farms, sports and car racing. Indiana is called the “Hoosier State,” but no one really knows why. The name came into usage in the 1830s, not long after Indiana became a state.

What are the 3 biggest races in the world? ›

The world population can be divided into 4 major races, namely white/Caucasian, Mongoloid/Asian, Negroid/Black, and Australoid.

What is the fastest type of racing? ›

The starting point is F1. There's no question that it's the fastest category in the world.

Who is the king of racing? ›

Richard Lee Petty

Who is the king of car racing? ›

They call Richard Petty "The King" because no one has won as many races, 200 of them.

Who is the goat of car racing? ›

F1 GOAT: Michael Schumacher.

Do racing games improve your real life driving skills? ›

Fast-paced games also improve coordination between muscle control and incoming visual information, a skill that improves reflex times in real-world driving situations. Both action gamers and racing gamers showed improved visual-motor skills compared to those who played different types of video games.

Which racing game has the most realistic physics? ›

Racing sims usually tend to have better physics than titles that have been more popular, such as the Need for Speed games. Honorable mentions for great simulated race physics are: Raceroom Racing Experience, Project Cars 2, Automobilista, GTR 2, and NASCAR Racing 2003 Season.

What is the hardest game in the world 2022? ›

A study has revealed the hardest video game of 2022 is Immortality, ranking slightly higher than hit game Elden Ring. Elden Ring recently won the coveted Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2022.

What is a realistic car game? ›

Realistic car games feature hundreds of sports cars that can be driven at high speeds on tracks and rallies from all over the world. People can plug in their controllers and take vehicles for a spin to challenge the best drivers and become the best on international circuits.

What is the most realistic car game for free? ›

Most popular car games
  • Drift Hunters 2. 5 Stars Drift Hunters 2 is a free-to-play browser drifting game. ...
  • RX7 Drift 3D. 4 Stars Love RX7's as much as we do? ...
  • Drift Hunters. ...
  • Lambo Drifter. ...
  • Supra Drift 2. ...
  • Car Crash Simulator Royale. ...
  • Derby Crash 4. ...
  • Skyline Drift 3D.
Feb 6, 2023

Who is the famous car game? ›

Real Racing 3 is one of the most popular car games out there. It has also been around for a long time. The game features over 140 cars, time trials, an online multiplayer, and 17 tracks to race through. The game boasts over 4,000 career events.

What are the 3 most played video games? ›

Notes
  • PUBG Mobile (free-to-play) – 1.1 billion (as of December 2022)
  • PUBG: Battlegrounds (free-to-play) – 500 million (as of January 2021)
  • Peacekeeper Elite (free-to-play) – 70 million (as of May 2019)
  • Battlegrounds Mobile India (free-to-play) – 100 million (as of August 2021)

What are the top 3 most popular games? ›

The 10 Most Popular Games Right Now
  • Minecraft.
  • Fortnite.
  • Fall Guys.
  • League of Legends.
  • PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
  • CrossFire.
  • Roblox.
  • Lost Ark.
Aug 9, 2022

Has there ever been a 0 0 game? ›

Yes, many NFL games have ended 0-0. Per Pro Football Reference, 73 games in pro football history have ended in a 0-0 tie. However, the last time it happened was almost 80 years ago, meaning there have been no scoreless ties in the Super Bowl era.

Is anything faster than F1? ›

Porsche's new 919 Hybrid Evo Le Mans Car is Faster than an F1 Car​ After retiring from the top tier of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) last year, Porsche have released their LMP1 car of any regulations and made it faster than an F1 car. Now, that's how to have 'one last hoorah'.

Is F1 more famous than MotoGP? ›

And on Instagram MotoGP has 13.6 million followers and Formula 1 has 21.6 million followers which is 8 million more. So it can be said that Formula 1 is more popular than MotoGP.

Is Formula 1 the most watched motorsport? ›

Formula One is a racing competition that began in the 1950s and has since grown to be the most popular type of motor racing. It has a global following, with each race being broadcast live to over 200 countries, and it's not just a European or North American pastime. There are over 500 million viewers in Asia alone!

Can F1 cars go 200 mph? ›

An average F1 car can hit a top speed of 200–220 miles per hour (322–354 km/h), not unaided by the DRS concept since it was introduced in 2011. That's quick enough to cover a mile in less than 10 seconds.

Is F1 faster than V8? ›

A lot faster. So it's official. A Formula 1 car is faster than a V8 Supercar and a superbike.

Are Nascar cars faster than F1? ›

The cars' weight also works against them in terms of outright top speed. The current top speeds recorded in NASCAR are around 321km/h, quite a bit slower than F1 and IndyCar. NASCAR also has a slower acceleration time, going from 0-96km/h in around 3.4 seconds.

Can a motorcycle beat a F1 car? ›

On the straights, MotoGP bikes can reach speeds of up to 200 mph, while F1 cars can reach speeds of up to 300 mph. However, F1 cars may take corners at speeds of 100+ mph, whereas motorcycles must slow down considerably.

What is the biggest motor race in the world? ›

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (French: 24 Heures du Mans) is an endurance-focused sports car race held annually near the town of Le Mans, France.

How much horsepower is a MotoGP bike? ›

More than half a century later, today's fastest MotoGP bikes produce around 290 horsepower per litre. Most famous of all was the 250 six, renowned for its awesome exhaust note and back-to-back world title victories with Hailwood. In 1966 Honda entered the premier 500cc category for the first time.

What is the most popular auto racing in the US? ›

The 10 most prestigious races in the United States, ranked
  1. Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar)
  2. Daytona 500 (NASCAR) ...
  3. NASCAR championship race. ...
  4. Rolex 24 (IMSA) ...
  5. Southern 500 (NASCAR) ...
  6. Knoxville Nationals (Sprint cars) ...
  7. Chili Bowl (Midgets) ...
  8. U.S. Nationals (NHRA) ...
Jan 23, 2020

Is F1 losing popularity? ›

The popularity of Formula One in America has continued to rise in 2022 after ESPN released their record-breaking viewing figures at the end of the season.

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