looking for good PC racing games that are OUT NOW.

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Devil240Z

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Devil240Z
Looking for a good racing game cause I cant seem to find any. I don't like the hardcore sims, i'm looking for something more GT like.
there are cool looking games on the horizon, Pcars, Next Car Game, and BeamNG all look really cool. but they aren't done yet.
Right now games like Iracing and assetto corsa do nothing for me. I know AC is early access too but I just wanted to illustrate something that i'm not interested in.
I tried playing WRC4 but i didn't like the way it handled with my Driving Force Pro.

Any recommendations? I've got my PC hooked up to my 42inch tv with my DFP just waiting for something good to play.
 
God my suspicion is true isn't it? There are no good racing games on PC.... Its just console ports and those mind numbingly boring sims. I am just gonna play friggen Sega GT 2002 after all.
 
I dont see how you can call a racing sim boring, those are some of the best racing games out there. That and most of the good racing games released on pc are Sims so your kinda outta luck. I like a career mode as much as the next guy but a game like that is more casual and thus you see it on consoles more.

You could try Game Stock Car 2013, you could kinda make a career mode out of it seeing its got Karts, Mini Challenge, F3, F1, and the Stock Car Brasil series cars. Its also got tracks that very few people have probably ever heard of apart from Interlagos.
 
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Silver-Sylph
I dont see how you can call a racing sim boring, those are some of the best racing games out there. That and most of the good racing games released on pc are Sims so your kinda outta luck. I like a career mode as much as the next guy but a game like that is more casual and thus you see it on consoles more.
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But what do you even do in those sims? I own a few and cant find a single thing to do. You just drive around with no goal. There used to be tons of good racing games with actual gameplay. Now its just GT and Forza. Why do these sim makers make this great simulation of racing and then do NOTHING with it. They need to make an actual game with that great tech.
 
Sims arnt focused on trying to create a story or sense of progression. It is focuses more on the racing itself rather than the gimmicks here and there, while iRacing is fairly expensive its by far and away the best racing game out there simply due to the racing with other people. I had a 45min race recently and 2nd place was never less than a second behind me the whole time and it ended with a photo finish.

I had an NSX mod for rFactor and just hot lapping that car was so much fun because the back would always kick out but it was so manageable and you could just fling it in corners doing huge powerslides.
 
Devil240Z
I feel like those are all in the really boring kind of PC sim genre. Those games gives you no direction. I need a career mode.
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GT Legends has a career mode. It's simple, but good.
So does GTR 2 if I remember correctly, but I think it's more limited. I seem to remember it having licenses though, similar to GT but better.
I'm pretty sure Race'07 and all the rest of the "addons" have career parts as well, at least to the extent of simulating seasons of the championships that they contain.

Richard Burns Rally, if you like rally. Still the best rally game, and has an excellent rally career.

Any of the Game Stock Car games will let you run seasons.
iRacing is the best career simulation available, if you can do without hundreds of cars and upgrades.
Shift and Shift 2 can be modded on PC to have more realistic physics and tyres, and offer excellent career modes.
F1 2010 - 2013 have good, interesting career modes if you like Formula 1. Looks great and handles better than console.

You're not going to find one single game to replace GT/Forza on PC. It doesn't exist. But you can access a similar number of cars, each with their own championships, careers and goals to be achieved over a range of different games. And that's without getting into AC and pCARS, which are likely to be closer to what you're looking for.
 
Racing games like GT/Forza with career modes that aren't sims and are compatible with a wheel:

- NFS: Shift - probably the best option right now, to be honest.
- Shift 2 Unleashed (with the NTM tyre mod)
- Test Drive Unlimited 2
- Grid
- Grid 2 (I have't tried this with a wheel yet but I'm sure I've heard that they work)
- Driver: San Francisco does work with a wheel, just not very well, you might have enough buttons on a DFP to get it to work better than I did with a G27 though
- FlatOut also works, but doesn't have feedback, only controller-style vibration which is horrible, I haven't tried the sequels
- GT Legends does have a basic career mode, GTR2 might also
- NFS: Most Wanted (the newer one) has a wheel feedback mod, some of the others might too, they also have a free camera mod so you can position the camera in the (low quality) cockpit and drive with a first person view.

Project CARS will have a career mode in the same style as GT/Forza/Shift/Grid, Next Car Game will too, I don't know if Assetto Corsa will as well but it might. Right now, though, I think Shift is as good as it gets if you want a career mode like GT or Forza.

Also before you go all 'meh, it's just a load of console ports', look into the mods that are available. WRC 3 had a physics overhaul mod, Shift 2 had a mod that fixed the horrible floaty feeling that console gamers hated and couldn't fix (same goes for the input lag, too)... Mods are particularly relevant to racing games.
 
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If you need a career mode, go for the F1 series by Codemasters. It has variable difficulty levels, looks great and has that career mode.
 
Devil240Z
But what do you even do in those sims? I own a few and cant find a single thing to do. You just drive around with no goal. There used to be tons of good racing games with actual gameplay. Now its just GT and Forza. Why do these sim makers make this great simulation of racing and then do NOTHING with it. They need to make an actual game with that great tech.
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You actually race in them against real people. The makers of these games make them to compete not to try and fulfill some pointless half thought out career mode.

If you want direction then join a league and try and win races like in real racing.

If you're wanting a career mode than dedicated PC arcade racers are far and few between. You'll probably have to go with a console port which someone gave you a huge list of games to try already.
 
neema_t
- Grid 2 (I have't tried this with a wheel yet but I'm sure I've heard that they work)
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I tried playing Grid 2 with my G27 a while back, it wasn't particularly fun - its physics are much more gamepad friendly.
 
Well thanks for the suggestions. I'm pretty much aware of/have played everything suggested. I guess the racing game market is just small compared the the old days.
 
Sharky.
I tried playing Grid 2 with my G27 a while back, it wasn't particularly fun - its physics are much more gamepad friendly.
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So that's why your times are so damn slow!

Devil240Z
Well thanks for the suggestions. I'm pretty much aware of/have played everything suggested. I guess the racing game market is just small compared the the old days.
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That's not the problem, though it is true. The problem is that the PC never has had and probably never will have a game to rival GT or Forza. There's not much point in having a GT-style career mode without the same diverse selection of cars; take Race 07 for example; why have a GT-style career mode when you have BTCC (or is it WTCC? Doesn't really matter either way), Radicals, Caterhams and Formula BMW? What, are you going to race BTCC cars in a Caterham? No, you'll race BTCC with BTCC, Caterham with Caterham, etc. and so on, there is only really one choice of class so the career mode is just running a full season with your chosen class of car.

So yeah. I can count on one hand the number of games that are just like GT: GT, GT2, GT3, GT4, GT5 and GT6 (yes, I have polydactyly). I can count on two the number of games that are remotely like GT: The aforementioned six, plus Forza, Forza 2, Forza 3, Forza 4 and Forza 5. NFS: Shift and Shift 2: Unleashed are kind of close but not really because the physics weren't as sophisticated as either GT or Forza and the car selection is 'cool/interesting street cars' 'hypercars' 'racing cars'. Grid and Grid 2 are fully arcade games with licensed cars, I can't remember if they had licensed tracks or not.

The PC's main strengths to counter this are the non-exclusivity of the physics engines (rFactor's Gmotor engine is more widely spread than hatred for Piers Morgan) and modding. You want to race N1 or N2 AE86s? There's a mod for that. You want to drive the 300 SEL 'Rote Sau'? Mod for that too. How about Formula Truck racing? Reiza Studios made a sim for that, and if you want to drive 1967 F1 cars around the pre-Armco Nürburging there's always GP Legends. The trade-off is that the graphics, AI and physics aren't consistent with other mods or engines, there are no careers and you often can't mix, say, DTMs with GT300s. Also the main point of these sims is for you to race with other human beings, so if you're not into multiplayer (I'm personally not, I just enjoy driving cars fast without risk of injury or penalty) and the AI sucks or is way too good (can happen) then it can be boring.
 
neema_t
So that's why your times are so damn slow!



That's not the problem, though it is true. The problem is that the PC never has had and probably never will have a game to rival GT or Forza. There's not much point in having a GT-style career mode without the same diverse selection of cars; take Race 07 for example; why have a GT-style career mode when you have BTCC (or is it WTCC? Doesn't really matter either way), Radicals, Caterhams and Formula BMW? What, are you going to race BTCC cars in a Caterham? No, you'll race BTCC with BTCC, Caterham with Caterham, etc. and so on, there is only really one choice of class so the career mode is just running a full season with your chosen class of car.

So yeah. I can count on one hand the number of games that are just like GT: GT, GT2, GT3, GT4, GT5 and GT6 (yes, I have polydactyly). I can count on two the number of games that are remotely like GT: The aforementioned six, plus Forza, Forza 2, Forza 3, Forza 4 and Forza 5. NFS: Shift and Shift 2: Unleashed are kind of close but not really because the physics weren't as sophisticated as either GT or Forza and the car selection is 'cool/interesting street cars' 'hypercars' 'racing cars'. Grid and Grid 2 are fully arcade games with licensed cars, I can't remember if they had licensed tracks or not.

The PC's main strengths to counter this are the non-exclusivity of the physics engines (rFactor's Gmotor engine is more widely spread than hatred for Piers Morgan) and modding. You want to race N1 or N2 AE86s? There's a mod for that. You want to drive the 300 SEL 'Rote Sau'? Mod for that too. How about Formula Truck racing? Reiza Studios made a sim for that, and if you want to drive 1967 F1 cars around the pre-Armco Nürburging there's always GP Legends. The trade-off is that the graphics, AI and physics aren't consistent with other mods or engines, there are no careers and you often can't mix, say, DTMs with GT300s. Also the main point of these sims is for you to race with other human beings, so if you're not into multiplayer (I'm personally not, I just enjoy driving cars fast without risk of injury or penalty) and the AI sucks or is way too good (can happen) then it can be boring.
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I feel like Sega GT, Sega GT 2002, And Enthusia should be on the list of game like GT at least over grid and those EA games. On the console side anyway, not quite sure what your point was with alll the listing.
On the PC side at least WRC has a career that i can wrap my head around. Though like I said I tried WRC4 with a wheel and didn't much care for it. I feel like to properly play a Rally focused game you would need an E-break controller. I did enjoy the first 3 WRC games with a pad/on PS3 cause I actually imported them from the UK as they weren't released over here in the US.

and all thouse faults and caveats you mention with the PC sims to me read like bad game design. I am not a multiplayer racer. I mean maybe if the community features ever come to gt6 I might get more into it but losing to a bunch of hackers online isn't much fun to me so I stick to offline racing.
 
Devil240Z
I feel like Sega GT, Sega GT 2002, And Enthusia should be on the list of game like GT at least over grid and those EA games.
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I've never played them so I can't comment. None of them are on PC anyway though so it doesn't really change anything.

Devil240Z
On the console side anyway, not quite sure what your point was with alll the listing.
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The point was, if you want a game like GT, your best options are all on consoles. Shift and Grid are the only things that come close on PC. This has been established already, of course.

Devil240Z
I feel like to properly play a Rally focused game you would need an E-break controller.
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That's for sure, I still haven't gone back to WRC 4 for that reason. I think you also need fixed paddles which the Logitech wheels don't have, at least with the DF wheels you get a sequential stick though.

Devil240Z
and all thouse faults and caveats you mention with the PC sims to me read like bad game design.
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Sure, because what's good for a sim is not necessarily good for a game, and vice versa. I'm not an 'x doesn't matter because simulator' apologist type but you really can't judge simulators by the same criteria as games; if GT5 was worse than GT4 (I have read such opinions in the past) because GT5's career was tiny by comparison, why doesn't everyone hate NetKar Pro, which didn't even have AI of any sort and something like ten cars? Because it's a sim, not a game. I realise this is all quite irrelevant because you've said you're not looking for a sim, but I'm responding to what I quoted above.

Devil240Z
I am not a multiplayer racer. I mean maybe if the community features ever come to gt6 I might get more into it but losing to a bunch of hackers online isn't much fun to me so I stick to offline racing.
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This makes me wonder if you're basing your opinion of multiplayer racing on a bad experience you had with GT. If you want to see what PC multiplayer racing is like you could start with Simraceway, it's free and is a pretty good indication of what to expect, though you will get idiots trying to ruin races because it's free and there is nothing to filter these people from everyone else. But if you do have some good races you might enjoy it, then you could move on to something more idiot-proof. I have yet to see any hackers in any multiplayer race I've ever been in, by the way.
 
The Trackmania series comes to mind. Here's their latest addition to their base game: Trackmania (squared) Canyon.



Yes, this trailer is where i found the epic Me & You remix, not from Gran Turismo's NSX trailer. And what baffles me is it is the 'World's Most Popular PC Racing Game' didn't reach a forum on a racing game..

It's a PC only racer with multiplayer on at all times, but wait!

The racing isn't online: it's asynchronous, meaning you race with pre-recorded racers on the track. No need to worry about trash talk and bumping. You have medals to beat (including the elusive Developer medal). It's 20 dollars on Steam (or on it's official website), it has controller support (did it with a Logitech one), and it's chock full of community things.

Tracks, cars.. i don't care. You have a developer (now owned by Ubisoft) that's giving an interesting view in racing: time trials with your friends.

And i admit: this is info from the free Trackmania Forever. You can make tracks, make liveries, and do all sorts of things. If you're still cautious about Canyon, have a look at the free Trackmania Forever and try it out. They aren't lying when they say 10 million players.. They claim that the physics vary with each game, and i suggest you try it out.
 
neema_t
I've never played them so I can't comment. None of them are on PC anyway though so it doesn't really change anything.



The point was, if you want a game like GT, your best options are all on consoles. Shift and Grid are the only things that come close on PC. This has been established already, of course.



That's for sure, I still haven't gone back to WRC 4 for that reason. I think you also need fixed paddles which the Logitech wheels don't have, at least with the DF wheels you get a sequential stick though.



Sure, because what's good for a sim is not necessarily good for a game, and vice versa. I'm not an 'x doesn't matter because simulator' apologist type but you really can't judge simulators by the same criteria as games; if GT5 was worse than GT4 (I have read such opinions in the past) because GT5's career was tiny by comparison, why doesn't everyone hate NetKar Pro, which didn't even have AI of any sort and something like ten cars? Because it's a sim, not a game. I realise this is all quite irrelevant because you've said you're not looking for a sim, but I'm responding to what I quoted above.



This makes me wonder if you're basing your opinion of multiplayer racing on a bad experience you had with GT. If you want to see what PC multiplayer racing is like you could start with Simraceway, it's free and is a pretty good indication of what to expect, though you will get idiots trying to ruin races because it's free and there is nothing to filter these people from everyone else. But if you do have some good races you might enjoy it, then you could move on to something more idiot-proof. I have yet to see any hackers in any multiplayer race I've ever been in, by the way.
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actually if I play a multiplayer racer its going to be Iracing. another forum I post on has a very active Iracing league for its members that is very noob friendly. Mostly its the subscription fee and the truck load of more paid add ons that has prevented me from getting into it.
 
SomePlayaDude
The Trackmania series comes to mind. Here's their latest addition to their base game: Trackmania (squared) Canyon.



Yes, this trailer is where i found the epic Me & You remix, not from Gran Turismo's NSX trailer. And what baffles me is it is the 'World's Most Popular PC Racing Game' didn't reach a forum on a racing game..

It's a PC only racer with multiplayer on at all times, but wait!

The racing isn't online: it's asynchronous, meaning you race with pre-recorded racers on the track. No need to worry about trash talk and bumping. You have medals to beat (including the elusive Developer medal). It's 20 dollars on Steam (or on it's official website), it has controller support (did it with a Logitech one), and it's chock full of community things.

Tracks, cars.. i don't care. You have a developer (now owned by Ubisoft) that's giving an interesting view in racing: time trials with your friends.

And i admit: this is info from the free Trackmania Forever. You can make tracks, make liveries, and do all sorts of things. If you're still cautious about Canyon, have a look at the free Trackmania Forever and try it out. They aren't lying when they say 10 million players.. They claim that the physics vary with each game, and i suggest you try it out.
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I'm a huge trackmania fan. but its not even arcade its fantasy, in the best way possible. and I think trying to play that game with a wheel would be lunacy.
 

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