People either love or hate the simulation genre. Some players enjoy the possibility of driving real vehicles in real-world conditions, while others criticize the genre for the very same reason, as they find simulators to be just a boring copy of reality.
Today we’ll try to prove that car driving games can be addictive and no less fun than arcade-style productions.
| Name | Released | Genre | Developer | Discount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Assetto Corsa Competizione | 2018-09-12 | Simulation | Kunos Simulazioni | 69% | Read more |
 | Assetto Corsa | 2014-12-19 | Indie | Kunos Simulazioni | 55% | Read more |
 | MudRunner | 2017-10-31 | Simulation | Saber Interactive | 82% | Read more |
 | BeamNG.drive | 2015-05-29 | Adventure | BeamNG | 2% | Read more |
 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 | 2013-01-16 | Simulation | SCS Software | 72% | Read more |
 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 Complete Edition | 2012-10-19 | Truck simulator | SCS Software | 40% | Read more |
 | DiRT Rally 2.0 | 2019-02-26 | Simulation | Codemasters | 65% | Read more |
 | Driver: San Francisco (Uplay) | 2011-09-01 | Action & Shooter | Ubisoft | Read more | |
 | DiRT Rally | 2015-12-07 | Simulation | Feral Interactive (Linux) | 96% | Read more |
 | Project CARS 2 | 2017-09-22 | Racing | Slightly Mad Studios | 88% | Read more |
 | Forza Motorsport 7 (Xbox Live) | 2017-10-03 | Racing | Turn 10 Studios | 51% | Read more |
 | Spintires | 2014-06-12 | Adventure | Oovee® Game Studios | 73% | Read more |
Assetto Corsa Competizione
| Release: | 2018-09-12 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | KUNOS-Simulazioni Srl |
You don’t need to dig too much to find some really interesting car simulators. If racing on real-world circuits with the use of licensed GT cars is your cup of tea, you can’t go wrong with Assetto Corsa.
The game allows players to experience the life of a GT driver and enjoy the thrills of a real race. It focuses on the real GT series, so fans of the real motorsport world will easily note numerous familiar elements, such as the real circuits or available cars. The most important thing, however, is how the game’s physics work.
The developers did their best to simulate the real environment – using an advanced sophisticated mathematical model they were able to recreate things like tire grip and aerodynamic impact, making the whole simulation surprisingly accurate, especially when compared to other racing games.
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Forza Motorsport 7
| Release: | 2017-10-03 |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Turn10 Studios |
While it’s not as much of a hardcore simulation experience as Assetto Corsa mentioned above is, it’s still an interesting game to try – especially if you’re new to the simulation genre and would like to start your adventure with something easier.
When it comes to realistic racing simulation experience, Forza Motorsport 7 is somewhat accurate, but the developers clearly aimed to make their game more appealing to a wider audience, instead of just the most dedicated drivers. As a result, some simulation elements were simplified to improve gameplay and flatten the learning curve.
The game’s most notable features are its outstanding visuals, as well as the sheer number of playable vehicles. There are hundreds of cars to choose from, and each one handles differently, requiring you to learn how it behaves on the track and what it’s capable of – figuring out how to drive each car in the most efficient way can be a goal in itself.
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Richard Burns Rally
| Release: | 2004-07-09 |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Warthog Games |
It’s one of the classics from the Collin McRae Rally 2.0 era – while CMR sacrificed certain simulation elements to make the gameplay more accessible to a casual player, RBR took an entirely different route.
If you ever wondered if a driving simulator can be too realistic, you probably didn’t have the opportunity to play this good, old, and maybe a bit forgot gem from 2004. The development team wasn’t afraid of creating a difficult game that only the most experienced drivers would be able to fully understand and enjoy, and maybe that’s why this title was largely overshadowed by its more casual competitor, the CMR series.
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a demanding simulator that won’t hold your hand, this game is a definite must-play – believe it or not, but it’s still among the best car simulation games, even today.
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MudRunner
| Release: | 2017-10-31 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | Saber Interactive |
If you’re looking for a good vehicle simulation game, but not necessarily a racing game, then you could take a look at Mudrunner – a game about driving heavy-duty trucks in a difficult, muddy environment.
Mudrunner lets players drive a selection of heavy-duty trucks in order to perform certain seemingly simple tasks, such as transporting cargo between two points. While it may sound easy at first, you will quickly learn that the terrain works against you – the deceitful swamps and the thick mud will immediately start swallowing your vehicle if you’re not paying attention, forcing you to send other vehicles to the rescue. Figuring out how to not get stuck is part of the fun, and it’s even better once you realize that the terrain gets deformed under your vehicle’s weight – don’t be too cocky while driving, because here even the roads you know well can surprise you at some point.
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BeamNG.drive
| Release: | 2015-05-29 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | BeamNG |
For the final game on the list, we’ve got something special – a true sandbox experience for those who love not only accurate physics in their games but also open-ended gameplay where you can do whatever you want.
BeamNG is mainly about exploring the possibilities it gives and enjoy one of the most advanced vehicle simulators out there – you are free to choose any of the available vehicles and either start a free-play adventure with no particular goal in mind or complete certain scenarios and challenges. The game’s advanced physics simulation is not limited to only how the vehicle behaves on the road – a large part of the game is its realistic collision system.
It can be a pain at times because your car’s suspension can be damaged by even seemingly harmless bumps and off-roading, but it’s surely something a fan of realistic simulators will appreciate. It’s also worth mentioning that the game is mod-friendly, which means that once you start getting bored with the core content, you can always download new cars and maps to try.
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The Best Driving Car Simulation Games To Play
The simulation genre is often considered just a boring copy of our reality, but it does have its place in the world of virtual entertainment, and usually, you don’t have to be a dedicated simulator fan to enjoy them. Things can get a bit complicated when some professional knowledge is required – these games can be fully enjoyed only by those who understand what’s going on.
Imagine a racing simulation game, where you are the one who’s responsible for not only driving the car during the race, but also for making certain adjustments to the car’s physics, such as choosing the right aerodynamic elements and tires, tweaking the suspension, and so on – understanding what’s best for each particular scenario and making proper changes is crucial to achieving success, as even the world’s best drivers wouldn’t be able to win a race with the inadequately prepared vehicle.
Simulation games give players the opportunity to test their professional skills, but there are also simpler simulators that serve an entirely different purpose – to give players some fun without this whole competitive element. There are no opponents, no time limits, no penalty points for being an inexperienced driver, just you and the chosen vehicle to experiment with.