Sim racing has become a massive part of the gaming universe, letting players experience the thrill and precision of real-world motorsport from the comfort of their own homes. These games focus on realistic physics and detailed racing environments, with some even incorporating one-to-one laser-tracked circuits.
Sim racers surpass arcade racing games by demanding smooth driving techniques, precise racing lines, and mastering a car’s control in various conditions. These things can be daunting for a beginner, so choosing the right game is important.
The guide below lists the best simulator racing games for beginners. Each title has been carefully evaluated in terms of driving physics, gameplay, accessibility, and most importantly, fun. Whether on console or PC, these games ease beginners into the learning curve with helpful driving assists, tutorials, and forgiving gameplay to help aspiring sim racers master their driving.
1. Gran Turismo 7 (2022, PS4, PS5)
Gran Turismo 7 is the premier racing sim available on PlayStation consoles. Welcoming for beginners, it presents a gentle learning curve, long career mode, and an extensive collection of cars and tracks to choose from.
Driving assists such as ABS and Traction Control can be turned on or off depending on your skill level, so you have the option to gradually minimize the driving assists as you get more confident in your driving. Moreover, the license tests and structured tutorials teach fundamental driving pillars, such as braking points and throttle control, in a way that you never get bored.
Rolling out regular updates, with beginner-friendly online matchmaking and VR support for even deeper immersion, Gran Turismo 7 is a great starting point for beginners looking to step into the sim-racing world.
2. Assetto Corsa (2014, PC)
Assetto Corsa, one of the most popular racing simulators, is also quite welcoming to newcomers. AC has an impressive balance between realism and accessibility. The vehicle physics engine is praised for being highly realistic, yet still approachable for newbies learning the ropes.
The wide range of cars and laser-scanned tracks introduces newbies to different driving experiences without being overwhelming. Customization options and a vibrant modding community enable players to tailor their experience as they wish.
Essential driving aids and a simple interface that helps newbies focus on learning the driving lines and car control step by step. Assetto Corsa offers both single-player and multiplayer, so you can practice solo, then compete online as you get better.
3. Le Mans Ultimate (2025, PC)
Le Mans Ultimate is a hot pick right now and is surprisingly welcoming for beginners, especially if you’re new to endurance racing. You can customize race weekends offline so you can start with shorter races, easier AI, and better weather.
The car collection is huge, with each class having a category of cars. It offers everything from more forgiving GT3s to faster prototypes, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Moreover, the physics are realistic yet fair, so you can learn about tire wear, fuel management, and multi-class traffic with some leeway for mistakes considered (no rage quits here!).
The RaceControl system matches you with players of your skill level, which eliminates unfair matchmaking and makes racing challenging and fun. It’s still growing with career mode rolling out soon, making it one of the best picks for beginners who want a real taste of endurance sim racing without feeling unwelcome.
4. Automobilista 2 (2020, PC)
Automobilista 2 is a decent racing sim that features everything from go-karts to top-tier prototypes. The driving physics feel realistic without being punishing, and the tutorial modes help beginners transition into the sim racing world.
The AI is fully adjustable, which lets players choose the skill cap on their opponents, ensuring fair and competitive races. The combination of accessibility, gameplay, and an active community makes it a solid sim racing game for beginners.
5. RaceRoom Racing Experience (2013, PC)
RaceRoom Racing Experience is an excellent choice for a free-to-play sim racer. Although additional tracks, cars, and liveries can be bought using in-game currency, the base game offers several cars and tracks to get you started.
What makes RaceRoom a standout for beginners is the three driving modes it offers: Novice, Amateur, and Get Real, each of which adjusts physics and driving assists to match the skill level of players.
It features active online servers with beginner-friendly competitions and time trials to practice. The adaptive AI adjusts opponent difficulty levels based on your recent performances, ensuring balanced gameplay for beginners, challenging enough to engage them, yet not overly difficult.
6. iRacing (2008, PC)
iRacing is a subscription-based simulator racer with a much steeper learning curve. Still, it provides one of the most structured and realistic experiences for new players.
Its tiered rookie series and safety rating system ensure that new players compete against opponents of similar performance. This helps beginners dodge unfair matchmaking and compete in a challenging yet fair environment.
It also does not offer any driving assists. This makes it a better option for racers eager to learn through trial and error rather than with the help of tutorials.
Adding to that, its extensive community, coaching resources, and packed race schedules make it an excellent choice for players new to the world of sim racing.
7. DiRT Rally 2.0 (2019, PC, Xbox One, PS4, PS5)
Fan of rally racing? DiRT Rally 2.0 offers realistic off-road driving physics and a bunch of assists that help new players learn the basics of rally car mechanics. It is often considered the pinnacle of off-road racing, giving players the true rally racing experience with all its complexity and dangers.
The vast variety of locations and car setups allows players to learn car control even on changing surfaces, such as mud, snow, and gravel. The difficulty gradually ramps up, and there are championships that help balance challenge with fun.
If you love sim racing and want to delve into rally racing, Dirt Rally 2.0 is perfect for you.
8. Wreckfest (2017)
Wreckfest is rather a casual and enjoyable introduction to sim driving. It mixes real-life driving simulation with thrilling demolition derby-style racing, hence the “hybrid” label, offering the elements of both Arcade and Sim racing.
Yes, it may not be a true racing sim like other titles on this list; however, it retains key driving mechanics, such as realistic damage physics, tire wear, and weight shift, which collectively enhance the sim racing experience.
The game has entertaining multiplayer modes that keep you coming back for more. It can be a stepping-stone for newcomers who want to grasp the basics of sim driving before they tackle more challenging racing sim games. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy thrilling, action-packed racing with a blend of sim racing.
