Back in the early 2000s, virtual reality was merely a concept that most players waited for eagerly. After all, the idea of just transporting into a game’s world and becoming part of it sounds really good. Unfortunately, when virtual reality became mainstream in 2022, people realized that it wasn’t as immersive as they thought. Moreover, most VR games are on-rail, standing shooters, or rhythm titles, and the movements are still restricted to joysticks.
That said, there’s one VR game genre that truly brings the immersion and makes players feel like they’re inside it. Racing titles with the right steering wheel kit are some of the best virtual reality experiences anyone can have. Let’s look at some of the best games in that genre.
10 Assetto Corsa
It was late 2014 when Assetto Corsa came out on Windows from a fairly less-known developer, Kunos Simulazioni. As expected, the game never reached true success or became popular because of a lack of marketing. Thankfully, when PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and iOS versions came out, the racing title caught a lot of attention from the gaming community.
Soon after, Assetto Corsa also got excellent virtual reality support, suddenly making it extremely popular on Steam. Nowadays, a big portion of this racing game’s player base is none other than VR players.
9 rFactor 2
Simulation racing games are one of the best driving experiences because of realism. rFactor 2 takes it to another level by combining simulation-based gameplay with virtual reality. The popular racing game originally came out in 2013 but has recently become more enjoyable due to VR support. It is also enjoyable because of its life-like physics system that makes car driving more immersive.
rFactor 2 comes from the same guys behind the classics, such as EA’s F1 Challenge, NASCAR Thunder, and more. Hence, it is highly polished and full of content.
8 Project CARS
Project CARS and its sequels are some of the most enjoyable driving games on Valve Index or Meta Quest 2. The first game in the series came out in 2015 and quickly became famous for its stunning visuals and high-fidelity gameplay. Soon after, the sequels dropped and claimed the crown for even better graphics and faster gameplay.
Still, many players consider the original Project CARS the most optimal one for virtual reality. After all, it focuses on simulation more than the arcade-style gameplay of Project CARS 3.
7 DiRT Rally 2.0
It’s been a while since the first two Dirt games came out and stunned everyone with the off-road driving simulation experience that was unmatched by everything at that time. While the old games are still pretty fun in 2022, they’re certainly superseded by Dirt Rally 2.0, which not only has the best visuals in the series but also incredibly fun gameplay.
Dirt Rally 2.0 also has excellent virtual reality support that takesDirt’s classic off-road experience and adds another layer of immersion to the driving.
6 iRacing
iRacing is a unique racing game, as it is not a one-time purchase title. Instead, it’s a subscription-based game that offers some of the most realistic driving gameplay on any platform ever. According to its Steam info, iRacing is a “fun, easy, and inexpensive way for race fans and gamers alike to enjoy the thrill of the racetrack from the comfort of their home.”
Moreover, iRacing is also one of the best driving games to try out on Valve Index, as it’s one of the few MMO virtual reality racing games out there.
5 RaceRoom Racing Experience
RaceRoom Racing Experience is another driving simulation game that provides a similar experience to other official racing titles on the list. The game is a premier racing experience with professional race series like “DTM, WTCR, the WTCC, and ADAC GT Masters.” Additionally, it has dozens of popular automobile brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, McLaren, Pagani, RUF, Radical, Volvo, Saleen, and more.
However, the best part about RaceRoom Racing Experience has to be its virtual reality support and the fact that it is completely free to play on Steam.
4 American Truck Simulator
American Truck Simulator has an overwhelmingly positive score on Steam. Moreover, it has close to ninety thousand individual reviews of people who love this game. Hence, there’s no denying that it is a cult classic and a must-play for players looking for open-world simulation VR games. At its core, American Truck Simulator is a game about driving trucks and managing a cargo delivery job that sounds easier than it is.
Moreover, the game comes packed with locations such as “sunny California, sandy Nevada, and the Grand Canyon State of Arizona.” In American Truck Simulator, players must invest real-time driving the massive automobile machines and immerse themselves in a realistic world.
3 MX BIKES
MX Bikes proves that virtual reality racing doesn’t have to be restricted to cars or truck driving. In this game, players must ride realistic motocross motorcycles across a range of arenas and maps full of unique obstacles. The off-road style bike racing game runs on a physics-based engine, which makes it an extremely lifelike experience in virtual reality.
MX Bikes also offers a great online mode where players can join or host events and race around the amazing tracks. The only downside of this game is no AI opponents or career modes.
2 AUTOMOBILISTA 2
Automobilista 2 is an advanced driving simulator known for its stunning visuals and graphical fidelity. In this game, players must race around in high-profile cars and enjoy the dynamic track condition technology that makes vehicles feel extremely real. Automobilista 2 doesn’t recommend people to play it on Valve Index.
However, the virtual reality version of this game is the only one that’s truly worth experiencing. From dense weather effects to life-like car body physics, Automobilista 2 has a lot of details that are best experienced in VR.
1 CITY CAR DRIVING
Unlike every other game on the list, City Car Driving isn’t about racing on tracks or delivering cargo. Instead, it’s a very simple game with a basic premise. In this open-world simulation driving game, players must take their cars out into a complex city map and drive around with realistic controls.
The developers of City Car Driving made it to help people “master the basic skills of the car driving in various traffic conditions.” The game offers various locations, parking lots, and vehicles, allowing players to be free and do anything they want in the huge open-world city.