PC racing game recommendations?

[Dankk]

That looks decent but the graphics seem worse than Burnout and that game is older... Is that really a 2010 game?

Having played both Burnout Paradise and Hot Pursuit, Hot Pursuit is definitely better-looking. The only problem is that it has no AA.

Great game though. Cop chases don't get much better.

 

[festa_freak]

I used to like need for speed but the latest titles are too arcadey for me. And NFS has always been arcadey. My favorite was the FIRST hot pursuit.

My favorite racing games for PC are:

GRID. Linear tracks but very well done. Can make it an arcade or sim.

Midtown madness 2 (very old) with awesome mods (but very arcadey).
Wide open cities.

Burnout paradise: Multiplayer still works as of a few months ago. Very arcadey again but just fun. You can do stunts and races etc. Demo derbies. It's mindless fun really. Best time to buy is now on steam. I don't think GRID or burnout have been a sale yet, so wait for them to be on sale (more) than they might be now.

 

[ky54]

ToCA Racing 3 runs very well on win 7 and covers a wide variety of different styles from Formula 1 to Dirt Outlaws. There is quite a bit of options or you can just take what it gives you, pick a race, and mash the gas. It's my go to racing game.

Unfortunately producing great race games is getting to be a lost art. I was totally unimpressed F1 2011. Dirt is fun but if you played one you've played them all which I have except the newest one. There didn't seem much new material to warrant spending some money on.

 

[carling220]

Oohhh this is interesting. I always thought the current set of games, minus GTR and Rfactor, were just like NFS1 crazy arcade.

Grid looks great, and NFS shift actually, both VERY cheap on steam now, about £6-8 i think.

Looks like Grid may have more varied racing? is it reasonably realistic though, sort of like GT5 for PS3 without the aids, fairly real but not annoying like GTR?

Graphically, does Grid or NFS shift look amazing or mediocre in 1080p maxed?

 

[Dankk]

Looks like Grid may have more varied racing? is it reasonably realistic though, sort of like GT5 for PS3 without the aids, fairly real but not annoying like GTR?

Graphically, does Grid or NFS shift look amazing or mediocre in 1080p maxed?

Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed looks phenomenal on max settings.

GRID is a bit older, but still looks very good.

GRID has a little bit more variety as well.

Can't really say how they compare to GT5 and GTR because I'm not terribly familiar with those games. But they are both reasonably realistic, yes.

 

[Craig234]

I don't like racing games generally, but loved Burnout Paradise on the PS3 (except the 'stunts' events', but those are pretty optional). Not sure I'd like it on the PC.

 

[carling220]

Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed looks phenomenal on max settings.

GRID is a bit older, but still looks very good.

GRID has a little bit more variety as well.

Can't really say how they compare to GT5 and GTR because I'm not terribly familiar with those games. But they are both reasonably realistic, yes.

I was watching some videos online of grid and the cars seem to be able to go around corners like scalextric cars.

Shift 2 look like a good shout.

 

[OCNewbie]

NFS: Hot Pursuit is on sale right now through Steam for $4.99 so I'm gonna pick that up =)

All the other suggestions have been great. I'll probably try out that TrackMania one too, and perhaps Grid as well. The Dirt series also intrigues me. There's so many different options.

 

[Canbacon]

Looks like there are a few options for Fanatec on Amazon. Which in particular would you recommend?

I would purchase directly from the Fanatec website.
http://www.fanatec.de/

The Forza CSR value packs look good. The normal bundle is just a bit more expensive than the G27, but the XL pack looks like you get a lot better pedals. The only big downside is if they didn't make good progress with the shifter quality. The ones I used were not in the same league as the G25/G27.

 

[Azeroth101]

BLUR and Trackmania 2 Canyons are good games.

 

[Tweak155]

I would purchase directly from the Fanatec website.
http://www.fanatec.de/

The Forza CSR value packs look good. The normal bundle is just a bit more expensive than the G27, but the XL pack looks like you get a lot better pedals. The only big downside is if they didn't make good progress with the shifter quality. The ones I used were not in the same league as the G25/G27.

Quite honestly I don't care too much for shifting. I want the force feedback mainly and the wheel. I'd prefer the pedals just so I don't have to hold buttons on the steering wheel. Since I can make the game Automatic shift, the shifter makes no difference to me.

 

[felang]

So I reinstalled Shift 2 Unleashed yesterday after I found my old savegame files. Tried to do a little online gaming but it was a ghost town... did everybody stop playing this game onlne already or what?

 

[shortylickens]

Still waiting on GRID 2.

 

[darkewaffle]

Personally I think Burnout is a great series, Burnout 3 was an absolute blast on the Xbox and it looks like Paradise had some quite good reviews, though I haven't played it myself.

It's definitely more of an action experience though, I don't know how much it appeals to the "simulator" crowd.

 

[pauldun170]

Tried Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed from Steam
Seemed to be a delay between steering inputs on xbox controller. Just didn't feel as responsive as Dirt 2.
Seems like a good game...maybe its my setup

 

[Canbacon]

Tried Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed from Steam
Seemed to be a delay between steering inputs on xbox controller. Just didn't feel as responsive as Dirt 2.
Seems like a good game...maybe its my setup

It definitely is the default sensitivity settings for the controls. Look up some other preset configs for the 360 controller then tweak it from there.

 

[shortylickens]

I cant think of a single racing game thats shipped with good settings. You always need to tweak.

 

[pauldun170]

It definitely is the default sensitivity settings for the controls. Look up some other preset configs for the 360 controller then tweak it from there.

Will do...thx

 

[felang]

Also, default tuning settings suck... just moving the slider about halfway in all suspension related settings (except bump stops) improves handling a bunch. Of course that won´t help when using factory cars as is necesary in career mode a lot of the time.

And yeah I also use a X360 controller and had to turn sensitivity down a bunch to able to get it to my liking.

 

[Canbacon]

I cant think of a single racing game thats shipped with good settings. You always need to tweak.

I agree for sure. I always spend some time in time trial mode to see what works best for my setup. But for Shift 1 and Shift 2 they seem to be a lot worse than other games at default settings. Forza for me is pretty good at default.