There are plenty of contemporary video games with stunning graphics, many settings, and challenging gameplay to squander time on. The greatest for gamers is this:
Forza Horizon 5
The definitive open-world racing series is now Forza Horizon. Simply put, developer Playground Games does everything right: a huge, nearly overwhelming variety of things to do; a lively festival vibe that occasionally borders on corny, but mostly makes Forza Horizon one of the most joyful gaming experiences you can have; realistic, atmospheric real-world locations that make for some of the best virtual tourism around; excellent, fluid technology; handling that combines authenticity with arcade accessibility; and detailed car models that are meticulously curated with genuine passion and care.
F1 24
Given the ridiculous speed and cornering ability of the cars, these games achieve the ideal balance between realism and approachability, with handling that is both realistic and controllable. The highly captivating career mode, which allows you to construct a racing career and lead your own team up the grid, race by race, season by season, is the franchise’s main attraction, though it has also produced some surprisingly compelling story modes.
The seventh Grand Turismo
GT7 is the most expansive and deliciously quirky game in the series’ history. It centers around a cafe where stock images of elderly men regale you with information about the automobile you are driving. With a strong selection of vehicles and tracks that celebrate the series’ 30 years of existence, and a somewhat open structure, it is also easy to get along with.
Corsa Competizione Assetto
The Assetto Corsa Competizione in 2019 remains the winner. With a concentration on motorsports, Competizione is a spinoff of the new sim racing series by Kunos Simulazioni, an Italian studio. It has official GT World Challenge Europe licensing, which means it features aggressive full racing trim and cool road cars. Kunos offers some remarkably realistic laser-scanned circuits that capture every bump and camber, as well as what may be the best, most tactile handling model available.
iRacing
Even if iRacing is not the most advanced sim racer available, it has kept up with the competition and is without a doubt the top racing esport. Even in the most modest competitions, you will be rewarded with exciting, equitable competition if you put in the necessary time, money, and effort.
Paradise of Burnout Remastered
A fortunate exception is Burnout Paradise (2008), the pinnacle of Criterion’s crash-happy arcade racing series, which is still playable today because it isn’t licensed and has been remastered in 2018. Even if the Paradise City setting feels little in comparison to later examples like Forza Horizon or The Crew, it still amazes me how successfully Criterion managed to fit Burnout’s nitro-fueled action and lavish crash mechanics into this boldly free-form open-world style.
Wreckfest
Half of the panels on your (cheekily unlicensed) mid-1980s Jaguar XJ-S are hanging off as you stagger across the finish line. The charm is only enhanced by the front end’s rough and ready appearance. This is a relaxed, carefree game that is enjoyable for its own sake in a genre that often leans toward white-knuckle intensity.