In terms of graphics, racing games have been setting their own standards ever since the late 90s and have been continuously doing so. The cutting-edge gaming technology of the modern era has been utilized magnificently in these games. In recent years, there have been many games that have their own interpretation of life-like graphics. So, with that in mind, here are the top 10 racing games that showcase the most realistic graphics!
10 . Need for Speed 2015
Need for Speed 2015 gameplay
The 2015 Need for Speed by Ghost Games has stood the test of time with its beautiful nightlife graphics and stunning weather details. The streets in the night look fantastic and the rain details are in a world of their own. The textures and shadows are very detailed even in NPC cars. The decals and other designs put on cars don’t look artificial at all when out in the open. The game is greatly optimized for consoles and it pushes the limits on the PCs with Anti -Aliasing, and HBAO+.
9 . Grid 2019
Grid 2019 Gameplay
The new Grid game has slightly slipped under the radar of the racing community as it is more leaned towards the casual fans than the serious ones. Nevertheless, the graphics in this game are really top-notch even for an arcade racing game. The car details are pretty good although the draw distance could be better. The tracks are well detailed and the lighting effects are impressively better than most in the market. The FPS amazingly doesn’t drop even in changing weather which is a huge plus.
8 . Dirt Rally 2.0
Dirt Rally 2.0 Gameplay
Dirt Rally 2.0 has been a favorite of hardcore sim racers with an emphasis on rallying. Codemasters’ efforts have really paid off in the graphics department in this game. Physical-based lighting for cars is present for the first time in the series. Track degradation has also been included in the game where over time the car will be harder to handle at certain times of the day. The interiors of the car were already detailed enough in the first game but CM has upped themselves with lighting improvements and shadow effects.
7 . Project Cars 2
Project Cars 2 Gameplay
When Project Cars 2 was released it was really well received more than its predecessor and successor. The game was sort of in the middle ground between a true sim and an arcade game as intended. Graphically, it was amazing to look at, especially its dynamic weather system which was not present in some of its competitors like Gran Turismo and Forza. The variety of weather conditions including thunderstorms and snow showcase just show much better the game is in this department than others in the market. While it is better played on PCs, it surprisingly ran well with a strong 60 FPS on consoles especially with its dynamic weather and lighting effects.
6 . WRC 9
WRC 9 Gameplay
WRC 9 is the official game of the World Rally Championship made by KT Racing. The game has set a benchmark for rally games with its beautiful and detailed terrain and cars. The textures, shadows, and the crowd can be adjusted to give a performance boost. The SSAO and Color grading massively make a difference in the look and feel of the game. If you have a strong enough pc, the game will give a constant 60 frames without any issue. If you want to go beyond 60, frame pacing issues may occur including texture pop-ins. Particle physics are really better than most rally games in the market. It also runs surprisingly well on consoles with very few issues, especially on the PS4.
5 . Assetto Corsa Competizione
Assetto Corsa Competizione Gameplay
ACC is definitely an improvement over the original Assetto Corsa mainly due to its emphasis on dynamic weather and post-processing effects. The game physics definitely gives a simulation feel and they overshadow the great graphics too. The GT3 and GT4 cars in the game are extremely well detailed. The dynamic weather blends really nicely especially during the noon- evening transition. The console version of this game is locked at 30 frames, so if you really want to crank it up to its potential the PC version is a must-play.
4 . Driveclub
Driveclub Gameplay
Driveclub is probably one of the most well-known hidden gems of racing games to date. While it was not well received as its release as a day one exclusive of the PS4, over time it has garnered a strong following mainly due to its amazing graphics. The game unfortunately has been removed from the Playstation Store, but if you manage to find a physical disc or a digital code, this is a must-play. The volumetric fog and snow, the post-processing effects, the dynamic weather effects have made this one of the most visually pleasing games on the PS4. Unfortunately, the game is locked at 30 FPS but nevertheless gives a great performance.
3 . F1 2021
F1 2021 Gameplay
F1 2021 is the first next-gen F1 game by Codemasters and it has improved on the success of F1 2020. One of the outstanding features of the game is the inclusion of ray tracing and 4k resolution support. The textures, shaders, shadows, and anisotropic filtering greatly affect the overall outlook of the game if they are maxed out. The downside is the driver and NPC character models in the arcade mode. While they do look significantly improved from the previous game, they are non-comparable to the Braking Point story mode in this game, which uses motion capture in cutscenes and gives it a movie-like feeling. The view distance and the interior of the car are much more detailed with ray tracing enabled.
2 . Forza Horizon 4
Forza Horizon 4 Gameplay
Forza Horizon 4 is just simply amazing. I mean an open-world simcade racing game? Yes, please. What even makes it better is its amazing depiction of the English countryside. The weather, the lighting and the sense of speed in this game is breathtaking. The terrain details are really well done. The game has seasonal changes which the PCs and consoles handle really well, The texture rendering quality and the parallax occlusion are what set it apart. The world truly feels immersive and realistic with the presence of all these technologies and makes cruising much more enjoyable.
1 . Gran Turismo Sport
Gran Turismo Sport Gameplay
In terms of realistic graphics, GT Sport takes the cake. Polyphony Digital are the titans of the sim racing industry as they always set a new graphical standard with every one of its Gran Turismo titles. Photo-realism was the main goal in this game in terms of graphics and this shows. The lighting and shadows especially during the evening and night deserve much praise. Granted the exclusion of dynamic weather is a bummer, but other than that it is really gorgeous to look at. The livery, decals, and even the driver suit designs are ridiculously well detailed. It looks stunning, especially in 4K. What sets GT Sport apart from other games, is its Scapes photo mode, where you can take realistic photos of your cars in various environments and locations. The mode features true HDR workflow and physics-based rendering technologies which give life-like images.
So, there you have it, folks! These racing games are probably the best in the market which will give you the most realistic graphics along with a great racing experience. We hope it helps you in your path to becoming the best of them all!
