Looking for the Best PC Racing Games in 2016?
Feeling the need to speed, and the craving for adrenalin? Here are ten racing games for the PC released in 2016 for you to enjoy.
1) Dirt Rally
Dancing with the devil of racing
Codemasters is known for their large portfolio of racing games, but for 2016 they’ve gone all out with their latest release. Dirt Rally is one of their biggest releases to date, featuring a brand new physics engine designed to simulate the harsh and unforgiving experience of driving a rally car.
With tons of user testing, this game has been fine tuned, just like a rally car to deliver maximum thrill. 6 rallies with over 70 stages provide plenty of places for you to crash the 39 cars on offer. Be warned though, amateurs need not apply, this game is punishingly difficult.
2) Breakneck
Remember to breathe after finishing a level
Originally an iOS game, Breakneck has now been ported on to PC. This arcade spaceship chase game is exciting and you will definitely have plenty of edge of your seat moments where even a slight lapse in concentration can be fatal. With an alien race hunting you down, you have to navigate a post apocalyptic earth to get away.
It follows the classic arcade formula of simple controls but hard to master gameplay. Getting through each zone become successively more difficult, needing you to concentrate harder. The thrill and satisfaction of getting through the zones gives you quite a thrill and the gameplay is addicting. The creamy smooth presentation only adds to the immersion.
3) Project CARS 2
How much better can it get?
Project CARS emerged in the gaming scene as the first proper rival for Gran Turismo and Forza, and more importantly, available on the PC. Crowdfunded and developed by a newcomer to the industry, it has successfully established itself as one of the best racing games around.
Project CARS 2 aims to build on its success and aims to become the best racing games for the PC. With over 200 cars, 50 locations and 8 different disciplines, this is going to be one of the biggest and the most ambitious racing games ever made. Set to release in late 2016, crowdfunding is now open to public with multiple rewards on offer. But if it is releasing soon in 2016 why is it still crowdfunding?
4) Trackmania Turbo
Arcade racing has never had it better
Trackmania is back, and its bigger and better than ever. Unabashedly arcade, the game is easy to understand but difficult to play. All the elements in the game are fine tuned to allow the driver to get sucked into the experience. You have to play this game to understand just how much fun this is to play.
The sensation of speed has been produced beautifully and it feels very immersive. Even if you grow tired of the 200 track variations, you can build your own custom tracks and play the ones built by other users. The creativity is astounding. You have to check out the videos on Youtube to actually believe for yourself how crazy this game is.
5) MXGP 2
The fastest way to dirty your racing overalls
MXGP2 is another Milestone Studio game, but this one they have gotten absolutely right. The amount of detail and Player and Bike customizations is astonishing. The physics has a touch of arcade about it, but it allows complete beginners to enjoy and understand the art of motorcross.
The bikes, the brands, and the gear are perfectly executed and the tracks are also well thought out and provide for some exciting racing. Although the graphics need to be improved, and the sound has a few rough edges, its still a great racing title with lots of fun to offer.
6) Forza 6: Apex
You might not want to go back to the real world after this
Forza 6: Apex is a free to play game available on the Windows Store. Yes, you read that right, its free to play. As strange as it sounds, its all true and its never been better for racing game fans. Although the game lacks a lot of the customization options and a lot of content is missing as compared to the console version, it does have better graphics if your PC has the hardware to support the higher resolution on offer.
Otherwise, the much loved physics model has been carried over and apart from the fact that micro transactions are required to unlock new cars, its a dream come true. The feeling of driving a real car in your very own house with those spectacular graphics, its something from the future. It’s still in beta though, and steering wheel support is yet to be added.
7) Moto Racer 4
Motorbike racing is back, and better than it has ever been
Not much is known about this game, but it has a rich heritage to build on. The previous versions of the game achieved high acclaim and the man who created them is back to work on this one. With multiple gameplay modes, the game looks very exciting and the screenshots released so far look impressive. But we’ll only get to know in October this year when the game is scheduled to be released. Watch this space.
8) Sebastian Loeb Rally
Drift through, with your foot hard down
A rival to Dirt Rally has emerged, bearing the name of the most successful rally driver to date. Developed by Milestone Studios who did the early WRC games in the late 2010’s, this game has 58 cars, 13 tracks and a special Pikes Peak track. Codemasters needn’t be worried though.
Although the graphics are decent, the lack of realism and other rough edges still make this a game that is work in progress. Still it’s a great game for those looking to learn about rallying but not yet ready to play Dirt Rally.
9) Asseto Corsa - Japanese Pack
The Japanese are back, with more horsepower than ever
You might have heard of Asseto Corsa before (released late 2014) but its nearly all brand new for 2016. This is another game to compete with Gran Turismo and Forza, but for the PC. The updates to Asseto Corsa are usually massive and it changes the feel of the game substantially.
The Japanese Pack DLC released this year includes 7 new Japanese make cars with a total of 12 versions. Along with this DLC, the v1.6 update was also made available to download which included a ton of bug fixes and improvements.
10) World of Speed
This promises to be an exciting race
Developed by the same studio behind Project CARS, World of Speed is a similarly ambitious project which aims to make a popular racing MMO. Many racing game developers have tried and failed (Need for Speed) and it will take a lot of effort to get this off the ground. For starters, this will be a free game so that is guaranteed to make it worth a try. With a physics engine completely opposite to the one used in Project CARS, the arcade handling with the latest cars makes it a wonderfully easy and effortless experience to drive around.
World of Speed also aims to take the idea of team racing forward, which was first seen in games such as The Crew. Whether that concept will quite work remains a question, as gamers usually focus on winning for themselves above anything else.
2016 is going to be an exciting year for us racing fans, with so many racing games releasing this year. With both arcade and simulation racing games to offer, fans have something to be excited about and for those who play both, its even better. With the biggest racing titles coming to the PC and old classics being remade this year, it is definitely a good year for racing games on the PC. Remember, if you think everything is under control, you’re not going fast enough.
Also, do check out 21 Best Free Racing Games 2016, and 10 Best Car Racing Games PC
