Ready, set, GO! We’re about to take you on a wild ride through the exhilarating world of the best VR racing games!
In this article, we’ll reveal the top-tier virtual reality racing experiences that satisfy your need for speed and adrenaline pumping.
In a rush to start driving? Check out the top VR racing games below. If you stay till the end, comment and tell us what your favorite game is.
What are the Best VR Racing Games?
- GRID Legends (Best Meta Quest Racing Game)
- Gran Turismo 7 (Best Car Selection)
- Assetto Corsa (Most Realistic)
- Dash Dash World (Best Kart Game)
- Galactic Drift (Best Futuristic Racing Game)
- F1 23 (Best Realistic F1 Racing Game)
- Mini Motor Racing X (Best Top-Down Racing Game)
- Project Cars 3 (Best Customization)
- Dirt Ralley 2.0 (Best Off-Road Racing)
- BlazeRush: Star Track (Best Survival Racing Game)
- Automobilista 2 (Best Racing Sim)
- Death Lap (Best Combat Racing Game)
- What are the Best VR Racing Games?
- GRID Legends (Best Quest Racing Game)
- Gran Turismo 7 (Most Realistic Car Behavior)
- Assetto Corsa
- Dash Dash World (Best Mario Kart Clone)
- Galactic Drift (Best Futuristic Racing Game)
- F1 23 (Best Realistic F1 Racing Game)
- Mini Motor Racing X (Best Arcade Racing Game)
- Project Cars 3 (Best Career Mode)
- Dirt Rally 2.0 (Best Racing Game with Mods)
- BlazeRush: Star Track
- Automobilista 2
- Death Lap
GRID Legends (Best Quest Racing Game)
VR Headset Compatibility: Both
GRID Legends is a brilliant VR racing game, partly because it shows a willingness to strike a balance in areas other game developers are not interested in. GRID Legends doesn’t have cartoon graphics nor demand a driver’s license to play. It’s a game that goes the extra mile to bring fun to players, and it succeeds.
Anyone familiar with a rally game understands that driving aids alone doesn’t make a game approachable, which makes GRID Legends stand out. The game combines incredible race variety, thrilling motorsport action, and an immersive story that puts you in the center of the action.
GRID Legends takes you on a world tour, regardless of the mode you choose to play. The game features locations like Dubai, Moscow, London, San Francisco, and Indianapolis.
Vehicles come in different sizes and shapes, and you have lots of options to choose from: GT, Tuner, Street, Touring, Muscle, Track-Days, Trucks, Open-Wheel, and Electric.
GRID Legends is one of the only realistic racing games to come out for the Meta Quest 2. That makes it approachable to play for everyone.
What I Like About GRID Legends
The reason I like this game is because the driving mechanics are stellar. They are easy to grasp but very difficult to master. All through my playing time, the game forced me to learn how each vehicle behaves on different track types, and that’s the beauty of GRID Legends over other racing games I have tested.
Some original graphics problems on the Meta Quest 2 version have been fixed. Overall, this is one of the best racing games ever created, and it is both exciting and full of longevity.
Key Features
- Accommodates arcade and sim players
- Tight controls
- There are over 130 Tracks in the game
- Over 100 vehicles with varying brands.
- Has an in-depth career mode to play.
Click here to view GRID Legends.
Gran Turismo 7 (Most Realistic Car Behavior)
VR Headset Compatibility: Playstation VR 2
VR Headset Compatibility: Both
Introducing Gran Turismo 7, a VR racing game that truly captures the essence of motorsport, blending realism and entertainment to perfection. This game doesn’t just give you the wheel – it immerses you in a world where driving is an art form.
Gran Turismo 7 takes you on a heart-pounding journey, showcasing various tracks and cars. Featuring iconic locations such as Fuji Speedway, Daytona Speedway, and Autopolis, this game offers a globe-trotting adventure for racing enthusiasts.
With over 400 vehicles, you’ll find the perfect ride for every race – over 6 car manufacturers are represented! Gran Turismo 7’s driving mechanics are as impressive as its car roster, offering intuitive controls that are simple to pick up yet challenging to master.
What I Like About Gran Turismo 7
The heart and soul of Gran Turismo 7 lie in its deep career mode, which puts you in the driver’s seat of your own racing destiny. As you conquer various challenges and climb the ranks, you’ll be forging your own path to glory, one exhilarating lap at a time.
Gran Turismo 7 is a PlayStation VR2 exclusive, its only drawback. It would be even better if other VR headsets could enjoy the experience.
Key Features
- Appeals to both arcade and sim racing fans
- Responsive and precise controls
- 400+ diverse and iconic vehicles
- Immersive and expansive career mode
Click here to try Gran Turismo 7.
Assetto Corsa
VR Headset Compatibility: PC VR Only
If you want a racing game with attention to detail, then Assetto Corsa is the gold standard. With an unwavering focus on precision and authenticity, Assetto Corsa delivers an immersive and true-to-life driving experience that’s hard to beat.
Assetto Corsa whisks you away on an international racing expedition, featuring a lineup of iconic tracks that will test your skills and push your limits. From the legendary Spa-Francorchamps to the challenging Laguna Seca, this game is a treasure trove of racing excitement.
The game’s career mode takes you on a gripping journey as you strive to make a name for yourself in the world of motorsport. By tackling a series of challenging events and races, you’ll sharpen your skills and rise through the ranks on your way to becoming a legendary driver.
The biggest drawback to Assetto Corsa is that it does not support VR by default. However, this is a really good mod you can install to turn it into a VR game.
What I Like About Assetto Corsa
The car selection in the game is really impressive. There is a large array of vehicles across various classes, including GT, Open-Wheel, and Classic. Assetto Corsa’s driving mechanics are the gold standard in sim racing, offering unparalleled realism and responsiveness that will leave you feeling like a true racing pro.
Assetto Corsa is visually stunning, which makes the graphics in virtual reality a real treat.
Key Features
- Tailored for sim racing enthusiasts
- Exceptionally realistic driving mechanics
- A selection of iconic tracks from around the world
- Wide variety of finely tuned vehicles
- Engaging and challenging career mode
Click here to buy Assetto Corsa.
Dash Dash World (Best Mario Kart Clone)
VR Headset Compatibility: Both
Dash Dash World is a combat-focused, rapid pace multiplayer kart racing game that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Mario Kart. Dash Dash World not only breathes fresh air into the kart racing genre, but it also creates an uplifting experience in a new environment.
In the game, you customize your vehicle as you deem fit and start racing around a wide range of tracks. Each track is filled with hidden shortcuts and obstacles.
There are lots of dangerous weapons in the game that you can use to throw your enemies off track. You can use one or combine different weapons to achieve your objectives. The weapons are compatible with the steering wheel, which helps to maximize the kart racing experience with force feedback.
Dash Dash World supports an online multiplayer mode, allowing up to 8 players simultaneously. You can express yourself as you race on different tracks by using the custom sound of your car and sending personalized emoticons. The game even lets you taunt your rivals at the finish line.
What I Like About Dash Dash World
For me, the best part of the game was that I was able to customize my driver and the car. The driver is a virtual avatar that nicely expresses my personality traits. The graphics are fantastic. One thing that worked for me was sitting down to play so I don’t get dizzy.
Key Features
- There’s an onboarding class for new VR racers
- Comes with motion sickness prevention options.
- Social features with memes, stickers, voice chat & dance moves
- Over 13 unique tracks and growing
Click here to view Dash Dash World
Galactic Drift (Best Futuristic Racing Game)
VR Headset Compatibility: Both
Galactic Drift is a futuristic virtual reality (VR) racing game that puts you into high-speed races across different planets and outer space environments. Set in a sci-fi universe, Galactic Drift allows you to drive advanced hovercrafts that glide through gravity-defying tracks. There are plenty of sharp turns, massive jumps, and obstacles that will test your skill and reflexes.
One of my favorite features in the game is how you can customize your vehicles with various upgrades, performance enhancements like speed boosts, handling improvements, and aesthetic changes that allow for more personalized designs. G
alactic Drift offers single-player and competitive multiplayer modes, where you can race against AI opponents or challenge other players online.
Mastering the unique drifting mechanics takes time, and you feel accomplished when you pull off a seamless drift. The visuals are vibrant, and each race is fast-paced.
What I Like About Galactic Drift
I like Galactic Drift because of the immersive gameplay of driving through outer space. With the VR headset, it feels as though you are actually driving in space, and the driving mechanics are great. When you master the drifting mechanics and pull off a drift around a sharp turn while keeping full speed, it feels unbelievable.
Key Features
- Set in a futuristic, sci-fi universe.
- Unique drifting mechanics.
- Includes many different diverse race tracks.
- Customizable vehicles.
- Features single-player and multiplayer modes.
Click here to view Galactic Drift.
F1 23 (Best Realistic F1 Racing Game)
VR Headset Compatibility: Both
F1 23 is a virtual reality adaptation of the famous Formula 1 racing series, offering an immersive experience for sports fans. Step directly into the cockpit of your favorite F1 cars and race on recreated circuits straight from the F1 calendar.
F1 23 features the official teams, drivers, and tracks from the 2023 F1 season, allowing you to compete in a fully authentic experience. There are a range of game modes, such as quick races and time trials, and a career mode where you can progress through seasons with your favorite driver.
The attention to detail in the car handling and real-life tracks is incredible. This game is very realistic and is a must-play for fans of the F1 sport.
What I Like About F1 23
The thing I like most about F1 23 is that it has licenses for all real-life drivers, teams, and tracks. Playing with your favorite real-life driver is fun and also makes the experience more realistic. The driving mechanics are very easy to learn, and the deep career mode will keep you invested in your favorite driver and team.
The only downside is that F1 23 can not be played using the PlayStation VR2 headset. However, it is compatible with all other VR headsets.
Key Features
- Multiple game modes include career, time trials, quick races, and online multiplayer.
- Features all teams, drivers, and tracks from the 2023 F1 season.
- Realistic car physics.
- Authentic F1 tracks from the 2023 season.
Click here to view F1 23 in VR.
Mini Motor Racing X (Best Arcade Racing Game)
VR Headset Compatibility: Both
These days it takes a lot for a VR racing game to stand out from the crowd, and this is because there’s something for everybody. Mini Motor Racing X is a nice VR race with decent graphics and smooth gameplay. The game feels like a cross between Mario Kart and Micro Machines, featuring toy-like cars and abilities like weaponry and nitro boost.
There is a wide range of tracks, some located in African grasslands and others on tropical beach resorts. The tracks are fairly short compared to other games, but each course features four or five laps to compensate for this.
At first, vehicle controls are a bit iffy. You need to apply caution when you get to a bend or corner so you don’t oversteer. Oversteering can force the vehicle back in the opposite direction. You will get used to it with time, but it’s too fiddly for me.
There are many weapons available for you to leverage. Unlike other games where you pick weapons up, weapons are given out each time you cross the starting line. You will be stuck with no weapons if you use them up before you finish.
The career mode is central to Mini Motor Racing X. As you race through different tracks, you will participate in championships and unlock new vehicles and courses.
What I Like About Mini Motor Racing X
I love arcade style gameplay in my racing games, and Mini Motor Racing X delivers in every aspect. It comes with loads of tracks and vehicles to try out. It’s also reasonably fast, only that the tiny tracks attempted to ruin my fun.
Key Features
- Race on over 50 tracks in varying weather conditions.
- The game supports party modes.
- Pump your winnings to upgrade your rides.
- There are multiple ways to play (from top-down, in-car, or track-side).
- Full online multiplayer with up to 4 friends.
Click here to view Mini Motor Racing X
Project Cars 3 (Best Career Mode)
VR Headset Compatibility: PCVR
Project Cars 3 offers an accessible arcade racing experience that puts you in control the driving. If you are a newbie in the VR racing genre, this game is a perfect first stop before moving to any other VR racing experience.
Project Cars 3 is more stunning and polished than other versions in the series. It comes with explosive collisions, dynamic seasons and weather, gorgeous environments, and a genuine hair-raising sense of speed.
The game’s AI has been enhanced to create a higher level of challenges and difficulties. It’s indeed an experience worth trying. Also, there are over 120 tracks, a full spread of over 200 cars, and game modes (both single and multiplayer).
What I Like About Project Cars 3
Compared to Project Cars 2, this game has no fuel exhaustion or tire wear. For most people, this will be easier to play. Some hardcore gamers will have to look to other VR games for that level of simulation.
Key Features
- 120+ global tracks
- New & deeply engaging career mode
- 200+ elite-brand race & road cars
- Customize your car liveries with racing
- There are fun and exciting daily challenges
Click here to view Project Cars 3
Dirt Rally 2.0 (Best Racing Game with Mods)
VR Headset Compatibility: PCVR
Dirt Rally 2.0 emphasizes realistic driving physics and is a successor to the Dirt Rally video game originally launched in 2015. It focuses more on rallying and rallycross.
In the game, you will compete with your rivals in the off-road and time-trial events in various weather conditions. Dirt Rally 2.0 has a myriad of tracks in a ton of different locations. The game also features the real circuits of the FIA World Rallycross Championship with World RallyCross Supercars.
The game also lets you customize your preferred car from the over 50 rally cars in the game, including historic cars from the 1950s to the present. The new weather modeling system in the game can affect the tire grip, your performance, and your experience in completing the races.
What I Like About Dirt Rally 2.0
Any damage sustained during races will be carried forward from one race to the other. You can source new components to fix any damage to your vehicle. This type of immersion is big for simulation racing game fans.
Dirt Rally 2.0 comes with a single-player campaign, but as far as I know, there’s no option to turn the DLC map off. This means unless you buy the DLC, you won’t be able to play single player. Luckily, the DLC maps are the same as the ones I had from Dirt Rally 1.0, so I didn’t have to get new ones.
Key Features
- Stellar handling and driving experience
- Same content as non-VR experience
- Loads of real-world locations and environments
- Huge range of great mods
Click here to view Dirt Rally 2.0
BlazeRush: Star Track
VR Headset Compatibility: PCVR
BlazeRush: Star Track is one of the best arcade survival racing games I have tested. In BlazeRush: Star Track, you can play with your friends in online or local multiplayer.
There are over 20 vibrant cars to choose from. Choose any car and customize it to your liking. If you have ever played a top-down racer before, you will feel very comfortable playing this game.
What I Like About BlazeRush: Star Track
In BlazeRush, you race through different courses of turns and twists and compete with other racers. While in the race, blow up your rivals or cut them off using the various wild weapons in the game and emerge the winner. Each vehicle is tied to a specific character.
My favorite vehicle was Natasha. I liked her car because the acceleration is incredible, which suits my style. I can lean over and look at Natasha in VR to see the little details. The controls in BlazeRush are great and the gameplay is pretty addictive.
Key Features
- Many medals for various tricks and frills
- Plenty of race tracks across three planets.
- Up to 4 players locally and up to 8 players online.
- A wide range of cool weapons.
- Up to 20 vibrant cars.
- The ability to join the game at any time
Click here to view BlazeRush: Star Track
Automobilista 2
VR Headset Compatibility: PCVR
Created by Reiza Studios, Automobilista 2 is a racing simulation game. The game provides a comprehensive experience of the Brazilian motorsports scene, which features racetracks, manufacturers, and the main Brazilian racing series.
In this game, you are a driver of an advanced racing simulator with high-profile tracks and cars, incredible graphical quality, VR support, and an advanced dynamic track condition system. You can jump onto a modern-day race from a rental kart in downtown Sao Paulo for a blast as if you were in the 1960s.
Automobilista 2 has more tracks and cars than its predecessor and has a technical partnership with the Project Cars series for a more enjoyable playing experience. It also has a racing mode, tools for custom modes, and a multiplayer rating system.
Automobilista 2 also offers a catalog of locations and an unmatched variety of cars.
What I Like About Automobilista
For realistic simulation fans, Automobilista stands out. This game is underrated compared to other VR racing games. This game is great in GT1, F1, and GT3.
If you plan on buying it for the multiplayer mode only, you should be careful. I find the online system to be clunky and full of bugs.
Key Features
- The game offers beautifully-detailed venues across five continents.
- Stunning visuals even on less powerful systems.
- Advanced dynamic weather and track condition systems.
- Historical racing cars and race tracks.
Click here to view Automobilista 2
Death Lap
VR Headset Compatibility: Meta Quest
Death Lap is a combat racing game where you drive to survive. This game will leave you howling with laughter as you struggle to survive the battlefields.
In the game, you are captured by a maniacal yet tragic man known as “Nitro Saint Payne” and thrown into a dangerous TV show where you battle for survival, racing with others to regain freedom.
Choose from the five available vehicles, hit the road, navigate traps, perform stunts and drifts, and destroy anything that comes your way. Each vehicle has multiple weapons, from long-range (machine guns, lasers, and rockets) to short-range (a giant claw, wheels, and spiked). Unleash your weapons to destroy your rivals and fight for survival on the battlefield.
You can either tilt your left hand or use the joystick to steer, while keeping your right hand free to apply available weapons.
What I Like About Death Lap
The racing in this game is fast and relentless. This is a great game to play when your friends come over. Due to the fast speed of the experience, you will notice blurry textures on the track and some other glitches.
I enjoyed playing in VR first-person mode. I could look around to admire my vehicle’s interior. You can adjust your camera settings to reduce any discomfort and VR motion sickness.
Key Features
- Increase your speed with boosters and NOS fuel.
- You can rank in the Global Leaderboard.
- Control your car in the first or third-person view.
- VoIP chat to communicate with your opponents.
- Battle solo or with friends to test your might and speed.
Author
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With over 7 years of hands-on experience in the dynamic world of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR), Ryan is a recognized authority in the field. His collaborations with industry giants like Meta and HTC underscore his expertise in shaping the AR/VR landscape. Ryan has written over 2,000 blog posts, offering in-depth insights, reviews, and analyses of the latest mixed reality technology. From groundbreaking games to cutting-edge hardware, Ryan's extensive knowledge ensures readers are always at the forefront of AR/VR/MR, as well as Steam Deck, news.
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