What Is the Best Sim Racing Game for a Beginner?

Forza Motorsports 4 was my gateway drug. If someone is using a controller, then I'd say GT on the PSx or Forza on the XBox would be fine. I know that purists will disagree about Forza, but we're talking about the first steps. You can learn a LOT of tracks even without DLC and of course, there are a lot of cars as well.

What I'm getting at is that if someone only has an XBox and wants to try this Simracing thing, then playing FM7 or FM6 would be an adequate way to go.

Whatever works out of the box, has solid physics and interesting content (after all, we are all petrolheads) - and possibility to extend your hobby through modding at a later point. In short, Simbin's bundle.

daveclifton said:

No one is going to start with a wheel, unless they are given it for free. With a controller, none of the settings really make much difference, nor does the quality of the mods.
A beginner will get a kick of racing around a track they know with a car they like. That's where the interest starts. Once they get hooked, they will want a wheel, better physics etc.

IMO AC is more enjoyable with a controller than Gran Turismo.

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"No one"? My first ever sim was F1 2019 with a g29 on a PS4 bought just for that purpose. Never even tried to play with a controller.

Raceroom is the best game for a beginner....nice and basic.
No weather, no night racing, no track technology or mods to screw around with.
Just load the game and play the wide variety of content.
You also don't need a supercomputer to run either.
My runners up would be the Forza games and GT series.

I only know AC and ACC but I think that AC with an easy race car like the Mazda MX5 Cup is a very good start for a beginner. With just a few basic setup options and forgiven driving characteristics a beginner can focus on the basics of racing and learning the track. And they won't get blown away by experienced simracers as with the more advanced GT's or the classic racecars.

iRacing

I dont see live for speed, this is a mistake.

100% Assetto Corsa using the Countach at the Ring

Sort of an odd one because if sims simulated the cars perfectly then it would be what cars should beginners drive? You certainly wouldn't say get Raceroom and the Group 5 cars.

Crash Bandicoot so they can get the crashing from their system. But of course Assetto Corsa, for the driving experience & mods. AC can literally be one's only sim in my opinion.

The LFS demo... IMHO. If you learn to appreciate the work behind it (and master Blackwood on all 3 cars) despite its age, you will come to value all other Racing Sim titles for all their perks and flaws. My 2c.

I really don't know which one is the best for a beginner these days. More than 10 years ago we started with Codemasters DTM racedriver 3, because we could get a copy for €5,- After just one day driving with a qwerty keyboard as controller, we were in, bought another copy for €5,- and 2 cheep steering wheels. After a year we switched to rFactor and a bit more decent steering wheels. At the time Codemasters DTM racedriver 3 was easy to use and had a lot of cars and tracks. I don't know which race sim / game has the same for little money.

Initially, I'd say AMS2... but its far from complete. The main option would be iracing and AC.

iracing because you learn the basic etiquette of racing and get rid of bad habits early, like speeding in the pit lane and understanding you cant ram and quit.

AC because there is a lot of content and variety available, also there's availability on the consoles so progressing to other PC sims won't be too drastic

So depending on how serious you are, it's one or the other

Gpl the Lotus on Nurburgring 67 :fluiten:

Bram Hengeveld said:

Can't go wrong with these suggested titles. Just to add, any first racing game that gets you into the "genre" is a good first title in my opinion. A driver that discovers that petrol is running through their veins will quickly follow up purchasing another title and get trapped in the sim racing matrix. There is no way to escape!

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i started sim racing on PC with actual wheel and pedals and shifter after about 500 hours of euro truck simulator. and then setting up rf2 right is the best ffb in the world to a noobie. if it asnt for rf2 being so UI un-friendly then i would rf2 but for now you can't go wrong starting up in some lorries and hauling some cargo. Assetto corsa is the cheapest tho and i think thats probably the most important factor when starting. who would start sim racing on iracing and just drop triple digits on tracks and cars

for me i think all games who using gmotor engine is the easiest games for beginner and also acc ,iracing,ac can play it good but the only game you need to be a pro player in my opinion was ams2 cause undrive with keyboard and controller

AMS 2 is the the best entry level sim, lot of content and most cars are very easy to drive, even with a basic gamepad.

I'd say ANY of these! Just make sure TC/ABS/stability control are all ON. F1 is very fast though, may be not ideal, but if you spend the time...

Deja-vu?

I'll suggest both a classic and a modern sim, both with quite OK driving schools for beginners.
Ofcourse most optimal starting in cars with more grip than power.

Classic sim: GTR2
(yes you can still buy this today, e.g. on Steam as a SimBin Mega Pack Bundle with loads of other sim goodies for I think less than €15).
GTR2's Driving School of basic driving techniques and overtakes in conditions of various difficulty dry, wet/darkish including overtakes.

Regarding AIDS for first first time drivers to use just a tad stability and likewise a tad ABS, but insists on the rest leaved as manual as possible with no AIDS, to be able to obtain the right feeling of the car.

I prefer it that way for introducing beginners in forgiving cars with not so much engine power than on the contrary lots of AIDS in a rocked monster, leaving an alien feeling of artificiality and indifference for the new driver.

After a couple of repetitions on the GTR2 Driving School, then followed by some old school classic fun with common driving virtues as trail braking, use of H-shifter with clutch/brake/gas heel&toe technique, etc. From beginners I've had enormous positive feedback, by suggesting the combo of PnG3.2's Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300 GTA Junior WB @ Montagna di Piatra track mod with heavy FFB-strength activated. Staring with private practice, followed by a race weekend of mixed 70s classic classes. Works every time

No this is not a fancy 3point tyre modelling sim, but IMO way enough for a beginner to get the right hands on racing.

Modern sim: ACC
ACC Driving School to my impression also quite good for beginners, getting hands on competitive GT racing.

Modern sim 2+3: iRacing or AC with one of the Mazda MX5 Cup or Mazda Miata's with H-gear and no paddles. Just practice, practice, practice before offline races and long before online lobbies of which the risk for the beginner to pull the snout back again on simracing is too high.

Or if the beginner from the gun has a locked aim on formula racing:
rF1 rSchool Academy Racer - full grid weekends, but requires some schooling like above mentioned.
AMS2 125CC GoKarts at a technical track like Buskerud.
Then slowly stepping up to higher classes requiring more of the driver's reflexes (and later auto-reflexes) where rF1 mods as Formula Nippon or Formula Renault 2.0/3.5 are on one of the last steps on the ladder

Yes I race rF2 (and R3E) as well, but cannot think of a good beginner combo here.

I love ACC but i think for initiate on simracing could be great RaceRoom, there's nothing compare with the sound on RR, if you listen that game It introduce poison Motorsports on your veins and you never escape. One you'll make your first step on RR go to Assetto and after ACC, and if you try rally go ti Dirt2.0 now is on Steam for 4€ can't believe!! And for sure use shifter H, is another world how enjoy simracing