Sim racing games come in all shapes and sizes. There are games that cater to those looking for a story or career mode, and others for those that want to play with friends and other people online. If you’re looking for the latter, it’s worth checking out the best multiplayer sim racing games.
The 8 best multiplayer sim racing games are:
- iRacing
- Assetto Corsa
- rFactor 2
- Gran Turismo 7
- Project Cars 2
- DiRT Rally 2.0
- RaceRoom
- Assetto Corsa Competizione
With lots of options to choose from, the variety of games out there can be overwhelming. But we’re here to help, so read on to see which multiplayer sim racing game is right for you and your setup.
- • Plenty of cars and tracks
- • Relatively beginner friendly
- • Various multiplayer modes
What Makes For A Good Multiplayer Sim Racing Experience?
There are a variety of factors that go into making your multiplayer sim racing experience as smooth and immersive as possible. The quality of your sim racing rig and seat, the game in question, and the platform you play on can all affect your immersion and enjoyment of multiplayer sim racing games.
The multiplayer sim racing game you choose plays a large part in creating the best experience possible. Some games may have a limited car selection, while others may only feature a few tracks or dated graphics. All of this will affect the variety you can expect to encounter in the game, and playing the same races over and over can get boring!
The popularity of the game itself will also affect your experience, as a game with more players will generally make it easier to find a lobby. Overall, you want a simple, smooth experience when it comes to setting up, joining and competing in online races. If you’re not fussed about who you’re racing, a game that offers lots of regular, varied races might be ideal for you.
Which Sim Racing Game Has The Best Multiplayer?
iRacing is by far the most active multiplayer sim racing game on the market for PC players. With almost 9,000 concurrent players logging in on most days, there is sure to be plenty of variety in lobbies to join, and with the game’s focus on competitive online racing, it’s unbeatable.
If iRacing is outside of your realm of games, or if you’re a console racer, then Assetto Corsa Competizione or its predecessor will likely be your best bet, with regularly scheduled events happening all the time. For PlayStation players, Gran Turismo 7 is the game of choice, with tens of thousands of players online each day.
The 8 Best Multiplayer Sim Racing Games
1. iRacing
One of the top-rated sim racing games on the market, iRacing has been around since 2008 and is showing no signs of slowing down. This highly revered game is played by people who really want to take their hobby to the next level and has a more serious tone than others featured on our list.
iRacing features more than 100 real cars and tracks with a subscription-based service that requires you to purchase licenses for each car or track you wish to use. Being a long-time partner of NASCAR and IMSA, iRacing also features seasons in which they broadcast races online, complete with pre- and post-race shows. This makes it a good game for NASCAR fans too.
The iRacing multiplayer system is so good thanks to its iRating system. Depending on how skilled a driver you are and how good your racecraft is, you’ll get a specific rating that will help ensure you’re always racing against people of similar abilities. This matchmaking system sets iRacing apart from many sim racers out there, and it’s one of the reasons it’s the best multiplayer sim racing game.
2. Assetto Corsa
Assetto Corsa was launched in 2014 to much anticipation. With more than 178 cars from manufacturers such as Porsche, Nissan, and Chevrolet, there is something for everyone to drive in the 19 available locations, not counting alternate layouts and variants. Even though the game is older, the community is still very much alive.
One thing that really sets Assetto Corsa apart from the rest of the pack is VR support, which was added in 2017. Furthermore, Assetto Corsa features an advanced API wherein you can display vital information on an external screen such as a tablet or mobile device in conjunction with the on-screen displays, which can give you the edge over your online opponents.
3. rFactor 2
Another highly rated multiplayer sim racing game, rFactor 2 was launched in March of 2013 to critical acclaim. Designed to help develop race cars and hone professional drivers’ skills, this game features an advanced physics and graphics engine.
While iRacing has held the majority of the market since release, more and more people are using rFactor 2 to scratch that multiplayer sim racing itch, and that includes Formula 1 drivers in addition to people who are just getting into the hobby. Featuring one of the most advanced sim racing physics engines available, rFactor 2 is perfect for those that want total realism.
The rFactor 2 multiplayer system allows you to choose from a wide range of servers, sorting them using various criteria like public, not full and no AI. Other nice features include the ability to share setups with other drivers on the server.
4. Gran Turismo 7
GT7 is the newest instalment in the Gran Turismo series, brought out to be the ultimate sim racing experience on PlayStation 5 (although it is available on PS4). This game features excellent realism, lots of cars and tracks, and a familiar feel for those that were used to the previous game, Gran Turismo Sport.
The multiplayer system in Gran Turismo 7 is a bit unusual compared to the other entries on this list, as you need to unlock it by completing various tasks in single player mode first. However, when you do unlock it, you can choose to play with friends or take on the online races.
These races are updated every Monday, and they are loosely sorted out into beginner, intermediate and advanced level races. This means there are some good options for players of all experience levels, and given that they start every 20 minutes or so, there is usually always one you can join.
5. Project Cars 2
With over 140 track layouts set in 60 locations, and featuring 189 cars, this acclaimed sim racing game was released in 2017 for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Project Cars 2 has both track and off-road racing and is also partnered with IndyCar to include the full 2016 lineup of cars, and the Indy 500.
Vehicles range from karts to hypercars and cover almost everything between, and most tracks are recreated faithfully from laser scans of the real-life locations. There’s a lot to love about Project Cars 2, and the multiplayer experience, even years after release, is still very active.
There are lots of different types of online multiplayer session to join in Project Cars 2, with the ability to share setups with other drivers and chat in the lobby before the race starts. You can even create online championships if one race isn’t enough!
6. DiRT Rally 2.0
Released in 2019, DiRT Rally 2.0 includes 50 cars from all across the globe and the history of rally racing. It’s focused mainly on rallies consisting of multiple stages in locations such as the United States, Spain, New Zealand, and Argentina. Also included are rallycross events.
The multiplayer component is not like the other games featured here, with races being held on courses where you try to beat the other players’ time through various checkpoints on the stage, as opposed to directly racing head to head with another driver. This leads to focused gameplay where you try to complete stages as fast as possible to move up the leaderboard.
7. RaceRoom
Being the only truly Free-to-Play entry on this compilation, RaceRoom Racing Experience is a popular option for those who don’t want to spend much or are new to sim racing in general, though many vehicles are locked behind paid DLC. Occasionally they have sponsored events where you can use these premium cars and trucks at no cost.
RaceRoom also features ranked multiplayer, which is a fairly new addition, and it allows you to enter into races with other drivers around the same level of ability as you. There is also a variety of daily and weekly events to choose from, so you will always be able to find a fun race to join.
It features 179 cars (including the DLC content), ranging from hill climb to historic, and open wheel to GT cars, with new cars being added frequently. There are also 52 tracks available, from locations across the globe including the entire DTM calendar and a laser scanned Nurburgring. This game offers phenomenal value, especially for something you can play for free.
8. Assetto Corsa Competizione
Fully released in May of 2019 on PC and in February 2022 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, this follow up to Assetto Corsa is geared more towards GT racing such as GT3 and GT4 championships. As such it currently offers a limited track and car lineup to represent that area of racing, with critics praising the advanced physics and graphics engines.
Developed with e-sports in mind, Assetto Corsa Competizione features the 24 hours of Spa track and the entire Blancpain GT series from 2019 as playable tracks with the corresponding GT3 and GT4 cars. This offers a great endurance-type multiplayer system, so it may not be the right choice if you’re not into that kind of racing.
Final Thoughts
These 8 multiplayer sim racing games will allow you to go head to head with other players across the world on your favorite tracks with your favorite cars. While iRacing is unbeatable in terms of providing the most realistic and comprehensive multiplayer sim racing experience, other games, like Gran Turismo 7 for those on PlayStation, can still be very enjoyable.
I created and have been writing on this site since 2019, collaborating with drivers, coaches, engineers and manufacturers to provide you with the most reliable information about motorsport. Find out more about me here.