5 Best Sim Racing Games to Experience with Varjo Aero: Expert Picks for Thrill-Seekers
Sim Racing is an exciting and immersive genre of video gaming that allows players to experience the thrill of high-speed driving without leaving the comfort of their own homes. And when it comes to Sim Racing in virtual reality with the Varjo Aero headset, the experience is taken to a whole new level of realism with an unparalleled sense of speed and connection to the track. In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at the top 5 Sim Racing games for VR recommended by Varjo’s Head of Racing Simulation, Rune Huse Karlstad.
Rune has been an active Sim Racer for many years. When he joined Varjo, he levelled up his setup from ultrawide monitors to VR/XR head mounted displays and it has improved his overall skills and results. Rune does not consider himself an “alien”, a term commonly used in Sim Racing of a driver who is consistent and inexplicably fast, but he enjoys Sim Racing as a hobby after working hours, often found sideways drifting in Assetto Corsa or competing online with the GT3 cars in iRacing.
1. iRacing
iRacing is a massively multiplayer online racing game designed for competitive simracers. The simulator features an impressive selection of cars and laser scanned tracks, and its VR mode is considered to be the best in the industry, thanks to the support of OpenXR runtime. The game’s physics engine is incredibly realistic, and the attention to detail is impressive.
But what really sets iRacing apart is its focus on online competition. With a dedicated community of simracers from around the world, iRacing is the perfect game for those looking for a head-to-head racing experience. With the support of OpenXR and the use of the OpenXR toolkit, you can benefit from foveated rendering (eye tracking) that keeps your simulator optimized and helps you get the best performance.
2. Assetto Corsa
Assetto Corsa is a popular simracing game that has been around for several years, but it still holds up as one of the best in the genre, largely due to its amazing modding community. The game features a large selection of cars and tracks, but with the help of mods you can take it to a completely new level both in terms of content and graphics and make AC look like it was newly released.
Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore simracing enthusiast, Assetto Corsa is a game that is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end with it’s mixed driving experiences.
3. Dirt Rally 2.0
Dirt Rally 2.0 is a rally racing simulator that puts players in the driver’s seat of some of the most iconic rally cars in history. The game’s VR mode, with re-shade mods graphics and realistic sound effects, brings you closer to the heart of the action.
If you’re a fan of rally racing, Dirt Rally 2.0 is a game that you simply can’t miss playing in VR. The feeling you get when driving at 150+ km/h on small dirt roads is mildly terrifying, and it makes you have huge respect for the rally drivers who do this for a living, as the margin for error is so small.
4. Automobilista 2
Automobilista 2 is another racing simulator that features a large selection of cars and tracks, with a focus on providing a realistic driving experience. The game’s VR implementation is impressive, with detailed graphics and realistic sound effects that make you feel like you’re really in the driver’s seat.
The physics engine is on par with the other games on this list, but Automobilista 2 stands out with its dynamic weather system, which adds an extra layer of realism to the experience that you can’t find in the other games. If you’re looking for a more visual experience, this is the one to go for.
5. rFactor 2
rFactor 2 is a racing simulator that features an impressive collection of cars and tracks, with a focus on providing a realistic driving experience. rFactor2 is designed to be customizable and it is utilized by professional racing teams for driver training and development of race cars.
The physics engine is incredibly realistic, and the game is constantly updated with new content and improvements. rFactor 2 is a great choice for Sim Racing enthusiasts who prioritize a realistic driving experience over a visually stunning one.
That concludes my top 5 Sim Racing games for VR that are sure to provide an immersive and thrilling experience for racers. Whether you’re a serious Sim Racer or a casual player, there is a game on this list that is sure to meet your needs. So buckle up, put on your VR headset, and get ready for some high-speed action on the virtual racetracks!
If you want to learn more about Sim Racing and VR, and how you can optimize each simulator for your Varjo headset, visit our Discord community.
Interested to play best Sim Racing games with industry-leading resolution and immersion?