Best Sim Racing Games for Casual Players

If you're a casual player looking to get into sim racing without feeling overwhelmed by complex setups or steep learning curves, here are some of the best sim racing games that strike a good balance between realism and accessibility:

The franchise has been a staple for years now in the racing game industry and is a great all-rounder. Offering a great variety, from street cars all the way up to fully-fledged race cars that you can drive all over the world on real-life and fantasy circuits, it is a great platform for casual racers. The physics are easy to learn but hard to master, giving you long-term motivation to constantly improve for online competition. However, keep in mind that this is XBOX and PC exclusive, so if you play on a PlayStation, this option unfortunately is not for you.

For PlayStation gamers, though, there is another great platform-exclusive title on offer.

• Ideal Fanatec setup: CSL DD Ready2Race Forza Motorsport Bundle (5Nm) – a great plug-and-play bundle optimized for Xbox and PC users wanting to dive into Forza with quality gear.

Gran Turismo is the best-selling racing game franchise of all time, releasing the very first game in the late '90s on PlayStation 1. With its unique character, you can really feel the love for cars from the developers creating the game. In its current iteration, Gran Turismo 7 has remarkable graphics, a great physics model, and a great variety of cars and locations on offer.

• Ideal Fanatec setup: Gran Turismo DD Pro (5Nm) – perfect for casual players starting their sim journey on PlayStation or Gran Turismo DD Extreme – for those who want the highest level of performance and immersion.

The game includes a campaign for solo players, but if you prefer competition, you can also put your skills to the test in various online races. If you want to go into more detail, you can also work on your own car tuning and setups, create liveries, or get lost in the game’s extensive photo mode.

The biggest real-life racing series in the world also has its own official video game. Here you can experience becoming an F1 driver, while stepping up the ranks from junior formula series all the way up to F1 in its campaign mode. You can also create your own team and manage it in various ways or just do a quick single-player race, picking simply a car and track. The physics strike a good balance between arcade racer and simulation. While driving is easy to learn, the game also simulates tire degradation and specific car options, like the DRS system.

If you are a big fan of F1 in real life, this game is a no-brainer to pick up and just have a go.

• Ideal Fanatec setup: CSL DD Ready2Race F1 Esports Bundle – a solid and accessible option for anyone jumping into the world of F1 racing games or ClubSport Racing Wheel F1 – pro-level performance and precision for serious F1 enthusiasts.

Whether you're gaming on console or PC, and prefer a laid-back racing experience or something more competitive, there’s a perfect game for you in this list. Forza Motorsport is ideal for those who enjoy a wide variety of cars and tracks; Gran Turismo 7 stands out with its attention to detail and PlayStation exclusivity; and F1 24 is a must-have for Formula 1 fans wanting to dive into the world of professional motorsport. Each title is beginner-friendly while offering enough depth to keep you coming back for more. Just pick the one that suits your playstyle and start racing.