5 best racing game franchises for F1 fans to try out

The racing game genre is vast, with the F1 franshise being one of its biggest entries. The fanbase for Formula 1 games has surged in recent years, driven by the sport’s rising global popularity. However, the F1 series has encountered some missteps recently, particularly with this year’s F1 24 and the previous entry, F1 22, which sparked divided opinions among players.

As fans await the release of the next F1 game or look for alternatives, they may be interested in exploring other racing game franchises. Below are five exciting series that might appeal to them.

Note: The contents of this article are subjective. This list is not a ranking.

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5 racing game franchises that may appeal to F1 fans

1) NASCAR Heat

The NASCAR Heat series is a great way to test out the waters of one of America's favorite motorsports (Image via Motorsport Games/ Steam)

One of the most popular motorsport leagues in the United States, NASCAR has had many licensed games over the years, dating back to the early days of gaming. However, it is the more recent NASCAR Heat series, which includes five titles from 2016’s NASCAR Heat Evolution to 2020’s NASCAR Heat 5, that stands out. The most recent game, NASCAR Ignition, received poor reviews and is not featured here.

In addition to featuring the Cup series, some titles in the series also showcase dirt racing and the official Truck Racing series. With the impending release of NASCAR 25, now is an excellent time to explore recent entries in the franchise.

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2) Gran Turismo

A still from GT7, showcasing the photo mode capabilities. (Image via Sony Interactive Entertainment)

The Gran Turismo series, a collaboration between Polyphony Digital and Sony, has many entries, from the very first game in 1997 to 2022's Gran Turismo 7. The franchise has consistently focused on realism, offering striking visuals and a highly immersive driving experience. However, the games have only ever been playable on PlayStation consoles, with no other systems being able to run them.

Nonetheless, if you're curious about the series, Gran Turismo 7 is a fantastic starting point. Alternatively, the free-to-play My First Gran Turismo game offers a glimpse of what the mainline series has to offer.

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3) Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsport

Forza games are known for their vast vehicle rosters (Image via Xbox Game Studios/ Steam)

The Forza series has been a key presence in the Xbox and PC gaming landscape for years, thanks to both the open-world Forza Horizon series and the more realistic Forza Motorsport games. Both series are highly enjoyable, with most entries receiving positive reception.

Currently, 2021's Forza Horizon 5 and 2023's Forza Motorsport are the only available titles for purchase, as Forza Horizon 4 was de-listed from sale on December 16, 2024. However, a new entry in the Horizon sub-series may be released in 2025.

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4) EA Sports WRC/ Dirt

A car drifting on a snow surface in Dirt Rally 2.0 (Image via Codemasters/ EA/ Steam)

The Dirt series, now branded as EA Sports WRC, continues Codemasters' and EA's take on the rally racing genre. With a new physics engine and the use of Unreal Engine instead of the previous in-house EGO engine, the game performs excellently across various hardware. Older entries like Dirt Rally 2.0 and Dirt 4 are often discounted, providing great value.

While shifting from track racing to off-road may be a significant change, the intense thrill of racing to the finish line remains, just like in F1.

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5) Assetto Corsa

The different Assetto Corsa games can provide great variety for F1 fans to enjoy (image via Kunos Simulazioni/ Steam)

There are three main-line entries in the Assetto Corsa series: 2015’s Assetto Corsa, 2019’s Assetto Corsa Competizione, and the upcoming Assetto Corsa EVO.

All three entries are fantastic in their own right. Assetto Corsa is highly mod-friendly and frequently goes on sale, making it a great entry point to the series. Assetto Corsa Competizione focuses on GT racing and is the official game of the GT World Challenge Europe and the 24 Hours of Spa. The upcoming Assetto Corsa EVO promises an expansive open-world map set in Germany’s Eifel region.

All these factors make the series worth considering, especially when it goes on sale.

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