Everything You Need To Know About 6 Of This Season's Hottest Racing Games

It’s that time of year again where game publishers across the globe are in an all-out war to gain control of your wallet. Because they’re releasing their titles amongst heavy competition, we’re here to run you through all the facts before you make your purchasing decision.

1. The Crew

Release Date: 11/11/14
Platforms: PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

This open world MMO racer takes you on the streets of a modified USA to meet other drivers and form your own ‘crews’ to take on underground racing challenges and complete missions. It takes about 90 minutes to drive from coast to coast, or you can spawn to a hot spot to make meeting up with friends faster.

There is no waiting between transitions, as there are no loading screens or waiting for the environment to load. During the closed beta for the PC, I was lucky enough to explore this game for two days straight (with very little sleep) and can vouch for its quality. I will definitely be purchasing the final version of The Crew. Although there are less than 50 cars to choose from now, I am counting on upgradable parts and downloadable content in future patches to keep me entertained.

2. F1 2014

Release Date: 17/10/14
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Codemaster’s F1 games always bring impressive graphics, realistic physics and incredible environmental detail. However, if you need to narrow down your choices, don’t feel too bad crossing this game off your list. Last year’s F1 2013 was unique because it let you race classic Formula 1 cars, but this year is just another clone of the same F1 game with changes in the driver skills evaluation.

The new intuitive system recognises your strengths and weaknesses, adjusting the game to your skill level. This year also brings a new ‘Very Easy’ setting catering to beginners. The F1 2015 game is worth the wait if you have the patience. It will be released earlier in the season next year and will receive digital updates throughout the year so players can race against teams as the real world season unfolds. Next year’s game will be available on PC as well as Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

3. DriveClub

Release Dates: 7/10/14 (US); 8/10/14 (EU); 10/10/14 (UK)
Platforms: PS4

If you don’t have a PlayStation 4 or don’t plan on purchasing one soon, this game is quickly scratched off your list. DriveClub was due to release earlier this year, but the launch date was extended to perfect some in-game navigation features. Like other social racers, DriveClub lures its racers into joining clubs, creating events and racing with other players around the world.

New content, cars and events will be released monthly with the purchase of a season pass. The concept and graphics are great, but those alone cannot satisfy most racers. DriveClub limits you to PlayStation brand controls and a few select Thrustmaster wheels, there is no virtual reality support at this time and the 1080 resolution can only be properly displayed at 30FPS.

4. Assetto Corsa

Release Date: 11/8/13 (early access, final version in development)
Platform: PC

A few of you are thinking, ‘how dare you include Assetto Corsa in this season’s games when it has clearly been out since last year!’ Simmer down now. This is an amazing simulator and deserves consideration for anyone who is about to throw down some hard earned money. The game is still in early access on Steam as it nears the final stages of development.

The gameplay is so smooth and seamless; you wouldn’t know it was still in development just from playing. Updates and new car packs come out often, and the developers allowed much room for mods and customisation. Thousands of mods are available for cars, sound, physics and tracks or you can build your own. Check out Redditor N64AC’s awesome Rainbow Road track mod.

5. Project CARS

Release Dates: 18/11/14 (PS4, Xbox One, PC); TBD 2015 (Wii U, SteamOS)
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Wii U, SteamOS

This crowd sourced racer’s ever-changing list of cars, tracks and challenges promises to keep players motivated. You can race either on track or point to point locations and join the Driver Network to compete for real prizes. Although there are no upgradable parts for the licensed cars, they can be tuned and track tested to hit peak performance.

The game can be played on all next-gen machines and is compatible with 4K televisions, Oculus Rift, Project Morpheus, nVidia Shield and dozens of racing wheels. Check out this video of in-game footage vs real life to see just how slick this game looks.

6. Forza Horizon 2

Release Dates: 30/09/14 (US); 03/10/14 (EU)
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One

The details of dynamic weather, depth and lighting from closed circuit racers are transplanted into this open world racer set in Southern Europe. The initial release features over 200 licensed cars with more to be announced soon.

You can race legit tracks, go off road and explore, weave through traffic, create daring stunts and more to further your career. Your progress will contribute to the overall success of your own car club. The game is Xbox brand loyal, so you can forget it if you are strictly a PC or PlayStation gamer.

GTA V

Release Dates: 18/11/14 (PS4, Xbox One); 27/01/15 (PC)
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

Fine, here is a mention about GTA V. The GTA games are drifting farther from being arcade style racing games and more toward ‘run amuck’ FPS stories, but they will always hold a special place in my heart. GTA V was released on current-gen consoles last year, and it instantly broke game sales records by hitting over one billion dollars in just three days.

The new release will have the same plot and characters, but in a world of much improved textures, depth and detail. Players on GTA Online can transfer their progress to the new game and instantly pick up where they left off. Although I played last year’s game and will probably play another GTA in the future, I prefer to spend this season in a racing simulation game. It’s simply not fair to compare an action-adventure game like GTA V with any other game in this list.

The next few months are destined to be filled with virtual road rage and smack talk. What game(s) will you be buying this year?