Game On! Best games for isolated motorists

There are tonnes of great driving game out there, for example. Whether you have a computer or a console, or simply your mobile phone, there are plenty of ways to race online and off.

Forza Motorsport 7

This long-running series has always offered a lot to play with. In this case, more than 700 vehicles to choose from means Forza Motorsport 7 will appeal to the keen collector, rewarding them by providing more vehicle options as the game progresses. Add to this abundance of cars 32 different locations, including old favourites from previous versions of the game and a newly added Dubai, plus an array of dramatic weather conditions, and Forza Motorsport 7 provides plenty to challenge even the best of drivers. That said, whether you try to drive the super sensitive Formula 1 Ferrari, or chug and clunk your way around the course in a truck, the game caters for different skill levels and offers assistance for those wanting a more arcade-feel to gameplay.

Available on PC and Xbox One

Dirt Rally 2

For the wannabe rally drivers (or anyone wanting to race around the countryside as a way of at least simulating some outdoor activity!), Dirt Rally 2 offers the chance to throw yourself around virtual courses of muddy tracks that will test your skills and reflexes. You’ll feel the weight of the car shifting as you push around sharp bends and suffer moments of panic as the tyres struggle to find traction as you race, and all the while a co-driver yells directions. Braking, drifting, dodging trees, this is a game that never lets up. Expect a few crashes until you get the hang of it and familiarise yourself with the various routes.

Available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4

iRacing

Fancy something even more serious? For this, you play online in an organised racing league, so you’ve got to be committed to the game, but it’s worth it. The detailed cars and tracks design ensure a realistic experience for which you’ll need a force feedback wheel to be able to play, but that only adds to the authenticity. This is more than just a game – iRacing demands hard work from players who want something as close to the real thing as they can get. In fact, some of the best iRacing players are real motorsport competitors!

Available on PC only

Ride 3

This one’s for the bikers, with plenty of variety to please even the greediest of players – 30 different top manufacturers provide 270 bikes between them for you to choose from, and you can customise your bike of choice from 1200 parts available, meaning there are modifications to suit every need and preference. You can even personalise the rider!

Ride 3 also gives you 30 different tracks to race on, urban and rural and worldwide, with different racing options allowing you to compete and complete challenges to earn new bikes while building your reputation in career mode. Realistic game controls might make it tricky to start with, but getting to grips with those is a rewarding experience in itself and then there’ll be no stopping you.

Available on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4

Driver: San Francisco

This one’s a bit of an oldie but a classic. An arcade racer with a narrative, set in – you guessed it – San Francisco, means there’s more depth to this than simply racing, but also lots of steep hills to speed on. Think Steve McQueen in Bullitt but with cars from different eras, mainly of the muscle and super car variety. You can swap between vehicles mid-game, and with 130 of them to choose from the game has a lot to offer; whether cinematic car chases are your thing, or simply beating your best time, Driver: San Francisco has plenty to keep you occupied.

Available on PC, Mac, Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

Real Racing 3

One of the most popular mobile phone downloads, Real Racing 3 is an award-winning game that gives you 40 circuits across 19 different locations, including Silverstone, Le Mans, and Dubai’s Autodrome. You’ll also have over 250 cars to choose from when it comes to racing, which you can do against real-world opponents who you can play any time, anywhere, thanks to Time Shifted Multiplayer technology. In fact, you can race against 7 other players at any one time, competing in events that include the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Stunning visuals include rear view mirror options and detailed vehicle damage, so make sure you have at least 2.5GB of free data to play.

Available on iOS, Android, Nvidia Shield and BlackBerry 10

So there you go, a few games to choose from, but there are plenty of others out there. It’s worth shopping around a bit, too, as some companies are likely to be offering discounts and special offers during this strange period of pandemics and lock downs.

Oh, and one other suggestion to help fend off the cabin fever – why not rearrange the furniture or get creative with some cardboard boxes to create the ultimate driving simulator experience? And of course, once you’ve improvised a vehicle to race with, don’t forget to add a number plate!

Happy racing!