iRacing

 PC
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 104 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 104
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 104
  3. Negative: 30 out of 104

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  1. KeksaLoo
    Jul 25, 2016
    3
    Driving physics were quite horrible in 2013 when my membership started, like ice skating simulator. Far from reality! They promised clean racing, it was not true. I was on road racing level 3 ( or was it C?) when I finally got it, better stop wasting money on this crap. I've had o lot more fun with Project cars, Forza, Assetto Corsa and RRRE. From which came to my mind that Iracing doesDriving physics were quite horrible in 2013 when my membership started, like ice skating simulator. Far from reality! They promised clean racing, it was not true. I was on road racing level 3 ( or was it C?) when I finally got it, better stop wasting money on this crap. I've had o lot more fun with Project cars, Forza, Assetto Corsa and RRRE. From which came to my mind that Iracing does not even have AI. It is totally overrated boring wreckfest and too expensive.… Expand
  2. dualprop
    Apr 22, 2018
    1
    15$ for a single track, 12$ for a single car. If you want to compete in a series, you need to shell out 150+ bucks to be able to participate in all races. On top of that, you need to subscribe for 15$ a month. A very limited selection of cars. The only GT3 series that is not mixed and/or endurance locks you into a single car model. Very low player count, about 3000 that are scattered15$ for a single track, 12$ for a single car. If you want to compete in a series, you need to shell out 150+ bucks to be able to participate in all races. On top of that, you need to subscribe for 15$ a month. A very limited selection of cars. The only GT3 series that is not mixed and/or endurance locks you into a single car model. Very low player count, about 3000 that are scattered between american and european servers. Graphics are very outdated.

    Physics and FFB are top notch, though.    … Expand
  3. Andz
    Sep 3, 2014
    3
    i Racing claims quite a lot. Some claim that graphics is not up the level of what is a standard these days, however there are much more serious issues with the simmulator.

    Graphics: Highly sufficient for the purpose, no need for improvement, however competition will force natural improvements over time... Organization / registration / admin/profile/payment    i Racing claims quite a lot. Some claim that graphics is not up the level of what is a standard these days, however there are much more serious issues with the simmulator.

    Graphics:
    Highly sufficient for the purpose, no need for improvement, however competition will force natural improvements over time...

    Organization / registration / admin/profile/payment processing:
    No issues identified ...

    Variety of cars / tracks:
    Sufficient (not considering costs)

    Physics:
    Claims to be realistic BUT it is not, for some cars (e.g. Cadillac, some open wheel) the sensitivity of car to any mistake or imperfection with the throttle or braking is over what is normal. In some cases you
    will hardly believe how it is possible to spin a car at 20mph, I mean racing car. Most of the cars suffer heavy understeer, corrections through set up no more possible... I have had a chance to try professional racing simmulator and iRacing is not far from it, however in certain aspect it kills the pleasure.

    Costs>
    Very excellent business for the producers, however cost go to hundreds of USD whithin couple of months. What is striking is the system they charge for every addition of cars and tracks. If you would like to join some group for full season racing you might have to pay additional USD 80 - 90 to enter the season. Additional hundreds need to be spent to purchase decent wheel. If you thing that, e.g. Thrustmaster Ferrari 458 is sufficient, no way... you need to look for somthing else (at least Logitec G27, better chose Fanatec, Thrustmaster T500 and above).

    System of races / qualifications / time trials
    Excellent, there is no major difficulty to register for a session

    Safety score/rating
    Something that kills the game absolutely... You have safety score and rating based on your performance which is OK BUT... Every incident decreases your safety score no mather whether its your fault or not (absolute stupidity and very far from real race driving). For instance, you start race, somebody makes a contact from behind you are penalized and you have limited penalizations available in each race. Every single touch of ground behind the line and you are penalized (absolutely unrealistic), which makes you drive SAFE. Finally, you either drive like in a driving school, you either are very very good, or sonner or later you lose your nerves.

    Other
    No wheather simmulation, unrealistic pitstops, very long pitstop after you have crashed (even when caused by somebody else)

    OVERALL
    Excellent intention PERFORMANCE POOR. What really works and why so many people join and stay with iRacing is EGO, EGO to prove yourself that you are the best / better driver.... and it works. I imagine that thousands are spending endless hours to improve and improve.....
    However, if somebody is looking for fun and racing at reasonable cost you have to look somwhere else.    … Expand
  4. ThaPumpkin
    Nov 21, 2014
    4
    Good game, but definitley not worth the money. Cheaper, better looking and more realistic driving sims is coming out in 2015 and I see no reason to spend money on this.
  5. Truth666
    Mar 26, 2015
    0
    Don't waste your money. Side by side comparison with Project Cars has shown Project Cars to be way better than iRacing. I've been a member for three years and can not wait for project cars, iRacing is nothing but a constant pull on your wallet. Looks good at first but when you get nothing in return from them unless you pay for it. After three years of constant big event server crashes andDon't waste your money. Side by side comparison with Project Cars has shown Project Cars to be way better than iRacing. I've been a member for three years and can not wait for project cars, iRacing is nothing but a constant pull on your wallet. Looks good at first but when you get nothing in return from them unless you pay for it. After three years of constant big event server crashes and nothing ever given back to its members days can't go by fast enough. I just hope Project Cars is run by people who actual care and not all about Money like the idiots at iracing!… Expand
  6. pedroriel
    Jan 30, 2015
    0
    iRacing is great for driving, but the safety rating which penalises you no matter what is stupid, and the administrators are not particularly helpful, even to the point of being condescending.
  7. Darwin_Jones
    Sep 18, 2020
    2
    Average Sim at an extremely overpriced price. All in all, iracing is fine. I have the free content and other cars with accoun from a buddy. For me the conclusion remains:
    - Graphics: Mediocre to outdated.
    - Physics: All right. Accident physics immensely unrealistic. Cars sometimes fly 10m high. - Sound: Mediocre. - Multiplayer: Good. Matchmaking is good. Netcode could be better. Cars    Average Sim at an extremely overpriced price. All in all, iracing is fine. I have the free content and other cars with accoun from a buddy. For me the conclusion remains:
    - Graphics: Mediocre to outdated.
    - Physics: All right. Accident physics immensely unrealistic. Cars sometimes fly 10m high.
    - Sound: Mediocre.
    - Multiplayer: Good. Matchmaking is good. Netcode could be better. Cars sometimes disappear when other drivers have a bad ping.
    - Reputation: Extremely exaggerated. There are many equally good or even better alternatives. You surely know the alternatives. ACC, rF2, AC, AMS, AMS2, ... (definitely a matter of taste - but iracing is definitely not a non-plus-ultra anymore)
    - Price: The price borders on audacity. Can you even take it seriously? This is why I rated it so badly. It's just an average sim that's being marketed way better than it is.    … Expand
  8. difg6
    Jun 26, 2020
    0
    The game is really good but the way iRacing is treating his public with the renewel in steam is awful.
    The game is already overpriced and when Steam makes a discount iRacing didn't accept it!
  9. Welshie95
    Aug 11, 2020
    2
    This racing game doesn't come with any quality cars or tracks. I knew about the micro transactions before I went into it, but I didn't realize just how sparse the default content would be and just how 'macro' the micro transactions are. Perhaps this is my fault for not looking into it further before buying, but I expect some game for my money, you know? Especially if I'm paying monthly.This racing game doesn't come with any quality cars or tracks. I knew about the micro transactions before I went into it, but I didn't realize just how sparse the default content would be and just how 'macro' the micro transactions are. Perhaps this is my fault for not looking into it further before buying, but I expect some game for my money, you know? Especially if I'm paying monthly. Imagine if WoW only gave you two classes and two races and made you pay $20 for every other one, only to find out that you have to pay even more if you want to explore the same areas on the map as your friends. All on top of spending $15 per month. The physics and gameplay seem good, but I can't justify giving this game anything over a 2 considering the poor value per dollar spent.

    The refund policy is also unforgiving. I understand they have it stated in multiple places that they don't give refunds, but I asked for a refund on an additional 3 months merely one day after it autorenewed, because I had forgotten about the game entirely and had not played it for about 2 1/2 months. I had to fight with customer service over several emails to be granted a partial refund and have my account deactivated. I practically donated money to their company, given that I barely played the game, and they still acted like a partial refund on a service I wasn't going to use at all was some kind of enormous favor to me. Other subscription services have good customer service policy. This one does not. Just because their policy is 'clearly stated' does not mean it's a good policy immune to criticism. Its a shame that developers spent so much time on a decent racing game only to have micro transactions and bad business policy muddy their hard work.    … Expand
  10. Pohuligan
    Nov 10, 2020
    0
    Disgusting services!
    I was targeted by some sick driver who cause many accidets, then reported me for "using vulgar language" (of course I was mad), and I WAS BANNED FROM MULTIPLAYER SESSIONS.
    If you want to feel bad and ripped-off - play iRacing. I am also battling to get refund for ~$100 of content I bought - NEVER PLAY THIS GAME. Their support is the worst on the planet - I    Disgusting services!
    I was targeted by some sick driver who cause many accidets, then reported me for "using vulgar language" (of course I was mad), and I WAS BANNED FROM MULTIPLAYER SESSIONS.

    If you want to feel bad and ripped-off - play iRacing.

    I am also battling to get refund for ~$100 of content I bought - NEVER PLAY THIS GAME.

    Their support is the worst on the planet - I keep trying to reach them but all I get is automated replies, one contradicting the other!

    Looks like it is an ancient technilogy trying to stay alive.

    And the game itself feels like something from 2001-2002, not a modern racing game.

    Also, since I've spoken on multiplayer - multiplayer is great if you don't mind random jumpings of other cars that also cause accidets.

    Really, I have never felt that bad, viloated and disgussed by a RACING SIM. Worst gaming company! Worse then Ubisoft, which tells you something....    … Expand
  11. Gsteee
    Nov 17, 2020
    0
    DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY- I wish there was a negative rating I could give for this garbage game. Have fun spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy a good rig and gear and then pay for each car and each track as well as a monthly subscription only to be given 4x incidents every time you get smashed into by a noob. The protest system and the admins are atrocious. They treat theirDONT WASTE YOUR MONEY- I wish there was a negative rating I could give for this garbage game. Have fun spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy a good rig and gear and then pay for each car and each track as well as a monthly subscription only to be given 4x incidents every time you get smashed into by a noob. The protest system and the admins are atrocious. They treat their customers like trash and suspend new drivers for trying to race and accidentally hitting someone. But wait... when you get taken out in a race the admins just ignore your protests and laugh. Just play forza or the F1 codemaster games. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY.… Expand
  12. DLH-Net
    Jan 20, 2023
    0
    Just the best SimRacing Software out there. To expensive? Well it's working and running - that's never too expensive.
  13. MachoBunny
    Aug 22, 2016
    4
    I know that iRacing is very popular. Having played it many hours, and having also played Project Cars in addition to racing real cars, I am sure I do not understand how iRacing stays in business.

    I am using the Oculus Rift VR. Naturally, a VR "racing" experience is preferable to a flat screen, or any number of flat screens...IF the user interface of the "game" actually is usable. In    I know that iRacing is very popular. Having played it many hours, and having also played Project Cars in addition to racing real cars, I am sure I do not understand how iRacing stays in business.

    I am using the Oculus Rift VR. Naturally, a VR "racing" experience is preferable to a flat screen, or any number of flat screens...IF the user interface of the "game" actually is usable. In the fullness of time iRacing eventually did condescend to support VR, but compared to others, like Project Cars, they did a very poor job of it.

    Project Cars (PC) and Steam have just about gotten the VR interface functionality figured out. The RIFT interface in PC allows the user to do just about everything without ever removing the head gear. The Steam VR interface even allows the seating position to be adjusted, as it should, and navigation through the various car set ups, tracks, options, etc. is fairly intuitive and fast, for Project Cars. You never have to remove the VR headset with PC using the Steam interface.

    NONE of these statements applies to iRacing. Their VR implementation appears to have been done just to ensure that no one is ever tempted to buy VR. Let me say, I am a person who WILL NOT spend many days screwing with an interface that has NO instructions, going on line to forums, searching the web endlessly for clues about how to make something work. I buy it. It is supposed to work. The folks at iRacing have always been unaware of that concept. Even the flat screen version is an endless pain to get set up with cars that behave...but in VR...well...Just don't even think about it. There are no readable instruments, you cant tell what gear you're in, you can't tell your speed, information "windows" are strewn broadly around the field of view, and you will be made to remove the headset and readjust the VR sensor positioning anytime you change cars or boot up with the RIFT not on your head. There is no way to access VR controls from within iRacing. Maybe there will be someday, but not now....8/22/2016.

    So I attempted to get iRacing running using Steam. Since Steam VR seems to work so well with Project Cars, I thought, maybe there is hope for iRacing. There is a way to get iRacing activated under steam. If you look around long enough you will find the secrets buried deeply under the "My Account" button on iRacing. Ultimately that involves them giving you a ONE TIME key...that you have to use TWICE. Now, I didn't write the key down, and that is a fatal mistake unless you have a photographic memory.

    The first time you use the ONE TIME KEY Steam will download and install iRacing. After all that, you will be told that you are all ready to go, but you are not. When you attempt to 'PLAY" iRacing in Steam, you will asked for the ONE TIME KEY again. And without it, you go no where. It didn't cost you anything but time, but you are totally screwed if you lost that KEY. So, I will never know if the Stream VR interface makes iRacing usable. If you get it working, let others know what you think.

    iRacing has a few US tracks that are free, and that makes it attractive, but everything else costs a lot. Project Cars has a lot of tracks and cars that are included in the purchase, but there is no way to add new tracks or cars until they build them up and offer a DLC package. They have a few DLCs, reasonably priced, and all of them work.

    iRacing offers a lot of flexible racing choices that you can pay more for, but the cost just keeps adding up. Since I prefer the VR world for SIM Racing, I am completely disappointed with iRacing. It is too painful to use for VR. I generously gave it a score of 4 because I know a LOT of hard work went into producing what little they have. If they had managed to make all the nifty graphics and physics actually usable, if they had a VR interface that worked, if I didn't have to spend more and more and more money just to get an experience that is inferior to Project Cars...I might have given it 6 stars.    … Expand
  14. RanyM
    Dec 23, 2016
    1
    A scam with so many obsolete cars.Good game, but definitely not worth the money. Cheaper, better looking and more realistic driving sims is coming out in 2015 and I see no reason to spend money on this.
  15. landstrom27
    Dec 2, 2016
    1
    **** you iracing! why oh why did I spend so much on this game? Must have spent about $700 on this game and now I can't play unless I spend more. Even if this game isn't completely out of date now, which I'd say it probably is, I will never spend another penny on this ridiculously overpriced game. It was fun for a while, but I cant believe I spent that much on it. Don't be a fool like me.**** you iracing! why oh why did I spend so much on this game? Must have spent about $700 on this game and now I can't play unless I spend more. Even if this game isn't completely out of date now, which I'd say it probably is, I will never spend another penny on this ridiculously overpriced game. It was fun for a while, but I cant believe I spent that much on it. Don't be a fool like me. Just say, **** you iracing"… Expand
  16. Broyax
    Apr 9, 2017
    1
    La conduite -le pilotage pardon- se veut hyper réaliste et pourtant ça n'a rien de sorcier à maîtriser, même avec un simple pad ! en vérité n'importe quel GTR et même GT5 lui donne une leçon. Même au volant, les sensations sont tristement absentes, les véhicules ne retransmettent strictement... rien. Graphiquement, c'est tout juste correct, un peu moins laid qu'un vieux GTR et avec de plusLa conduite -le pilotage pardon- se veut hyper réaliste et pourtant ça n'a rien de sorcier à maîtriser, même avec un simple pad ! en vérité n'importe quel GTR et même GT5 lui donne une leçon. Même au volant, les sensations sont tristement absentes, les véhicules ne retransmettent strictement... rien. Graphiquement, c'est tout juste correct, un peu moins laid qu'un vieux GTR et avec de plus un nombre de joueurs restreint. Autant dire qu'à côté d'un Assetto Corsa, c'est la douche froide...

    L'interface sous forme de page web (?!) -mais de qui se moque-t-on ?- est une insulte à l'ergonomie la plus élémentaire, de même que les menus ou l'affichage en course, déplorables. J'ai eu un mois gratuit mais que penser du contenu misérable pour 12 $ par mois : 5 voitures et 10 circuits seulement. Et chaque voiture supplémentaire vous en coûtera... 11,95 $, chaque circuit, 14,95 ! cette arnaque à pigeons ! on nage en plein free to pay... alors qu'on paye déjà un abonnement !

    Le "safety rating" est une bonne idée à la base mais bien trop sévère puisqu'il vous pénalise au moindre tiers de pneu dans l'herbe sans compter que si un idiot vous rentre dedans, vous prendrez aussi la même pénalité que l'énergumène ! Un peu gênant vu que nombre d'épreuves exigent un "SR" minimum... Enfin, l'iRating qui évalue en permanence votre niveau est bien maladroitement géré puisqu'il vous place souvent dans des groupes de joueurs qui tournent 2 s au tour plus vite. Autre effet retors, l'impossibilité de jouer avec des amis dont l'irating est plus ou moins élevé que vous... à moins de louer (!) un serveur !

    Signalons également les courses à horaire fixe et au nombre de tours fixe, toujours 20 mn minimum. Ce MMO de la bagnole qui ne fait que vous mettre des bâtons dans les roues est à oublier d'urgence.    … Expand
  17. robevery1971
    Jan 17, 2020
    4
    Some great stuff here, but let down by the payment system and having to race with gormless idiots initially that ruin the experience, unless of course, you pay.
  18. zr240
    Apr 9, 2020
    1
    As a game it’s a bit of fun but as a simulator it’s rubbish, TYRE model is way off and setup on cars is nothing like real world, you would think from all the subscription fees and track and car purchases they could invest in getting it a bit closer to real life!
  19. nogas
    Jun 30, 2022
    0
    Graphics in VR and physics are great.
    BUT HERE IS A WARNING!
    There is no way to play without Internet connection and no offline playing without payed subscription. That's not the worst. You pay for the track Nordschleife. But there is no way to play this track against AI. You have to buy the Grandprix track as well because in an AI race you are only allowed to race the combined course.    Graphics in VR and physics are great.
    BUT HERE IS A WARNING!
    There is no way to play without Internet connection and no offline playing without payed subscription.
    That's not the worst.
    You pay for the track Nordschleife. But there is no way to play this track against AI. You have to buy the Grandprix track as well because in an AI race you are only allowed to race the combined course. Realy? I feel cheated!
    If you buy the (Legacy) Ferrari 488 GT3 cause it's a cheap option and want to race with this car online against others. Be adviced. In a month I haven't seen one lobby with this car. So buy this car only if you want to drive against AI.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. IGN Italia
    Feb 2, 2015
    90
    So realistic it's almost a professional tool more than a game. Still the best realistic racing experience out there.
    Read full review
  2. PC Gamer UK
    80
    An impressive game, but not one that will be to everyone's tastes, especially not those after a quick thrill. [Sept 2010, p.88]
  3. GameStar
    68
    iRacing is a very tough simulation and can only be recommended to gamers immune to frustration. Only real motoring fans should pay a monthly fee and even more for additional packs. The graphics give the impression of an unfinished beta, but at least the atmosphere between the players is always friendly.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »