Retro Racing Games That Paved the Way for Modern Sports Simulations

Simulator games aren’t something new. In fact, they’ve been around for decades. Yes, some of these retro games didn’t deliver a lifelike experience, but at least they laid the foundation of modern simulator games.

What makes sports simulation games so exciting? Well, there is something about these games that always sounded appealing to gamers. The idea of becoming something in the game that you cannot in real life, and experience what it is like to be a true athlete.

When it comes to simulation games, we can immediately sense a trend that has been around for decades. Gamers love sports simulator games. Sports like moto racing, horse racing, skiing, football, and others.

So, what are the best retro racing games that created this multi-billion-dollar industry we have today?

Indianapolis 500

First, we have the Indianapolis 500, which was quite a popular game back in 1989. This is a simulation game that brought true racing to PCs, where the attention to detail wowed players.

So, what was the big thing with the Indianapolis 500? Well, this is a game that was one of the first to introduce realistic physics, modeling tire grip, in-depth car setup, and even aerodynamics.

All of these things are now standard in racing games, but back in the day, this was something revolutionary. Unlike arcade races, this game demanded precision, vehicle tuning, and setup tweaking just to get that millisecond advantage.

It kind of laid the foundation of the modern F1 games that we now have.

Gran Trak 10

Not many people know this game, but there is a good reason for that. We are talking about a dinosaur of a game that was released back in 1974. This was one of the first games to hit arcades, making it the first racing game where players could drive cars with a wheel, pedals, and a gear shift.

Now, the graphics and mechanics were terrible, but that’s not the point here. The point is that this game showed the world what a true racing simulator looks like. The production cost of this game was massive, and Atari ended up losing money due to high production costs.

But its influence in modern sims like Forza Motorsport is clear, and it is one of the most important racing sims that started this industry.

Winning Post Series

Now we go from engines that run on gas to horses. Horse simulator games are also very popular, and there is a good reason for that. So many people want to become racehorse owners or experience what it is like to become a jockey, and games like the Winning Post series that started in 1993 and is still running today allow players to breed, train, and racehorses.

What’s so special about this game is the in-depth mechanics and attention to detail. Most horse racing enthusiasts know that a winning horse has many different characteristics, and some of them even understand the complexity of breeding horses.

With Winning Post, this was all available in the game, so it required a strategic approach and a lot of thinking. With the 2025 Preakness Stakes odds already live, maybe this is the perfect time for horse racing enthusiasts to get inspired before the race.

Pro Cycling Manager

In 2001, Pro Cycling Manager launched on PC, bringing cycling simulation to the forefront with a focus on team tactics and endurance. Players managed a cycling team, balancing rider fatigue, drafting, and sprint timing across real-world races like the Tour de France. Its stat-driven gameplay, tracking metrics like stamina and climbing ability, set a standard for strategic sports sims.

 Modern cycling games, like Zwift, owe their depth to this title’s emphasis on realistic race dynamics and team management. By simulating the grind of multi-stage races, it showed other sports could rival motorsports in simulation complexity.

Gran Turismo

Sony’s Gran Turismo, released in 1997 on the PlayStation, became later the best-selling PS1 game, redefining racing simulations. Its Simulation Mode required players to earn licenses through driving tests, unlocking 140 cars and tracks, while detailed car physics and tuning options mimicked real-world mechanics. 

The GT Academy later turned top players into real racers, proving its realism. Gran Turismo’s blend of accessibility, depth, and licensed cars shaped modern sims like Gran Turismo 7, where players still obsess over tire compounds and gear ratios. It raised the bar for what a racing sim could be, cementing simulation as a mainstream genre.

G1 Jockey

Koei’s G1 Jockey, first released in 1999 for PlayStation, offered a jockey’s-eye view of horse racing, emphasizing rider skill over horse stats. Players controlled whip timing, lane positioning, and stamina management, with motion controls on later Wii versions adding immersion. It's realistic mechanics, like strategic pacing to avoid tiring the horse. 

Unlike arcade racers, it demanded finesse, shaping the tactical depth of current horse racing games. G1 Jockey’s focus on the rider’s role brought a human element to simulations, a trait seen in today’s athlete-driven sports titles.

These are some of the best retro racing sim games, and this might be the perfect opportunity for you to get in your time capsule and travel back in time just to experience whatit  was like to play such games.