Video: This is how much sim graphics have come on in 30 years

29th September 2021

Sim racing is so accurate nowadays that you may as well be behind the wheel of the real deal.

But computer cockpits haven’t always been so realistic. Remember the grainy, pixelated picture of the 1994 edition of The Need for Speed? How about the shaky Colin McRae Rally from 2005? Fast forward another decade and the GRID: Autosport of 2014 starts to feel much more like a legitimate onboard. Meanwhile, the likes of Automobilista 2, released last year, are insanely authentic, and definitely deserves a double take.

Unsurprisingly, cockpit views have matured massively over the past 25 years, and while older games may seem cartoon-ey compared to today’s advanced racing simulators, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about them.

Thankfully, YouTube channel Matus Creation has collated the cockpit views from 40 of our favourite racing games from the past three decades. Spanning track, rally and road driving, the 20-minute video wonderfully documents just how far on-screen driving has come.

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Intense Laguna Seca IndyCar visor‑cam