But if there's one thing this entire list proves, it's that reality is overrated anyway. Instead it's the sort of automotive adventures that you fantasise about but would never be able to achieve in real life because dry stone walls are actually remarkably solid and landing a 1000ft jump in a Bugatti Chiron would launch a very expensive pair of front shocks into a low earth orbit. Most importantly, while it features real cars it doesn't spend time wringing its hands over being realistic. It's basically like tearing across the intro to Emmerdale in a McLaren Senna. Forza Horizon 4 was that intoxicating cocktail refined, but also introduced seasonal weather transitions and was set in a compressed, greatest hits of the British countryside. The Horizon series forcibly injected fun back into the Forza franchise back in 2012, taking the series' comprehensive car list and giving you an open world sandbox to enjoy them in. Here it is then, our pick for the best driving game of the decade and the one that most accurately captures our love of cars. City Car Driving is a realistic driving simulator that will help you to master the basic skills of car driving in different road conditions. On the bus, in the park, under the table during overly long family dinners. Plus the more recent Nintendo Switch version, which allows you to pop out the controllers for instant two player battles, means you can claim Mario Kart bragging rights anywhere you like. The game's winning formula has been often imitated but never bettered and in particular Mario Kart 8's swooping, vertiginous circuits are surprisingly spectacular for a game whose engines top out at 200cc. In spite of the Italian plumber's questionable credentials, Mario Kart offers up some of the best racing action around, it's just that rather than on a Sunday afternoon it usually happens after closing time at the local pub in the idyllic setting of the Circuit de Dave's Living Room. Though admittedly he does at least have a Nigel Mansell moustache for added downforce. Nor are his overalls plastered with sponsor logos. He's not an athletic, precision sportsperson who lives entirely on a diet of chicken and brown rice. As racing icons go, Mario doesn't exactly fit the mould.

Car driving games to play