With over 130 tracks and 180 cars to choose from, there's a great deal of variety that gives the game a lot of replay value for both single-player and multiplayer races. Open wheels, dozens of vintage cars, popular road cars such as a handful of Porsche and Lamborghini models, and tons more are all on offer, along with a near-endless combination of customizable tracks for single-player races and rule sets for AI opponents.

Project CARS 2 shows off every glare of sunlight over each car, the droplets of rain over the windshield in the middle of a downpour, and the flurry of snow rushing across the field as you navigate through a blizzard. Each car is recreated with painstaking detail, and the movement of the player character's hands as they rumble in-time with the wheel or shift around to change gears looks life-like.

Playing with a peripheral wheel will be the superior choice for racing game vets, and Project CARS 2 is a great choice for anyone who wants an immersive driving experience. The wheel is smooth and responsive, with rumble feedback picking up each bump in the road, the grip loosens in chaos each time you lose control of the vehicle, and it quickly tightens up once you regain control. Controlling races with the gamepad naturally isn't as responsive as the wheel, but it's still a fine way to feel the thrill of the game's speed and fluidity.

Listening to every sound of the exhaust and engine from the driver's seat is exciting, making you feel like you're right behind the wheel. Other cars jetting by, the sharp noise of the wheels burning rubber on tight turns, and the clicking motion of the player character manually changing gears are all at their best, making Project CARS 2 a standout game of the genre in terms of realism.