When you think of the best PS5 games, racing games are usually forgotten. This is unfortunate because getting behind the wheel of a virtual car in either a simulation or arcade-style racer can get your blood pumping just as much as the best multiplayer games on the PS5. They also tend to be technical marvels, showing off real cars and racetracks in stunning detail that pushes your console to the limit. There are plenty of nuances and styles to racing games that those who don’t follow the genre much may not know about, so we’ve prepared this list of all the best PS5 racing games to get you started.
Gran Turismo 7
4/5
Platforms
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport
Developer
Polyphony Digital
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
March 04, 2022
With over 400 cars available (and more on the way through DLC), Gran Turismo 7 is a must-have for any racing fan on PlayStation 5. While Gran Turismo 7 is a racing sim at heart, fans from the Need for Speed and Burnout family won’t have a hard time adjusting to the more real-world controls. Proper braking, cornering, and line techniques are crucial to winning more races and driving more cars. Gran Turismo 7 also features one of the most expansive photo modes we’ve ever seen. In Scapes, players can choose from over 2,000 real-world locations and take beautiful pictures of their favorite cars. Finally, Sport Mode takes ranked online competitions to another level, pitting racers against each other in daily events with hard performance restrictions.
The Crew Motorfest
70%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Adventure
Developer
Ivory Tower
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
September 14, 2023
Ubisoft’s The Crew franchise aims to give you a massive world to explore and race through using a host of vehicles. The Crew Motorfest delivers the most fully realized version of that vision yet with its breathtaking island of O’ahu feeling perfectly authentic and lush. It also is a persistent online game, making it one of the best co-op games on PS5, so you will always see other players cruising and racing around. There are over 600 vehicles to unlock and test out in the base game, including cars, bikes, quads, monster trucks, and more.
Need for Speed: Unbound
78%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing
Developer
Criterion Games
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
November 29, 2022
If there’s one racing franchise even non-racing game fans know of, it has to be Need for Speed. Unbound takes the series in a new, very stylish direction by adding anime-like effects to your car. Visuals aside, this is a fully complete game with a fully story mode featuring choices and unraveling plot, as well as all the online modes and competitions you would expect. It is a great middle ground between hardcore racing and arcade fun.
Hot Wheels Unleashed
74%
5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Arcade
Developer
Milestone
Publisher
Milestone
Release
September 30, 2021
Hot Wheels Unleashed takes childhood bliss and injects it into a visually stunning current-gen video game. Unlike other Hot Wheels games that went the realism route, Hot Wheels Unleashed shrinks down to the miniature cars and orange tracks you know and love. Hot Wheels‘ attention to detail helps parents appreciate the reimagined toys they grew up with, and its easy-to-master controls make the game accessible to everyone in the house. Hot Wheels Unleased‘s multiplayer supports up to 12 racers online and two-player split-screen. The game features cross-gen support; however, it does not feature cross-platform support.
Wreckfest
72%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport, Indie
Developer
Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Release
June 14, 2018
If you’ve ever wanted to throw yourself into the world of derby racing, Wreckfest is the game for you. As one of the best racing games on PS5, Wreckfest puts a smile on your face at every turn. It’s a professional racing game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. However, the controls and physics will take some time to master, especially when driving the sofa car — that’s right, we said sofa car. Multiplayer adds a fun layer to the game that’s more than just placing first. With a wide variety of events to choose from, players won’t feel an overly-competitive cloud looming over the multiplayer lobby.
DIRT 5
70%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Racing, Sport, Adventure
Developer
Codemasters Cheshire
Publisher
Codemasters
Release
November 06, 2020
In DiRT 5’s campaign, you’re an up-and-coming off-road racer looking to make a name for themselves in the world of rally car racing. You catch the eye of DiRT superstar Alex Janiček, better known as AJ, who’ll introduce you to the big leagues. The campaign stretches over five long chapters with 130 available events. Like WreckFest, you don’t have to complete every event to pass a chapter, effectively paving your path in the events you feel most comfortable playing. You’ll earn Stamps based on your performance which accumulate to unlock the main event of each chapter. The better you place, the quicker you unlock the main event or “boss battle race,” if you will.
F1 2021
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport
Developer
Codemasters
Publisher
EA
Release
July 16, 2021
F1 games are the closest to real-life Forumla-1 action you’re going to get. They’re also some of the best racing games on PS5. Of all the games on this list, F1 2021 is the bonafide racing simulator. F1 edges out WRC 10 because you’ll be racing other cars controlled by the A.I. or other players online. The damage system is in-depth, and Breaking Point, the single-player career mode, offers a well-told story of redemption, rivalry, and the road to glory. Online, you can choose to partner with or challenge a friend in multiplayer career mode. Other than online careers, Social Play lets you hop in and out of races without worrying about any long-term ranking. Think of Social Play like a casual unranked mode for players new to the world of F1 racing. Collisions are turned off, and you’re free to race at your own pace. You can always take your skills to the ranked leaderboards in multi-lap races and time trials.
MotoGP 21
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport
Developer
Milestone
Publisher
Milestone
Release
April 21, 2021
Perhaps cars aren’t your thing. If that’s the case, MotoGP 2021 will satisfy your PlayStation 5 racing needs on the back of a 200 mph motorcycle. MotoGP isn’t a game any casual racing gamer can pick up and play. The fundamentals of racing a motorcycle are inherently different from driving a car. Thankfully, MotoGP offers an in-depth tutorial on how to do everything related to your high-speed bike. The single-player career works as you’d expect. You’ll control an up-and-coming racer who’s graduated through the ranks of professional racing and has finally reached the big leagues. You’ll have RPG-like control over your team as you earn points by completing objectives in practice and on race day.
Riders Republic
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport
Developer
Ubisoft Annecy
Publisher
Ubisoft
Release
October 28, 2021
Finally, if cars and motorcycles aren’t your things, then Riders Republic is the extreme sports racing game for you. Developers at Ubisoft Annecy, the team behind 2016’s Steep, return for its spiritual successor, describing Riders Republic as a “massive multiplayer sports game.” Riders Republic features 6v6 PvP matches along with 50-person downhill races. America’s national parks have been mushed together to form an adrenaline junky’s ultimate paradise. They can ski, snowboard, mountain bike, wingsuit, and jet-wingsuit (yes, we said jet wingsuit) from top to bottom for as long as your heart desires. With stunning visuals to back up entertaining gameplay, Rider’s Republic might be the blend of extreme sport and racing games you’ve been looking for. You’ll have five different careers to choose from that vary between racing and freestyle. They are snow races, snow tricks, bike races, bike tricks, and air sports. As you level up each career path, you’ll unlock new cosmetic gear to show off as you scream down the mountain. You’ll also earn stars for everything you do in the game. Stars are the in-game currency used to unlock new careers and sponsors.
