Top 15 best racing games For PS5

With the PlayStation 5 being over four years old, there are an abundance of must-have racing games to select from, which might be daunting. Fortunately, we've developed a handy list of the ten finest PS5 racing games that should be in your library.

Racing games are also an excellent way to demonstrate the capabilities of Sony's newly released PS5 Pro, with several titles updated for Sony's more powerful platform, resulting in greater fidelity and frame rates.

Whether you favor ultra-realistic simulations or casual arcade games, these are the top ten PS5 racing games to play in 2024. Note that this list only covers original PS5 titles; backwards-compatible PS4 games are not eligible.

Ranking Factors

• Review & Ratings: It presents Metacritic scores with user reviews and gaming publication assessments combined into one system.
• Graphics: The graphics should deliver visual fidelity together with realistic elements and excellent lighting and detailed cars along with natural environments while maintaining smooth frame rates at 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
• Gameplay: The gameplay includes driving mechanics combined with handling realism and car physics while the AI difficulty and accessibility level works for both casual and hardcore players.

List Of Best Racing Games For PS5

15. Jak X: Combat Racing

Jak X Combat Racing takes set after Jak 3, in a newly rebuilt utopia following the game's spectacular ending. However, everything is not well, as Jak and Daxter must compete in a new bloodsport known as Combat Racing to find a cure for a toxin they accidently consumed.

While it's fantastic that this game broadened the universe little, the racing was the highlight. Each one saw you race with adversaries to blow each other up and cross the finish line first, utilizing Eco to gain weapons, health, and boosts in a manner similar to Mario Kart's item boxes. The racing is quite tight, but the emphasis is on blowing opponents up rather than defeating them fair and square.

Perhaps the finest feature of Jak X Combat Racing is that it still allows local split-screen multiplayer on PS4 and PS5. While it may not be one of the finest two-player PS5 games, it is a terrific journey down memory lane, complete with memories and more than a fair share of shrapnel!

14. Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 Turbocharged is unquestionably superior to its predecessor, yet it evokes memories of PS2-era sequels released quickly. Jumping is an incremental addition to the Hot Wheels Unleashed formula of racing diecast vehicle models of all shapes and sizes along twisting, turning orange circuits.

It isn't groundbreaking, but it's the ideal progression. I still think the handling concept is a little hollow and old. The microtransaction paradigm is pervasive at all times. But let's be clear: Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 is a fantastic game that runs on well-realised nostalgia!

13. The Crew Motorfest

The Crew series was known for its massive scale, allowing players to traverse the whole United States in a large open world. As a result, the announcement of The Crew Motorfest with a slightly smaller area set on the Hawaiian island of Oahu came as a surprise. Fortunately, the bet paid off, producing a more polished and focused experience.

Motorfest, like Forza Horizon, is centered on a large automotive culture event, and as a result, it might feel like a derivative clone of the Xbox competitor game. This isn't a problem for PS5 owners, though, because Microsoft's open-world driving games are forbidden fruit on Sony's machine.

However, Motorfest's unique structure distinguishes it from its competitors. Themed playlists highlight a variety of automobile cultures, featuring cameos from YouTube personalities such as Blackpanthaa, Supercar Blondie, and former Donut Media presenter James Pumphrey.

12. Art of Rally

Art of Rally is an excellent indie game. Art of Rally, developed by Funselektor's Dune Casu, the designer of Absolute Drift and the more current Golden Lap, has picturesque point-to-point courses that you may explore from the top down.

Alternatively, you may enjoy a leisurely drive across open spaces, taking photographs and collecting letters that spell 'RALLY'. There is no co-driver shouting out pace notes to guide you, because that would disrupt the peaceful atmosphere.

Despite the lack of officially authorized vehicles, this is a love letter to rally racing's golden period, which lasted from the 1960s to 1990s. The deceptively sophisticated handling style is enjoyable, and it's complemented with a relaxing synthwave music and stylized graphics. From the low-poly appearance to the slidey car handling, Art of Rally is just stunning.

11. F1 24

There is unrest in paradise this year since F1 24 failed to impress everyone who enjoys Formula One. It appears to be better than ever, yet it has really deteriorated. It starts and ends with the handling model, which is completely wrong. Something went wrong here because the revamp was meant to bring realism, but instead you can do insane 90-degree turns at fast speeds.

Aside from that, you get a redesigned career mode that now allows for multi-season careers. It's a wonderful detail that adds to the F1 series' overall sense of slickness. However, it has not improved sufficiently since last year and has a weaker handling model, which significantly lowers it on the list of the top racing games!

10. Ride 5

Milestone's Ride series is a must-see for motorcycle fans. The Ride games, dubbed "the Gran Turismo of bike games," contain hundreds of licensed motorcycles from manufacturers such as Ducati, Triumph, BMW, and many more.

Ride 5 was released with nearly 230 motorcycles, and DLC packs have increased this number even further. A diverse lineup of road motorcycles distinguishes it from Milestone's MotoGP series.

An incredibly lifelike film of bad weather racing in Ride 4 caused the series to go popular on social media a few years ago. Ride 5 looks much better now that it is powered by Unreal Engine 5, thanks to an upgraded dynamic weather system that includes better lighting and volumetric clouds.

9. Redout 2

Wipeout was formerly a popular PlayStation title, but the series has been inactive since 2017's Wipeout Omega Collection. Fortunately, Redout 2 is a fitting sequel to the popular futuristic racing game. Redout 2, developed by Italian indie company 34BigThings, provides everything you could desire from a futuristic racer - a genre that has been woefully neglected on PS5 since Wipeout's disappearance.

As you traverse the gravity-defying rails, your ship's speed is so mind-blowing that it should be measured in Mach numbers. Mastering these anti-gravity courses demands skill and precision, as well as the ability to strafe with the left analog stick and control the pitch of your aircraft with the right stick. Meanwhile, you must monitor your boost meter to keep your spacecraft from overheating and exploding, which adds another element of difficulty.

8. EA Sports WRC

EA Sports WRC sees Codemasters and EA acquire the World Rally Championship game license from KT Racing and Nacon, ushering in a new age of official rally games with mixed success.

Switching to Unreal Engine 4 allowed Codemasters to construct some of the most accurate and tough levels ever seen in a rally game, the longest of which lasted over 35 kilometers. As you would expect from a creator with a strong rally game legacy extending back to the original Colin McRae Rally, the car handling and audio design are superb, easily outperforming KT Racing's WRC Generations.

The car selection is a rally enthusiast's dream, with the newest Rally1 hybrid monsters among oldies like the famous Group B Audi Sport quattro S1, Colin McRae's iconic Subaru Impreza 555, and lesser-known fan favorites like the Mitsubishi Galant VR4. EA Sports WRC's unique build mode allows you to design your own car from the ground up.

7. Driveclub

Even if it is crippled and rusted, the PS4's Driveclub merits a place on the greatest racing games on the PS5 list if you employ backward compatibility. Evolution Studios created this fantastic racer with realistic visuals but a snappy handling model that doesn't require much effort to understand, unlike the sim-racer.

If you can get beyond the discontinued golden trophy, you'll get the most extensive single-player experience possible in one of the racing community's biggest cult favorites. The vehicle models are great, and the weather system was so far ahead of its time that it still outperforms races today. The automobile sounds are still echoing in my ears! Driveclub is a genuinely amazing game that was vastly neglected.

6. Burnout Paradise Remastered

Burnout Paradise is one of the best raceing game of all time, and it is now playable on the PS5 owing to backward compatibility with the PS4 remaster of the PS3-era title. Welcome to Paradise City, where the grass is green and automobiles are T-Boned at every intersection—please call an ambulance. The game thrives at high speeds during violent races, and it captivates you with an exploration of the finest racing open-world ever.

Burnout Paradise is always a laugh-out-loud experience, with your mechanical creatures crashing into walls while you race to the beat of a famous soundtrack. Everything is amplified tenfold online; it's worth a try simply for the problems you may face with strangers. In single-player mode, this racer shows its age, but it still provides some exciting amusement. Burnout Paradise is undeniably a fantastic arcade racer that is still years ahead of anything native to the PlayStation 5.

5. Wreckfest

Ohau is visually gorgeous, with its peaceful beaches and breathtaking sunsets. Motorfest was already one of the most visually appealing current-gen racing games, but the PS5 Pro upgrade adds another layer of refinement, including richer scenery and enhanced reflection effects. Vehicle handling is an improvement over The Crew 2's floaty driving characteristics, and you can carry over your progress from the previous game by importing automobiles from your garage.

The Crew Motorfest continues to improve owing to regular updates, with Season 5 just introducing the volcanic island of Maui to explore and the police-themed Chase Squad addition. The Crew Motorfest, with its stunning visuals, frequent live service upgrades, and unrivaled vehicle diversity encompassing automobiles, boats, and aircraft, is the gold standard for open-world PS5 racing.

4. Horizon Chase 2

If you want a more casual racing experience, there are several arcade-style indie racers available on PS5. Horizon Chase 2 is our favorite, though. Horizon Chase 2 was initially an Apple Arcade exclusive until being converted to PS5 more than a year later, following the success of Horizon Chase World Tour mobile racer and its predecessor's PC and console ports.

Inspired by classic arcade games like OutRun, the retro-style racer takes you through diverse environments ranging from the lush rainforests of the Amazon rainforest to an active volcano in Japan. Compared to the original, the vehicles and landscapes are more detailed while maintaining their nostalgic charm, and the improved handling makes driving more pleasurable. Once again, the soundtrack is fantastic, with new tunes from the renowned Barry Leitch, who wrote the iconic soundtracks for the Top Gear games, to fit the fast-paced action.

3. F1 23

You might be wondering why F1 23 ranks higher than F1 24 on our list of the best PS5 racing games. For many long standing fans, F1 24 was a disappointment. For the first time, you may compete as genuine drivers thanks to a new career mode. This was a good inclusion, but we believe it did not move the series along sufficiently, and a My Team modification is long required.

Aside from a lack of creativity, handling is a major concern. At launch, it was forgiving enough to allow you to soar over kerbs and throw vehicles around bends at ridiculous speeds. Despite changes to the handling in patch patches, F1 23 seems better to drive, with tighter, more enjoyable controls. With no substantial changes to this year's season (at least at the start of the calendar), F1 23's driver and track rosters are similar, making the game seem quite familiar.

2. Assetto Corsa Competizione

Hardcore racing simulators are mostly reserved for PC users and are seldom seen on consoles. Assetto Corsa Competizione is a rare but welcome exception. Assetto Corsa Competizione's devotion to realism, which simulates the official GT World Challenge, makes it intimidating for beginning players, and you'll need a racing wheel configuration to get the most of it.

The initial PS4 adaptation was plagued by performance difficulties, although this is much less true on PS5, especially following a slew of post-release fixes. Not only does the PS5 version have sharper visuals and a more consistent frame rate, but DLC such as the Challenge Pack is only accessible on the current-generation version.

With Assetto Corsa EVO's console adaptation likely years away, Assetto Corsa Competizione is by far the most realistic racing simulator on Sony's current platform, with true-to-life driving mechanics, dynamic weather effects, and laser-scanned circuits.

1. Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo has long been considered the pinnacle of PlayStation racing games, and the current installment, Gran Turismo 7, is no exception. GT7 leads the way in console racing, with breathtaking 4K graphics, realistic yet intuitive driving dynamics whether you use a wheel or a DualSense controller, and a massive array of beautifully recreated vehicles.

Its predecessor was a departure from the series, with Gran Turismo Sport focused on esports and ranked online racing, rather than a typical single-player campaign at launch. GT7 returns to the series' roots, reintroducing used vehicle stores and tuning while also adding the fairly obscure GT Café. It does, however, feel like a glorified lesson at points, with quest-style goals requiring you to gather certain vehicles, and it is shorter than past Gran Turismo campaigns.

Since its release in March 2022, a slew of free upgrades have included additional vehicles, circuits, and campaign events. However, the most major upgrade included the human-like Sophy AI agent, which is a game changer for racing driver AI.