Summary
More than most genres, racing games have come along over the past decade or two, with the additional power ofsome of the more recent home consoleshaving played a huge role in this. These days, studios are able to develop games that are remarkably realistic, while also filling their creations with a huge selection of iconic cars and circuits from the real world.
Not all developers strive for realism though, with some instead opting to stick tothe genre’s arcade rootsor looking for ways to make the experience more fun rather than stressful. The best racing games on the PlayStation 5 often find ways to balance these two extremes or opt to offer up an undiluted serving of one or the other.
Racing wheel compatibility can sometimes vary depending on the manufacturer of the wheel. Before purchasing a game, players should check whether it’s compatible with the racing wheel that they own. Links to compatibility lists for a few of the most popular PS5 racing wheels can be found below.
15MotoGP 24
OpenCritic Rating: 77
TheMotoGPseries has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years. In truth,MotoGP 24is far from the franchise’s best installment when everything is taken into account, though it is one of the best racing games on the PlayStation 5 thanks in large to its excellent career mode and stunning visuals.
In these areas, the game offers one of the most realisticMotoGPexperiences to date, with players having to worry about things like social media and their relationships with other riders.The weather effects are simply gorgeous tooand more than make up for the adverse racing conditions that they usually bring along with them.
14Destruction Allstars
OpenCritic Rating: 62
Destruction Allstarshas nowhere near enough content to justify being a full-price release. Thankfully, it was given away for free through PlayStation Plus for the first two months following its release and was made available for just $20 after that. At this price, it becomes a fairly interesting proposition; even more so if players are able to get it cheaper in a sale.
In spite of the aforementioned lack of content, the experience on offer inDestruction Allstarscan be a lot of fun. The driving mechanics are pretty easy to pick up and the crashes can be brutal, which should appeal to younger players. Those seeking depth and rewarding progression will almost certainly come away disappointed, but anyone looking for some mindless fun can definitely find that here.
13Redout 2
OpenCritic Rating: 70
For whatever reason, Nintendo seems to be reluctant to revive theF-Zeroseries, and Sony hasn’t done much withWipeoutover the past decade or so either. As such, there is a gaping hole in the market for futuristic high-octane racers, and it’s one that theRedoutgames are doing their darndest to try and fill.
Sadly, neitherRedout 2nor its predecessor are anywhere near the same level as those aforementioned series were back in their respective heydays, but that’s not to say that they’re not still enjoyable. The visuals are solid enough, as too are the driving mechanics, helping to earn them the title of next best thing.
12Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 6
OpenCritic Rating: 74
It may not be the franchise’s most groundbreaking installment and its name may be a bit of a mouthful, butMonster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 6remains one of the best PS5 racing games around. Much like in previous iterations, the controls may take a little bit of getting used to, but they’re incredibly responsive and allow players to really show off their mastery of the sport when it comes to taking tight corners and passing other racers.
The overall experience on offer feels a lot more balanced than some of those which came before it and the AI and collision mechanics are also much improved. For more casual players, whether or not all of this is worth the cost of admission or the cost of upgrading from an earlierMonster Energy Supercrosstitle is debatable, but it’s definitely a must-play for fans of the sport.
11LEGO 2K Drive
OpenCritic Rating: 72
When it comes to the best PS5 racing games, there tend to be two different types. The first strives for realism, providing players with a lifelike simulation andbleeding-edge visuals. The other favors fun above all else, often placing a heavy emphasis on creative tracks and easy-to-master mechanics so as to appeal to a much broader audience.LEGO 2K Drivefalls firmly into the second bracket.
This is far from a bad thing, though, as there’s a fairly sizable demand for this kind of racing game these days. LEGO fans will be in their element, but so too will those who are new to the genre or anyone who struggles withgames likeGran Turismo 7andAssetto Corsa Competizione. Couch co-op support makes it all the more accessible and a great game for parents who are looking for something to play with their kids.
10Grid Legends
OpenCritic Rating: 75
TheGridseries is a relatively new one when compared to some of its peers, but it’s quickly established itself as one ofthe genre’s heaviest hitters. Each new title has continued to build upon the excellent foundations laid byRace Driver: Grid, withGrid Legendsbeing the latest game to do so.
Released in early 2022, the game boasts more than 130 tracks including a number of real-world circuits. There are over 100 vehicles too, ranging from top-of-the-line drift cars to more rugged offroad vehicles. There’s also a story-focused career mode, which should appeal to those looking to sink some serious time into their driving.
9Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged
There have been plenty of great games based on toy cars over the years, fromCodemasters' classicMicro Machinesgamesto the studio’s 2014 title,Toybox Turbos. Whether or notHot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbochargedlives up to any of the aforementioned classics is perhaps a matter for debate, but most will likely be in agreement that it’s an awful lot of fun and a big step up from its 2021 predecessor.
Developed and published by Milestone, the game supports up to 12 players and boasts 130 distinct vehicles at launch. If it’s anything like its predecessor, many more will probably be added via DLC updates, providing players withminiature versions of some of the most popular cars of all time. There are numerous game modes available too and even a track editor, allowing players to create unique and challenging courses for themselves and their friends.
8Wreckfest
OpenCritic Rating: 80
Those who enjoyed classicgames likeDestruction Derby,Carmageddon, andBurnoutowe it to themselves to giveWreckfesta try. Developer Bugbear Entertainment went to ridiculous lengths to provide players with a healthy dose of vehicular chaos and carnage. In the modern age, there’s nothing else quite like it, and the PS5 version is arguably the definitive way to experience it.
It’s one of those games that drove under the radar when it first came out then grew steadily in popularity as word of mouth began to spread.Wreckfestprobably isn’t a game for racing puristsor those looking to perfectly navigate a pre-defined route, but anyone who is on the lookout for a fun and exciting racing game could definitely do a lot worse than this.
7F1 24
The team over at Codemasters has had a hand in many of the best racing games of all time. In truth,F1 24is by far the studio’s finest work, but for fans of Formula 1 racing, it is still something of a must-play game, offering up numerous improvements over its predecessor and, ultimately, one ofthe most completeF1video games to date.
EA Sports Dynamic Handling completely transforms the driving experience, resulting in a much more realistic title overall. The game looks beautiful too and the engine has been perfectly tuned. Content-wise, there’s more than enough to keep players busy for hours on end and thus justify the cost of upgrading from the previous year’s edition.
6Need for Speed Unbound
There have been some truly incredibleNeed for Speedgames over the years, but there have also been one or two duds. Though it falls some way short of the series' greatest installments,Need for Speed Unboundis far from a failure and has more than enough going on under the hood to please both new players and series veterans alike.
As one might expect from anext-gen racing game,Need for Speed Unboundis one of the most aesthetically pleasingNFSgames to date, not just due to the power of the PS5, but also because of the street art-inspired flourishes, which define the game’s art direction. The story mode is a little bland, but races are a lot of fun and the online functionality is up there with the very best.
