10. Crash Team Racing Nitro-fueled
You’d be forgiven for feeling like you almost recognise this indie racing game. After all, the title is made of three pretty common racing game buzz words. It features solid, quality racing gameplay, inspired by 90’s racing games you might have played to death on the original Playstation. Including joy-inducing throwback retro graphics! It’s packed with content, and the split-screen local multiplayer is the icing on the cake.
9. CREW 2
Bored of your usual open-world racing games? What about a racing game that lets you drive across the entire United States? Crew 2 lets you do just that, with an albeit condensed recreation of the country. You can tear up the track, skies and seas in various types of races in fast-paced arcade action. Ever want to drive an F1 car across the Golden Gate Bridge? Now you can!
8. MotoGP 21
The team behind MotoGP have been developing the motorsport racing series for over 15 years now, and the expertise shines through in MotoGP 21. The game is loaded with mechanics that affect your performance on the track - but beginners will be happy to hear that various assist modes exist until they’re ready to take off the training wheels. Motorsport has never felt so authentic - and finally nailing first place has never felt so satisfying.
7. F1 2021
F1 2021 transforms a difficult year for the sport into one of the best racing games available on the market. Codemasters, longtime developers of the series, have created by far the most graphically impressive and realistic F1 game ever made. F1 2021 is also Codemaster’s first run at including a story mode, called Braking Point, which brings welcome variety to an already impressive selection of gameplay modes.
6. Need For Speed Heat
The spiritual successor to all-time greats like Most Wanted and Underground Need For Speed Heat is a welcome return to form for the franchise. The open-world street racer combines the arcade stylings of its predecessors with modern twists, such as deep vehicle customisation options and fantastic graphics. But once you hit the track, all the familiar full-throttle races, police pursuits and more can be found.
5. RIDE 4
One of the most satisfying, faithful racing sims on the market, RIDE 4 is a must for all fans of two-wheeled showdowns. With over 170 licensed bikes recreated to a near photorealistic standard, as well as authentic engine noises for each, there’s a level of detail on show that’s seldom seen in other games. Adjustable settings also mean you can tailor your experience, so novices and veterans can have fun straight out of the box.
4. WRC 10
WRC 10 is a celebration of the FIA World Rally Championship’s 50th Anniversary, and developer Kylotonn has pulled out all the stops. With unmatched graphics and incredible physics, few games come close to such a detailed recreation of the racing experience. With over 50 teams available to play as and multiple historic rally cars such as the Alpine A110 and the Audi Quattro, WRC 10 is an unmissable game for rally fans.
3. Project CARS 2
Marketing itself as the pinnacle of authenticity, Project CARS 2 was fine-tuned by pro drivers, making the game’s precision physics, weather conditions and vehicle handling feel stronger than they ever have in the genre. With over 170 licensed cars and a staggering track roster, Project CARS 2 combines stunning realism with racing fun, and the result is one of the finest racing games available on the PS4.
2. Gran Turismo Sport
Having always been one of the more serious racing franchises, Gran Turismo more than makes up for a lack of silly fun in simple perfectionism. The graphics are beautiful and the controls are responsive and tight. The online features are fantastic, bringing a new dimension to the series, and a new place to show off your mastery behind the wheel. Truly one of the most polished racing games available.
1. DiRT Rally 2.0
One for serious driving devotees, DiRT Rally is one of the best rally racing simulators on the market right now, without a doubt. Like other serious racing games, a focus on gameplay and controls have made it an incredibly polished experience - it both looks and feels great to play. Although it is pretty difficult to master, it makes the payoff from finally beating that record time all the sweeter.