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Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
From motorcycles to cars, and from racing sims to demolition derby, there’s a racing game out there for everyone. In this ranking of the best racing games for PS5, we reviewed fifteen of the most thrilling speed experiences available on the platform to help you find the best high-octane racer for you.
Let’s get started!
15 Best Racing Games for PS5, ranked
What’s the best racing game for the PS5? Start your engines, because the answer to that question is coming up next.
15/15
MXGP 2021
- Everyone
- Supports up to 16 online players with PS Plus
- Vibration function and trigger effect required
The official video game of motocross, MXGP 2021, offers more than forty riders to play and in-game versions of real motocross tracks to race on. You can choose from all the official MXGP and MX2 2021 bikes, teams, and sponsors, then customize the tracks just how you like them with the track editor. Playground 2.0 also allows for further exploration and more racing practice. After that, race with friends or challenge strangers in the Race Director mode.
We like how easy it is to share how well you’ve done in the game and even download tracks created by other players. The graphics, physics, and sound are all better than previous versions, we learned. The bikes in particular are even more realistic than ever before. We only wish there were fewer glitches reported and that the berms on the tracks were a bit better rendered.
14/15
Destruction Allstars
- Teen
- Fantasy violence
- Each vehicle has special abilities
These are video games — why should your racing game be constrained by the laws of physics? The next app in our list, Destruction Allstars, satisfies your need for speed, competition, vehicle-to-vehicle combat, and (just like the title suggests) destruction! There are sixteen “Destruction Allstars” to choose from, and the arena options are located all over the globe. Both standard and digital deluxe versions of the game are available. It’s overall more demolition derby than racing in this PS5 exclusive, but speed definitely plays a factor.
Each match otherwise lasts as long as ten minutes, or however long it takes to destroy your opponent’s vehicle. The harder you hit, the more points you get. Before your car explodes, bail out and race to another vehicle. Fans call Destruction Allstars call it a blast. The characters feel real and the physics are great, based on feedback.
13/15
Gran Turismo 7
- Everyone
- Alcohol reference and tobacco use
- No offline mode
Although the seventh edition receives somewhat mixed reviews among players, no ranking of racing games would be complete without Gran Turismo. If you’ve played Gran Turismo in the past, you’ll recognize a number of classic tracks. Classic game modes like GT Campaign, Arcade, and Driving School are also offered. Go at it solo or against other racers in GT sports mode. We like the selection of more than 400 cars to collect with 90 tracks to race on. The engines and vehicles themselves have classic style, with supercars rendered in detail.
Positive feedback on the game calls it realistic with fun driving physics. Some say it returns to the roots of what made Gran Turismo so great in the first place. In the opinion of some players, microtransactions are now too prevalent, though. Internet connectivity is also a must, based on feedback.
12/15
RiMS Racing
- Everyone
- PS Plus required for online play
- Supports up to 10 online players with PS Plus
Fans of motorcycle racing, RiMS Racing could be the right choice for you. With a few different versions available, including both standard and deluxe, gameplay begins when players choose from some of the sweetest motorcycles available. Those bikes come from brands like Ducati and Aprilia, among others. That bike can then be customized just how you want it, with hundreds of spare parts to choose from. From there, all that’s left to do is race. In-game circuits are some of the most well-known tracks, such as Laguna Seca and Nürburgring.
For fans of road racing, the game has lots to offer. Another popular part of the game is the freedom to build and manage your team. Fans of the game call it a good concept that’s fun to play. Although some find the experience of riding a bike in the game realistic, many say driving physics could be improved.
11/15
WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship
- Everyone
- Supports up to 8 online players with PS Plus
- Standard and deluxe editions available
The World Rally Championship is one of the most prestigious real-world competitions in the sport of rally car racing. The next game in our list, WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship, celebrates the 50th anniversary. WRC 10 recreates nineteen of the most thrilling rallies from history in places like San Remo, Germany, and Argentina. The game also offers four new rallies, more than 100 new stages, and more than fifty teams like WRC, WRC2, WRC3, and Junior WRC, among others. Another fun aspect of gameplay is career mode, helping you design your own team with its very own colors and car choices — keep things interesting with daily and weekly challenges.
Overall, the physics are finely tuned with new and improved sound design. Although some say the game fails to live up to earlier versions, others report the cars feel great, calling WRC 10 an immersive, if somewhat imperfect, experience.
10/15
GRID Legends
- Everyone 10+
- Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Violence
- Vibration function required
If you could design your very own race, what would it be like? The next game in our ranking answers the question — that’s just what GRID Legends allows you to do. The GRID series itself is among the oldest of all racing game franchises, alongside Gran Tursimo. The Legends edition ranks among the very best installments, based on feedback. Along with that, there’s live multiplayer racing in groups of more than twenty. Through the Race Creator, you can create events of all different types, including elimination, boost, and drift. Vehicle types to race or compete against range from supercars to trucks.
The documentary-style production with which the game is presented is an especially popular feature. Graphics are good, and developers have listened to feedback with recent updates, we found out. Unfortunately, a good number of bugs are reported, but if you’re debating between Gran Turismo 7 and GRID Legends, the clear choice is GRID, according to many who’ve played both.
9/15
DIRT 5
- Everyone
- Supports up to 12 online players with PS Plus
- In-game purchases optional
Another classic in the off-road racing genre is the DIRT series. The fifth edition is up next in our ranking. The game offers more than seventy routes to race all over the world, from New York to Brazil. There are also eight different types of racing events to participate in, such as boulder and sprint routes, among others. With a strong narrative component, you’ll build a career in the world of off-road racing, and photo mode helps you capture all your best moments. In this latest installment, there’s the Snow Limits pack in Playgrounds mode. Or instead, try ice racing at Roosevelt Island.
We like the fresh ways to customize your profile. Fans call the game a lot of fun with nice graphics. Vehicle variety could be better, though. The livery editor in particular is fun to use. It’s an overall great game. The weather effects are especially realistic, based on feedback.
8/15
Riders Republic
- Teen
- Supports up to 64 online players with PS Plus
- In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
Hey, you love speed — why limit yourself to just a motorcycle or a race car? In Riders Republic, choose a snowboard, ski, or even a wingsuit. This game is a great choice for fans of both racing and snowboarding games, we found out. What’s more, you can bomb through some of the U.S. most beautiful national parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon. Up to twenty players can race all-in, banging for position. The characters are otherwise customizable, and there are a few different versions of the game to choose from, including standard, deluxe, gold, and ultimate.
The open world layout is an especially popular part of the game. The bikes and skis also feel great, based on feedback. Some aspects of the controls receive mixed reviews, though, or otherwise, we might have put it much higher up in our list. The mass events can also be too crowded, sometimes — just like the slopes.
7/15
MotoGP 21
- Everyone
- Supports up to 22 online players with PS Plus
- Simple team management with R&D
Another great pick for fans of motocross is MotoGP 21. Known for its realism, there are more than 120 riders to choose from in the game to race on more than twenty tracks. Students of motocross history will enjoy the forty legendary racers to play, as well as the recreations of the bikes with which those racers made their name. Everything is highly customizable in the game, from the way your bike looks to how your career can be managed. Long lap penalties are also now included to further create the sense that the competition is real. Otherwise, the game also allows you to race with the style that best suits you.
Fans call it a nice balance between an arcade-style experience and a racing simulator. If you’re new to motorcycle racing games, this might not be the best choice for you, as we found it can be pretty hard to get the hang of. But overall, this is a solid racing game, based on feedback.
6/15
Hot Wheels Unleashed
- Everyone
- Lots of nostalgia
- Campaigns could be more varied
Return to your younger years playing Hot Wheels with the next game we reviewed, Hot Wheels Unleashed. We like that both classic Hot Wheels designs are included along with an easy to use livery editor to add your own style. The tracks themselves can be built to your liking, and split-screen mode accommodates two players, while online challenges accommodate up to twelve. The environments in which the races take place are also interactive, full of those orange pieces you remember from the Hot Wheels days of your youth, as well as loops and other types of obstacles.
Once you have your track just how you like it, share your creations with other players. Some cars and events are locked behind a paywall, which contributes to where the game ended up on our list. Otherwise, though, the game is fun, with polished-looking cars and great graphics.
5/15
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered
- Everyone 10+
- Supports up to 8 online players with PS Plus
- DUALSHOCK 4 vibration
Take the experience into the wild with the fifth pick in our ranking of the best racing games for PS5. In Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, you’ll either run from the cops or be the cops in hot pursuit, just like the title suggests. Either way, speeds will be fast in this cross-platform multiplayer. Powered by Autolog, you’re now better networked with friends in this remaster of an award-winning game. All DLC is now included, offering hours of fresh content to explore. There’s also a whole new selection of cars and weapons to choose from. And now offering a state-of-the-art visual experience, it’s easier than ever to find public gaming in multiplayer mode, according to reports.
Is the game truly remastered? That’s debatable, some players claim. Still, it’s an awesome arcade-style racing game with improved graphics and gameplay and lots of different cars to unlock. Car customization could be better, though, based on feedback.
4/15
Art Of Rally
- Everyone
- Integrated photo and replay mode
- From the creator of Absolute Drift
Rally car racing is the milieu of the next game we reviewed, Art of Rally. Across seventy-two stages, you’ll experience the heyday of classic rally car racing like never before. We like the levels of difficulty offered through Art of Rally, from beginner mode to expert level tricks like the Scandinavian flick and left foot braking, among others. Master them all and end up on top of the leaderboard. Car styles range from the `60s to the `80s, and groups B, S, and A. The setting is truly global, with settings like Sardinia, Germany, and Kenya, among many others..
The car selection is also notable, and so, too, are the tracks. The rear-wheel-drive physics are especially strong, based on feedback. There’s also a good amount of free content added. Career mode could be improved, according to some reports. But the soundtrack is strong, we found out.
3/15
Assetto Corsa Competizione
- Everyone
- Supports up to 20 online players with PS Plus
- Pioneering 5-point tire model
Perhaps the most realistic racing simulator in this list is Assetto Corsa Competizione. If you’ve ever dreamed of attending events like the GT3 championship, Assetto Corsa Competizione will help take you there, along with a number of other notable European competitions. Everything from tire grip to engine parameters and shock performance is expertly rendered in the game. Races range from the sprints to endurance in both single and multiplayer mode. Even the weather rendering helps you feel like you really are out there racing in the elements. The game overall utilizes motion capture technology for some of the most realistic graphics available.
The UI is also easy to navigate, and generally speaking the game is easy to get the hang of but a challenge to truly master, based on feedback. The game offers no mods at all, which is a drawback. But overall, there are lots of drivers, competitions, and teams available to keep things interesting.
2/15
Wreckfest
- Teen
- Mild lyrics, Mild Violence
- High-speed circuits and derby arenas
Approaching the end of our best racing games for PS5 ranking, Wreckfest takes the penultimate spot in the list. The available cars are modified versions of American classics, just what you’d expect from a demolition derby-style experience. Upgrade your ride with features like roll cages and reinforced bumpers, and then throw out the rulebook as you crash your way to the finish line. The cars are also highly customizable, rendered in 4K graphics with action running at 60 FP. And with modes like multiplayer, challenge, and career, there’s always something new to experience.
Fans call Wreckfest a nice mix of a racing sim and an arcade racer. There is a learning curve, we found out. But otherwise, it’s one of the most fun racings games many people have ever played, full of thrilling actions and spectacular crashes. The physics, sound design, and graphics are also great. If only loading times were quicker, though.
Check out our review of Wreckfest here!
1/15
F1 2021
- Everyone
- Mild Language
- Supports up to 20 online players with PS Plus
Which brings us now to the best racing game for PS5 we reviewed, F1 2021, the official game of the 2021 Fia Formula One World Championship. In this most recent version of the game, there’s a new narrative element called “Braking Point” and two new ways to play: two-player career and “real-season start.” Team mode still offers the most flexibility, from driver creation to sponsor selection, among other options. There are also casual race options for the beginner with expert-level available for when your skills improve. We like the social and ranked races, the quick join format, and highly-customizable liveries.
When we heard F1 2021 offers the best career mode RPG creator around, we had no problem putting it on top of our list. We also like the more aggressive AI in this latest version. Some historic cars are now missing, but with the physics as good as they are, you won’t mind at all.
Join the High Ground
What did you think of our list on the best racing games for PS5 this year? Did your favorite make the list? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest in the gaming world.
Happy gaming!
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