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Jun 28, 2023

The Best PS4 Racing Games

Zooming around circuits on your PS4, racing games become a symphony of tire screeches and turbocharged dreams. There's nothing quite like metaphorically strapping up, grasping your controller or

Zooming around circuits on your PS4, racing games become a symphony of tire screeches and turbocharged dreams.

There's nothing quite like metaphorically strapping up, grasping your controller or steering wheel and skidding round famous circuits in a selection of perfectly crafted vehicles. With the PlayStation 4's impressive processing power and life-like graphics, these racing experiences have never felt more immersive. From realistic simulations, to character based karting games, there is a racing game for everyone waiting to be played.

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Some racing titles, however, stand head and shoulders above the rest, whether that be for realism purposes and how they display authenticity, or just being a great escape from the everyday world that provides hours of entertainment. So, pull down your sun visor and prepare to be enlightened, because here are the best racing games on PS4.

Gran Turismo was never really known for having a huge role in the eSports world. Gran Turismo: Sport, however, solidified that change as Polyphony Digital Inc decided to dedicate a lot of focus to the eSports community with this title. With the incredible attention to detail that the team possess, it's no surprise that they managed to pull off their massive ambition.

Gran Turismo: Sport offers a stunning selection of cars, that not only look exceptional on the PlayStation 4, but are true to their real life counterparts. Considering you're able to traverse legendary circuits like Nürburgring-Nordschleife, Tokyo Expressway or Northern Isle Speedway, and take in the high quality visuals, it's no surprise why this Gran Turismo title was popular among fans of the series.

WipEout Omega Collection is a masterful collection of the series' past games, including WipEout HD, Fury and 2048. With 26 reversible tracks, 46 unique ships and online multiplayer for up to eight players, you're bound to spend hours in the futuristic and supersonic realm of WipEout.

While being a heavily nostalgic title, WipEout has time trials, battles, and races, so jump into the cockpit as you watch the track beneath you whizz past. It's a truly unforgettable experience that fills a niche in the genre, and a racing game that embodies what could be the racing world of the future.

KartRider: Drift is a free-to-play arcade racer that is a bundle of multiplayer fun. Every update brings fresh new karts, characters, tracks and so much more keeping the experience as fresh as possible.

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It offers a variety of modes, such as Speed Mode for those who want to master the controls and KartRider's advance drift system, or Item Mode, where you get to relive the chaotic environment of Mario Kart but on PlayStation, with items such as rocket launchers and even UFOs. With KartRider being free, it allows for endless excitement at zero cost and global competition to leave in the dust, perfect to play solo, with family or just with a great group of friends.

With DiRT Rally 2.0, every twist and turn is a split-second, heart-pounding decision as you navigate some of the best rally terrains in the world, ranging from mountain passes to forest trails. The precise, authentic physics and intricate details of the vehicles in DiRT elevate the gameplay and allow for unforgiving, but great challenges of skill for the competitive player.

Victory in DiRT feels earned instead of given, as the smallest of mistakes can cost you; however, it's within this that the risks taken become a huge part of the game and your success. With DiRT Rally 2.0 being free to play with a EA Play Subscription, it's well worth kicking those shoes off and turning to the life of mud, sweat, and gears.

You really are in the land of the free with The Crew 2, as it offers you the ultimate thrill ride through an open-world United States of America. With a community of over 30 million players, you'll be exploring iconic cities and landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon, as well as competing in all kinds of races, all while switching seamlessly between hundreds of different vehicles.

The experience of The Crew 2 is best shared with friends, and the adventures that await allow for hours of bonding as you race around 6,200 miles worth of drivable roads. As it's free on PlayStation Plus Extra, there's nothing stopping you from exploring your favourite parts of the glorious USA.

Free with PlayStation Plus Extra, TrackMania Turbo offers four distinct environments, each unlocking a different gameplay experience. Whether you're defying gravity on rollercoaster-inspired tracks or exercising precise air controls while soaring over countryside hills, the game offers a bundle of fun challenges to overcome.

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TrackMania also sets an impressive benchmark with an astounding 200 tracks awaiting within the campaign mode, which is something few racing titles can claim to match.​​ The features don't just stop there though — with Double Driver, you can control one car using two controllers with a friend. Yet, the best distinction of TrackMania lies within the track-builder, granting you the ability to craft bespoke circuits at will and share them online.

Absorb yourself in the realm of Formula 1, where your racing skill will be tested by negotiating hairpin corners at remarkable speeds across the new circuits of Las Vegas and Qatar. Within F1 2023, a world of unlockables and upgrades allows for progression, as you surge towards a coveted place on the podium.

If you've played F1 games before, enhancing the overall experience of this title is an all-new chapter within the 'Braking Point' story mode, ensuring an immersive plunge into the rapid universe of Formula 1, where the ignition of fierce rivalries ignites on the asphalt. For the optimum experience, F1 2023 is ideally enjoyed with a Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback Racing Wheel, allowing you to intimately sense the track beneath you.

Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is a timeless karting classic that's remastered for PS4. If you're looking for accessible mayhem, featuring a range of iconic characters from Crash Bandicoot's almost 20-year history, then this smashes through all the right boxes and places all your apples in one basket.

In multiplayer races with up to eight players, use dastardly power-ups to halt your opponents progress, and maybe even break a few life-long friendships. Then powerslide around corners with ease as you claim the grand prizes of the Champion Kart and Gasmoxia signature decal.

In GRID: Legends, you're placed on a journey to masterfully tweak, upgrade, and put your own unique style into an array of cars within the expansive GRID lineup. You can truly immerse yourself in the thrill of competitive racing, with up to 22 players online, across an impressive selection of 130 tracks.

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These range from the real-life legendary circuits of Brands Hatch in the UK, all the way to Indianapolis in the US. GRID also provides new racetracks such as Strada Alpina, allowing you to race around the Italian Alps in style while taking in the breathtaking views. There's so much to GRID: Legends and, with it included with an EA Play Subscription, it's more than worth racing to hit the download button.

In its 25-year history, Gran Turismo has always been a fan favourite for its accessibility for casual racers, as well as its challenges for the more dedicated competitor. Gran Turismo 7 is a truly fabulous celebration of the series' legacy, as it offers an impressive choice of gameplay modes catered to different preferences, even including designers and photographers.

Beloved modes like the Driving School and GT Campaign are there to help you establish your racing finesse and prepare you to engage in the complete spectrum of purchasing, fine-tuning, racing, and trading and becoming a 'Gran(d) Champion'.

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Calve is a passionate and versatile narrative designer with a strong educational background and experience in game development. With over 3+ years of experience, Calve has worked on a variety of projects utilising both Unreal Engine and Unity, two of the industry's leading game engines. By seamlessly integrating narrative elements into gameplay, Calve creates immersive and captivating player experiences.