You’ve invested in a PS5, and now you’re ready to experience racing games that actually justify the hardware. The difference between last-gen and current-gen isn’t just about prettier graphics—it’s about feeling every rumble strip through haptic feedback, seeing ray-traced reflections in real-time, and loading into races in seconds instead of minutes. Whether you’re chasing simulation perfection or arcade thrills, these seven titles demonstrate exactly what your console can handle.
| Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition – PlayStation 5 |  | Best For Families | Visual Performance: Not specified | Multiplayer Capacity: Up to 12 players online; local split-screen | Game Modes: Grand Prix, Party Mode, Time Trials, World Match | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Gran Turismo 7 (PS5) |  | Most Immersive | Visual Performance: 4K HDR at 60fps with ray tracing | Multiplayer Capacity: Not specified | Game Modes: GT Simulation, Sport Mode, Photography | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| The Crew Motorfest – Standard Edition PlayStation 5 |  | Best Open World | Visual Performance: Not specified | Multiplayer Capacity: Not specified | Game Modes: Street races, off-road, playlists/campaigns | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition – PlayStation 5 |  | Best Overall | Visual Performance: Not specified | Multiplayer Capacity: International online competition | Game Modes: GT Simulation, Sport Mode, arcade | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition – PlayStation 5 | | Most Fun | Visual Performance: Not specified | Multiplayer Capacity: Up to 12 players online; local split-screen | Game Modes: Grand Prix, Party Mode, Time Trials, World Match | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Wreckfest (PS5) |  | Best Destruction Physics | Visual Performance: Not specified | Multiplayer Capacity: 2-16 players online; local multiplayer | Game Modes: Demolition, Challenge modes, 1 player | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Gear Club Unlimited 2: Ultimate Edition (PS5) – PlayStation 5 |  | Budget-Friendly Pick | Visual Performance: Remastered graphics | Multiplayer Capacity: Up to 4 players local split-screen | Game Modes: Career Mode, multiplayer modes | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Top Picks
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition – PlayStation 5
Looking for a racing game that pushes your PS5’s hardware while delivering nostalgic thrills? Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds lets you race across 24 tracks spanning land, sea, air, space, and time. You’ll warp through Travel Rings to 15 different dimensions while choosing from 23 iconic Sonic characters—the largest roster in the franchise’s racing history.
Customize your experience with 45 original vehicles and 70 gadgets to match your racing style. Unleash 23 items, including the new Monster Truck, against up to 12 players online. The split-screen Grand Prix and Party Mode Race Park ensure local multiplayer fun, while Time Trials perfect your skills.
- Visual Performance:Not specified
- Multiplayer Capacity:Up to 12 players online; local split-screen
- Game Modes:Grand Prix, Party Mode, Time Trials, World Match
- Vehicle Count:45 original vehicles
- Customization Options:70 gadgets; kart upgrades
- Rating:Everyone
- Additional Feature:Travel Rings dimension warp
- Additional Feature:Party Mode Race Park
- Additional Feature:Largest Sonic racing roster
Gran Turismo 7 (PS5)
Gran Turismo 7 delivers the most authentic racing simulation on PS5, making it the ideal choice for players who crave precision driving paired with cutting-edge hardware features. You’ll experience 4K HDR visuals at 60fps with ray-traced reflections that capture sun glints on car bodies. The ultra-high-speed SSD eliminates wait times between races and menus. Adaptive triggers replicate ABS vibrations, wheel spin, and brake resistance for each vehicle, while haptic feedback lets you feel tarmac bumps and kerb grooves. 3D Audio enhances spatial awareness of surrounding drivers. Pre-ordering grants you 100,000 CR plus three exclusive cars: MAZDA RX-VISION GT3 CONCEPT Stealth Model, Porsche 917 LIVING LEGEND, and Toyota Supra GT500.
- Visual Performance:4K HDR at 60fps with ray tracing
- Multiplayer Capacity:Not specified
- Game Modes:GT Simulation, Sport Mode, Photography
- Vehicle Count:Pre-order includes 3 cars; full roster not specified
- Customization Options:Tuning, designing, livery designs
- Rating:Not specified
- Additional Feature:Ray tracing photography mode
- Additional Feature:Adaptive trigger ABS feedback
- Additional Feature:100,000 CR pre-order bonus
The Crew Motorfest – Standard Edition PlayStation 5
The Crew Motorfest delivers an expansive Hawaiian playground for racers who crave variety in their driving experiences. You’ll tear through Honolulu’s city streets, conquer ashy volcano slopes, and master technical track courses across O’ahu’s stunning open world. The game celebrates car culture through thematic playlists featuring American muscle, Japanese street racing, and historic automotive legends. You can collect iconic vehicles while competing in intense races that challenge every driving skill. Each campaign immerses you in different automotive universes, letting you showcase your personal style. It’s a comprehensive racing experience that demonstrates the PS5’s capability to render diverse, detailed environments seamlessly.
- Visual Performance:Not specified
- Multiplayer Capacity:Not specified
- Game Modes:Street races, off-road, playlists/campaigns
- Vehicle Count:Legendary and iconic cars; count not specified
- Customization Options:Not specified
- Rating:Not specified
- Additional Feature:Hawaiian island open world
- Additional Feature:Thematic playlist campaigns
- Additional Feature:Volcano slopes off-road racing
Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition – PlayStation 5
Why settle for anything less than the most comprehensive racing simulator on PS5? Gran Turismo 7 delivers 25 years of automotive excellence in one complete package. You’ll experience classic cars, iconic tracks, and beloved modes like GT Simulation and Sport Mode. Whether you’re into racing, collecting, tuning, designing, or photography, you’ll find your passion here. The game lets you connect with international drivers, sharing race strategies, tuning tips, livery designs, and photos. You can go head-to-head on track while immersing yourself in authentic automotive culture. It’s the Real Driving Simulator that transforms how you experience racing games.
- Visual Performance:Not specified
- Multiplayer Capacity:International online competition
- Game Modes:GT Simulation, Sport Mode, arcade
- Vehicle Count:Classic cars return; count not specified
- Customization Options:Tuning, designing, livery designs
- Rating:Not specified
- Additional Feature:25 years development history
- Additional Feature:Livery design sharing community
- Additional Feature:Complete Real Driving Simulator
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition – PlayStation 5
Looking for a racing game that combines nostalgia with cutting-edge PS5 performance? Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds delivers with 23 iconic characters racing across 24 tracks that span land, sea, air, space, and time. You’ll warp through Travel Rings to 15 different dimensions, choosing from 45 original vehicles you can upgrade with 70 gadgets to match your racing style. Deploy 23 items, including the new Monster Truck, to dominate opponents. Compete in split-screen Grand Prix, Party Mode Race Park, or take on 12 players online in World Match. With a 4.8-star rating from 349 reviews, it’s currently ranking #3 in PlayStation 5 games.
- Visual Performance:Not specified
- Multiplayer Capacity:Up to 12 players online; local split-screen
- Game Modes:Grand Prix, Party Mode, Time Trials, World Match
- Vehicle Count:45 original vehicles
- Customization Options:70 gadgets; kart upgrades
- Rating:Everyone
- Additional Feature:70 gadgets available
- Additional Feature:Land/sea/air/space/time navigation
- Additional Feature:4.8 star customer rating
Wreckfest (PS5)
Craving chaos over clean racing lines? Wreckfest delivers destruction-focused racing with cars you won’t find elsewhere: banged-up classics, patched-together beasts from American, European, and Asian origins. You’ll customize these rolling wrecks with meaningful upgrades and body armor modifications that actually matter when you’re demolishing opponents.
The game shines in multiplayer mayhem, letting you wreck 2-16 friends online (PlayStation Plus required). Beyond traditional racing, you’ll pilot absurd vehicles like crop harvesters, lawn mowers, school buses, and three-wheelers through challenge modes. Whether you prefer solo campaigns or demolition dominance online, Wreckfest offers uniquely aggressive racing that showcases your PS5’s power through spectacular vehicular carnage.
- Visual Performance:Not specified
- Multiplayer Capacity:2-16 players online; local multiplayer
- Game Modes:Demolition, Challenge modes, 1 player
- Vehicle Count:Diverse car origins; count not specified
- Customization Options:Modify look and upgrade body armor
- Rating:Not specified
- Additional Feature:Demolition derby dominance
- Additional Feature:Lawn mower racing mode
- Additional Feature:Body armor upgrades
Gear Club Unlimited 2: Ultimate Edition (PS5) – PlayStation 5
Gear Club Unlimited 2: Ultimate Edition brings the complete racing package to your PS5 with all DLC included from day one, making it ideal for players who want maximum content without hunting down expansions. You’ll drive legendary vehicles across diverse environments while working to save your family’s racing team from bankruptcy in Career Mode. The remastered graphics deliver an intense visual experience that showcases your console’s capabilities. Whether you’re racing solo or with friends, the game supports up to four players in local split-screen mode, offering plenty of multiplayer possibilities for competitive sessions on your couch.
- Visual Performance:Remastered graphics
- Multiplayer Capacity:Up to 4 players local split-screen
- Game Modes:Career Mode, multiplayer modes
- Vehicle Count:Legendary vehicles; count not specified
- Customization Options:Not specified
- Rating:Not specified
- Additional Feature:Save family racing team
- Additional Feature:Remastered graphics edition
- Additional Feature:All DLCs included
Factors to Consider When Choosing Racing Games for PS5
When you’re selecting a racing game for your PS5, you’ll want to decide whether you prefer realistic simulation handling or fast-paced arcade action. Consider the variety of tracks and environments, the depth of the car roster, and how much customization freedom you’ll have. Don’t overlook multiplayer features and online modes, plus how well the game leverages the PS5’s visual capabilities and performance potential.
Simulation Vs Arcade Style
How do you prefer your racing experience—white-knuckle realism or pedal-to-the-metal thrills? Simulation racers demand precision, modeling realistic tire grip, braking, and suspension to mirror actual driving physics. On PS5, they leverage adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to convey authentic road surfaces and brake pressure. You’ll feel every nuance through the controller.
Arcade racers flip that script entirely. They deliver simplified controls, exaggerated speed, and forgiving mechanics designed for instant gratification. Expect aggressive play rewarded with boosts, shortcuts, and flashy visuals—perfect for casual sessions.
Some games blend both approaches, pairing robust driving models with accessible assists and arcade-inspired events. This hybrid design accommodates varied skill levels, letting you toggle between authentic handling and approachable fun depending on your mood.
Track Variety and Environments
Beyond choosing your preferred racing style, the tracks and environments you’ll explore shape your entire experience. Modern PS5 racers offer stunning variety—from 24-track collections featuring multi-dimensional Warps to expansive settings spanning land, sea, air, space, and time. You’ll find themed campaigns highlighting specific environments like Hawaiian open-world landscapes or volcanic off-road terrain.
Different tracks test distinct skills through city streets, off-road slopes, and technical curves requiring handling mastery. CrossWorlds-style titles expand diversity further by introducing multiple dimensions accessed through Travel Rings, letting you race across vastly different realms within one game. Meanwhile, classic racing sims blend iconic historical layouts with photorealistic visuals and varied terrain surfaces, delivering both nostalgia and cutting-edge graphics that showcase your PS5’s capabilities.
Car Roster and Customization
What separates a good racing game from one you’ll return to repeatedly? The depth of its car roster and customization options. You’ll find titles offering impressive variety—some feature 45 original vehicles while others showcase diverse origins spanning American muscle, European exotics, and Asian imports. This variety ensures you’re experiencing different driving dynamics rather than cosmetic differences.
Customization transforms your racing style significantly. You can upgrade karts, equip performance-enhancing gadgets, and install parts that match your competitive approach. These modifications aren’t purely aesthetic—they impact handling, speed, and control.
Certain games even bundle 23 characters alongside their vehicles, adding personality to your selections. DLCs and special editions expand rosters further, giving you fresh content post-launch. Whether you’re racing locally or online, these customization choices directly influence your competitive edge.
Multiplayer and Online Modes
After selecting your ideal vehicle and upgrades, you’ll want opponents to race against. Check each game’s player cap—some titles support 2–16 players online, while others offer World Match modes with up to 12 racers. You’ll find varying scales of competition depending on the title.
For local play, look for split-screen Grand Prix or party modes that let you race friends on the same console. Verify how many simultaneous online connections each game supports to understand the competitive intensity you’re getting into.
Remember that online multiplayer typically requires PlayStation Plus membership. Explore the variety of available modes—time trials, competitive playlists, and race types—and determine whether you prefer team-based competition or solo racing against other players.
Visual Fidelity and Performance
Racing games push the PS5’s hardware to its limits, and you’ll notice the difference immediately when you fire up a visually optimized title. Gran Turismo 7 exemplifies this with 4K and HDR at a targeted 60fps, delivering high-resolution visuals with smooth performance. Ray tracing transforms car bodies and environments with lifelike reflections and lighting that enhance photorealism.
The PS5’s ultra-high-speed SSD reduces load times dramatically, letting you jump into race events without waiting and maintaining visual fluidity between modes. You’ll also experience how adaptive triggers and haptic feedback reinforce visual cues—feeling brake pressure and tire grip as you see them happen on screen. Combined with 3D Audio that improves spatial awareness, these features work together to create an immersive experience where visual fidelity and performance feed into perceived realism.
Gameplay Modes and Content
How much gameplay variety does a racing title need to keep you engaged long after the first checkered flag? Look for split-screen local play, online multiplayer, time trials, and campaign playlists that enhance replay value and social options. Competitive modes like World Match or online lobbies should complement cooperative and solo challenges.
Customizable content matters considerably—vehicle upgrades, gadget systems, and kart tuning extend gameplay depth beyond basic racing. Unique gameplay structures such as travel rings, cross-world dimensions, or themed campaigns transform standard tracks into expansive racing environments.
Organized events and playlists provide structured progression, guiding you through content systematically. These features determine whether a racing game offers dozens or hundreds of hours of entertainment, making them essential considerations for your PS5 library.
Controller Haptics and Features
What truly separates PS5 racing games from their last-gen counterparts? It’s the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. You’ll feel braking resistance and throttle tension through the triggers, making acceleration and deceleration remarkably immersive. Haptic feedback conveys road textures—tarmac smoothness, kerb vibrations, and rough terrain—giving you a tactile sense of track conditions.
The controller’s precise rumble patterns reflect other vehicles’ proximity and contact during races, enhancing your spatial awareness. Top PS5 racing titles coordinate haptics with audio and visual cues, creating synchronized feedback during high-speed moments. When combined with ray-traced visuals and 3D audio, these features amplify your sense of speed and environmental immersion. Choose games that fully leverage these PS5-specific capabilities for the most authentic racing experience.
Replayability and Progression Systems
Your investment in a PS5 racing game shouldn’t end after the credits roll. Look for titles with robust progression systems that unleash vehicles, gadgets, and customization options, encouraging you to set long-term goals. The best racing games offer multiple modes—time trials, online world matches, split-screen multiplayer—alongside varied race types and campaigns that keep you coming back.
Evolving challenges like new CrossWorlds dimensions, themed campaigns, and diverse playlists sustain engagement beyond initial completion. In-game currency systems, garage upgrades, and car packs reward your continued play. A well-balanced progression system should offer meaningful unlocks without creating frustrating bottlenecks early on, balancing risk and reward to maintain your motivation throughout hundreds of hours of gameplay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use My PS4 Racing Wheel With PS5 Racing Games?
You can use most PS4 racing wheels with PS5 games, but compatibility depends on the specific wheel model and game. Check your wheel manufacturer’s compatibility list, as some older models won’t work with PS5 titles.
Do PS5 Racing Games Support VR Headsets Like Playstation VR2?
Yes, you’ll find that several PS5 racing games support PlayStation VR2, including Gran Turismo 7. You can experience immersive cockpit views and realistic driving sensations that’ll transform your racing experience completely.
Which Racing Games Offer Local Split-Screen Multiplayer on PS5?
You’ll find local split-screen multiplayer in Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, Dirt 5, and WRC Generations. These titles let you race against friends sitting beside you on the same console.
How Much Storage Space Do These Racing Games Require on PS5?
You’ll need anywhere from 30GB to over 100GB depending on the game. Gran Turismo 7 requires about 110GB, while F1 games need around 80GB. Smaller titles like Hot Wheels Unleashed use approximately 30GB of storage.
Are There Free-To-Play Racing Games Available on Playstation 5?
Yes, you’ll find free-to-play racing games on PS5. Gran Turismo 7’s trial version lets you test drive, while Rocket League combines racing with soccer. Several other F2P options are available in the PlayStation Store.
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