Best PS5 Racing Games: 10 Thrilling Picks to Play Now

Gran Turismo 7 is the strongest all-around starting point, while the right choice for you depends on whether you want realistic circuits, open roads or quick arcade fun. Sim-lite is a racing style between arcade handling and full simulation, balancing accessibility with realistic driving demands. These recommendations cover native PS5 games, from dedicated simulation and rally stages to demolition events and arcade races.

Your choice can shape how you spend time at home, whether you want to learn a track or race for a few minutes. Some games chase driving reality; others make speed and playful chaos the point. The comparison below makes it easy to find a match for your preferred driving style.

Key Takeaways

• Gran Turismo 7 is the broadest starting point for most players.
• Assetto Corsa Competizione focuses on realistic GT racing.
• Forza Horizon 5 suits open-world driving and varied events.
• EA Sports WRC centers on long rally stages and changing surfaces.
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds offers colorful, accessible kart races.
• A racing wheel matters most when you choose a simulation-focused game.

Which Are the Best PS5 Racing Games for Different Players?

Gran Turismo 7 is the best starting point for most PS5 players, with Assetto Corsa Competizione the better fit for a focused GT simulation. Different tastes call for different racing games, so use the table to spot the best match before you compare details.

These native PS5 games qualify for the list, rather than PS4 titles that only run through backward compatibility. Gran Turismo 7 released in March 2022, so it remains a key choice for a 2022-era shortlist and this current guide.

Start with Gran Turismo 7 for the widest mix of driving styles, then choose a specialist game when you know what you want.

Assetto Corsa Competizione is the realistic GT choice, while Forza Horizon 5 is the open-world pick. NASCAR 25, F1 25 and the other recommendations serve more specific tastes, from oval racing to rally and kart play.

Use the “Best for” column to narrow the list before comparing individual games.

Should You Choose a Sim, an Arcade Racer, or a Wheel Setup?

Choose a controller-first game for instant fun, or a simulation-focused title if you want to build skills around braking, grip and car setup. Your control choice should fit the kind of racing you enjoy, not just the gear you own.

A racing wheel adds control and immersion to sim racing, while a controller makes casual races easier to start. Gran Turismo 7 supports both. A wheel is most valuable for Assetto Corsa Competizione, optional for Gran Turismo 7 and F1 25, and unnecessary for arcade picks.

How a Wheel Changes Sim Racing

A wheel gives you a steady way to steer and feel changes in grip. In a sim, small inputs can matter when you brake, turn or correct a slide. The added control takes practice, so a wheel does not make every racing game easier.

If you are building a broader setup, compare the best monitor for PS5 options too. The console can output up to 120Hz in compatible games, but the game and monitor input must support the mode you want.

Which Games Feel Natural on a Controller?

Controllers suit quick races, arcade handling and games that reward sharp changes in direction. Need for Speed Unbound is the PS5 choice for street racing, car customization and police chases. Its quick turns and chase scenes fit a controller well.

Try these four choices before deciding what kind of game and setup suits you:

• Choose a realistic simulator if tire grip, braking and car setup sound fun.
• Choose sim-lite circuit racing for structured events with more forgiving handling.
• Choose open-world arcade driving if you want to roam between events.
• Choose party-style racing for short, colorful races and simple controls.

Match the Game to Your Driving Style

The table shows how driving style and control fit together. The right setup is the one that makes you want to play again, not the one with the most parts.

Match the equipment to the game you will actually play, not to the most complicated setup you could buy.

Why Is Gran Turismo 7 the Best All-Rounder?

Gran Turismo 7 can move from a relaxed controller race to a serious VR endurance session without requiring a change of game. That range makes it the best all-around choice for players who want circuit racing, car collecting and room to improve.

PSVR2 support works across the full game, not just a separate demo mode. Its sim-lite physics ask you to manage grip and braking, while staying easier to approach than a dedicated simulation.

The Career and Car-Collecting Loop

GT Café gives you goals tied to collecting cars, while used-car dealerships and tuning bring familiar series features back. You can add cars to your collection, change parts and take them into circuit races. That loop gives a new driver a clear reason to try different events.

AI opponents make races feel less like chasing a row of targets. GT Sophy, the game’s machine-learning AI, can respond to the action on track. The optional paid Power Pack adds 50 curated challenges, including 24-hour endurance races, beyond the base game.

You can also explore its GT Campaign, Arcade and Driving School modes, each with a different pace and goal. A broader PS5 games guide covers more kinds of games if racing is only one part of your console time.

Full-Game PSVR2 Racing

PSVR2 changes the view from following a car on a screen to sitting inside the cockpit. Looking into a corner can help you judge the track, while long races can make the headset feel more demanding. The option works throughout the game, so you can use VR for the modes that suit you.

Gran Turismo 7 offers enough variety to meet you at different skill levels. Pick it first if you want one PS5 racing game that covers several moods and skill levels.

What Kind of Simulator Is Assetto Corsa Competizione?

Assetto Corsa Competizione is the most focused console choice for players who want modern GT racing rather than a broad car-collecting game. Its narrow focus gives the racing a clear identity, but it leaves little room for unrelated motorsport types.

The native PS5 game centers on GT3 and GT4 grids from the 2018-2023 seasons. It rewards careful braking and smooth steering, especially when tire grip changes through a lap.

The Modern GT3 and GT4 Focus

Assetto Corsa Competizione puts you in modern GT competition, where cars share a class but behave in distinct ways. You spend your time learning tracks, managing a race pace and responding to other drivers. The content range is a strength if you want GT racing, not a list of unrelated vehicles.

Tires and braking need attention. Brake too late and you may run wide; push too hard for too long and the car can lose grip. That makes each circuit feel like a task to learn, rather than a place to simply drive fast.

What the Wheel and Setup Add

A wheel helps bring out the feel of steering and grip as you work through a corner. Setup choices let you adjust the car to suit a track and your driving style. The game supports Fanatec, Logitech, Thrustmaster and Moza wheels on PS5.

Assetto Corsa Competizione does not support console VR. Its depth comes from the GT racing itself, so you can spend time refining one car and learning how it responds. Choose it for GT competition and realistic car control, not for variety across every kind of motorsport.

What Makes NASCAR 25 Different on PS5?

NASCAR 25 gives oval racing a strong PS5 option, with AI that changes its line and tactics instead of staying on rails. Its traffic behavior is the standout, not simply the NASCAR license.

AI cars can use several grooves and adjust their tactics around nearby racers. iRacing Studios built the game on Unreal Engine 5, and its opponents can make active choices in a pack.

NASCAR 25 launched on PS5 in October 2025. Its AI can react to tire warmth, defensive moves and side-drafting on straights. Watch for these three behaviors during a race:

• Running multiple grooves instead of following one fixed line.
• Moving high on the track to warm tires.
• Dropping low to defend or side-draft on a straight.

Those choices make oval racing feel more varied than following a single racing line. You need to read traffic and decide when to hold your spot or move around another car. A small gap can change fast when several cars share the same lane.

The game suits players who like close packs and the challenge of choosing a groove. It is less about a lone perfect lap and more about making a move without losing speed. Try it if the idea of reading traffic and choosing a racing groove sounds more appealing than chasing lap times alone.

Does F1 25 Include the 2026 Season?

F1 25 is the PS5 pick for Formula 1 fans, and its 2026 Season update adds the revised cars and Madrid street circuit. The key detail is that the season arrives through an update, not a separate F1 26 release.

Codemasters did not release a standalone F1 26. Instead, F1 25 received a 2026 Season update with revised cars, active aero and the Madrid street circuit.

The game suits players who want Formula 1 cars, circuits and a season-based career. You can focus on a championship and follow the sport’s style of racing, rather than moving between different motorsport types.

That focus is its main limit. Players who want rally stages, stock cars or open-world events will need another racing game. F1 25 is a native PS5 game, and its guide score is 7.5/10.

F1 races reward precision, as small errors can cost time across a lap. The revised cars and active aero add a new season’s feel, while the core appeal remains Formula 1 competition. Choose it for championship-style Formula 1 racing rather than a broad motorsport collection.

Is EA Sports WRC the Rally Game to Pick?

EA Sports WRC is the PS5 choice for players who want to manage a car on long, changing rally stages instead of racing in a pack on a circuit. Long stages make every correction matter, since one mistake can cost time well beyond a single corner.

Some stages can reach nearly 35 km. The game includes WRC, WRC2 and Junior WRC cars from the 2023 season, with dirt, snow and asphalt to learn.

A co-driver calls pace notes to warn you about corners and changes ahead. Listen closely, then balance speed against the surface under your tires. A car that feels settled on asphalt may slide on snow or loose dirt.

Prepare for a stage by keeping these four details in mind:

• Listen for pace notes that describe the corner ahead.
• Expect the car to react differently as the surface changes.
• Brake before tight turns instead of waiting until the last moment.
• Use steady throttle to limit sudden slides on loose ground.

EA Sports WRC is rated 7.5/10. Its challenge comes from controlling a car alone, with no pack to follow and no quick reset for a costly error. Start with shorter events and forgiving assists before committing to the longest stages.

Is Forza Horizon 5 Worth Playing on PS5?

Forza Horizon 5 turns a large car collection and open-world driving into the easiest recommendation for players who want to roam rather than train for one circuit. Free-roaming play lets you move between events without treating every drive like practice.

Its nearly 900 vehicles and broad activity mix make it a strong open-world arcade choice. The game was the best-selling game on Sony’s platform after its PS5 release, a fact tied to that release rather than a current sales ranking.

You can explore the world, find events and switch cars to suit the next drive. The open structure gives you reasons to keep moving even when you are not chasing a championship. The car range also makes it easy to try different kinds of driving.

Players seeking strict simulation should choose Assetto Corsa Competizione instead. Forza Horizon 5 leans toward quick handling and flexible events, not exact tire behavior or detailed track practice. That difference is clear as soon as you leave a marked race route and take a road across the map.

Its mix of speed, exploration and cars makes it a useful PS5 racing game when you want to play without a fixed plan. Pick it for open-world freedom and a generous spread of cars and activities.

How Does The Crew Motorfest Compare With Forza Horizon 5?

Choose Forza Horizon 5 for the broadest open-world car experience, or The Crew Motorfest if boats, planes and Oahu are part of the appeal. The vehicle mix is the main difference between these arcade games.

Forza Horizon 5 is the stronger general open-world recommendation here. The Crew Motorfest suits players who want to explore Oahu in Hawaii and switch between cars, boats and planes.

The Crew Motorfest uses themed playlists to shape its events. That festival-like structure gives each activity a clear style, rather than making the game a realistic driving simulator. You can follow a playlist or pick a vehicle type that appeals to you.

Forza Horizon 5 is a more direct choice if you mainly want cars and open roads. The Crew Motorfest makes more sense when moving between land, sea and air sounds like part of the fun. Its world is built around a specific island, while the rival’s appeal rests on a broader car-driven playground.

The Crew Motorfest is rated 7.5/10. Your choice comes down to whether you want a familiar open-world car game or a festival setting with more kinds of vehicles. The deciding difference is the kind of world and vehicles you want to explore.

Is Wreckfest the Best PS5 Game for Crash-Filled Racing?

Wreckfest turns contact and car damage into the point of the race, making it the pick for players who would rather trade paint than protect every corner. Damage is part of its strategy, not just a mark left after a crash.

Its soft-body damage model makes vehicle deformation central to racing. You can use contact to disrupt rivals, but collisions can also leave your own car harder to control.

Traditional racing games reward clean laps and steady lines. Wreckfest goes the other way with demolition events, where a bent car and a crowded track are part of the challenge. You have to judge when contact helps and when it will cost you speed.

The damage-heavy approach will not suit every driver. If you want to protect a pristine racing line, the collisions may feel like a distraction rather than a thrill. Players who enjoy messy races can treat each hit as a choice, not a mistake to avoid at all costs.

Wreckfest is rated 7.5/10. Its online races support up to 24 players, which can make a crowded event even harder to predict. Choose it when deliberate mayhem sounds more fun than a clean, uninterrupted lap.

Is Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds the Best Kart Racer for PS5?

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is the party pick for players who want colorful kart racing and a track that can change location mid-race. Its shifting course keeps a familiar race from staying familiar for long.

Travel Ring portals send racers to a new location during a race. The game has 23 playable characters and an accessible arcade pace that suits quick sessions.

The changing setting gives each race a playful twist. You can focus on staying in the pack, picking up speed and learning how the next section feels. Its colorful character roster adds a clear personality to each event.

This game is built for lively competition, not realistic driving. Its simple arcade approach makes it easier to start than a simulation, while the shifting track gives experienced players something to react to. Reach for it when playful competition matters more than realistic car handling.

Which Fast Arcade Racer Fits Your Taste?

Redout 2 is the better fit for demanding anti-gravity speed, while Horizon Chase 2 offers a more relaxed retro-arcade alternative. The pace differs: one asks you to master fast tracks, and the other keeps its races simple.

Redout 2 is the featured pick for high speed, track memorization and a steep challenge. Its demanding courses suit players who enjoy repeating a race to learn each turn.

Redout 2 Rewards Speed and Precision

Redout 2 is rated 7.0/10. Its anti-gravity racing style puts speed first, but fast movement leaves little time to react. Learning the track becomes part of the race, especially when a small error can throw off a run.

The game works best for players who want to improve through practice. You need to remember bends and make clean steering changes at speed. That skill test makes it a very different arcade racing game from a casual kart racer.

Horizon Chase 2 Is the Lighter Alternative

Horizon Chase 2 is an unranked extra for simpler OutRun-style arcade fun. It is rated 6.5/10 and gives you a lighter choice when you want a quick race without the same focus on demanding track mastery.

Collecting all 349 blue coins unlocks a moon location, adding a clear reason to revisit its tracks. The goal rewards exploration and repeat play without changing the game into a simulation. Choose Redout 2 for a skill test, or Horizon Chase 2 for a quick, uncomplicated race.

Which PS5 Racing Games Work Best for Multiplayer and Kids?

For same-room play, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has the widest listed local group, while The Crew Motorfest and Wreckfest offer large online grids. Player counts matter when you are choosing a game for a group.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds supports up to four offline players. The Crew Motorfest supports up to 32 online players, and Wreckfest supports up to 24 online players.

Online Grids and Local Split-Screen

Online capacity does not tell you how many people can play on one console. Check both counts before planning a session, especially if your group will share a screen.

For online racing, choose a game whose listed group size suits your friends. For local play, the number of offline players is the useful figure, not the larger online grid.

Easy Picks for a Family Game Night

These three games make a useful family shortlist:

• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for local kart competition.
• Horizon Chase 2 for uncomplicated retro racing.
• Gran Turismo 7 for a beginner who wants driving lessons and room to progress.

Need for Speed Unbound is the PS5 Need for Speed choice for street racing, customization and police chases. Check the exact offline player count before inviting a group, because online capacity does not guarantee local split-screen.

What Racing Games Are Coming to PS5?

Several racing projects have been announced for PS5, but their stated schedules need to be distinguished from confirmed current availability. Dates are schedules, and a date that has passed does not prove a game is still unreleased.

Ride 6, Gear.Club Unlimited 3, iRacing Arcade, an IndyCar game and Screamer have announced PS5 plans. The table lists their stated platforms and timing.

Games With Scheduled Dates or Release Windows

Several listed dates fall before the current date, October 2026. Treat those dates as announced schedules, not proof that a title remains unavailable or that its launch happened as planned.

Announced Plans Without a Firm Date

These projects have PS5 plans, but the announcements do not give a firm PS5 release date:

• Forza Horizon 6 is planned for PC and Xbox Series X|S first, with a later PS5 release and no PS5 date.
• Endurance Motorsport Series is planned for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X|S, with no release date.
• Over The Hill is planned for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 after its PC release, with no release date.
• Wreckfest 2 is planned for PS5, PC and Xbox Series X|S, with no release date.

These plans give you a sense of what may come, but they are not the same as a confirmed listing for sale. Treat a dated announcement as a schedule to check, not a guarantee of what is currently on the PlayStation Store.

A scheduled date tells you what was planned; it does not, by itself, confirm what is available today.

Conclusion

Gran Turismo 7 is the safest first pick for most PS5 players, while a focused sim or arcade racer can be a better match for a specific preference. Start with your driving style, then decide whether you want realistic control, quick fun or local competition.

Assetto Corsa Competizione is the serious GT simulator, and Forza Horizon 5 is the open-world choice. Each asks for a different kind of attention, from careful braking to simply finding another road to explore.

Choose the game that fits your driving style, then start with a short race before changing your setup.