Even with the PS5 out, there are plenty of high-octane tiles to make the best PS4 games worth considering, especially since they can be played on Sony’s latest gaming consoles.
These range from serious racing simulators to more arcade-focused games that allow you to simply get behind the wheel of a fast car and zip around a track or circuit. This list should have something for everyone, even if you don’t know a limited slip differential from a PDK.
Read on for our pick of the best PS4 racing games to play today, on the latest console or a venerable PS4.
1. Burnout Paradise Remastered
If you’re looking for a racing game where scalping crashes are as fun as crossing the line, then Burnout Paradise Remastered can’t be beat. Released for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2008, this renewed edition arrived on PS4 and Xbox One a decade later. In this open-world racing game, you can complete a wide variety of challenges, either offline or in competitive online modes. And while many racing games offer those features, it’s Burnout’s unique “Crash Mode,” where you’re encouraged to crash into other racers, that sets the series apart from its rivals.
2. Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled
Racing games don’t have to be serious business; just ask Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled. In this remaster of 1999’s Crash Team Racing, players take control of Sony’s mascot, Crash Bandicoot, and his friends and enemies, as they battle each other on tricky kart tracks. If you think this sounds like Mario Kart with a slightly different cast, you’re right. If you think this sounds like a lot of fun, you’re right too. Crash Team Racing is one of the more kid-friendly entries on this list, so if you have young racing fans at home, it’s a solid choice.
3. F1 2021
F1 2021 is one of those video games that is exactly what it seems. They are Formula One races; and has vehicles and drivers from 2021. You can race high-tech cars in a story mode (cleverly titled “Braking Point”), single-player free races, or multiplayer, both local and online. There are 21 different race tracks and 10 different cars, which should keep technical racing fans busy for a while. While F1 2021 may not be the most beginner-friendly game on this list, experienced racing players will probably like what it has to offer.
4. Gran Turismo 7
Gran Turismo 7 more than earns its nickname of “the real driving simulator.” This latest entry in the long-running racing franchise is the most complete to date and a must-have for motorsport lovers. Through a variety of modes, you’ll compete on iconic real-world tracks in some of the most impressive cars out there. And if you want to make sure your driving experience is exactly to your liking, you can even tune many of the available vehicles by modifying everything from tire grip to suspension levels.
5. Project Cars 2
One of the most demanding racing simulators on this list, Project Cars 2 is all about variety and precision. The developers at Slightly Mad Studios put a lot of effort into everything from the dynamic tire movements to the temperature of the race track. This isn’t the kind of game you can just pick up and play, but it is the kind of game you can get lost in for hours at a time, especially if you have a realistic racing wheel peripheral. The game features 60 locations, 140 track layouts, and nearly 200 cars, and even dabbles in some off-road racing.
6. Redout
If you’re tired of racing old, boring cars on old, boring pavement, you can always try Redout. This futuristic arcade racing game is a throwback to classics like F-Zero, with flying cars, psychedelic landscapes, and a catchy soundtrack to prove it. You can level up your ship in single-player career mode (complete with boss fights) or try your luck against human opponents on 25 tracks in 5 locations. You can even collect power-ups as you go, making sure no two runs are the same. If you need a standby “pick up and play” runner, Redout is the way to go.
7. Trackmania Turbo
Trackmania Turbo is a colorful arcade racing game focused on beating your fastest times on the track instead of finishing on the top of the podium. That leads to a compelling circuit as you speed over wild obstacles and then challenge yourself to do it again, but faster.
You’ll often crash and even fly off the course, but restarts are instantaneous and the satisfaction of beating a score you previously thought was insurmountable will keep you playing after dozens of failures. Additionally, the Trackmania Turbo circuit features loops, magnetic tracks, air jumps, and other tricks that would be “impossible” in a real car.
You can drive on 200 tracks in the game’s single-player mode or team up with another player while both controlling the same car in multiplayer mode. You can even create your own quirky tracks to share with friends. While Trackmania Turbo is one of the least traditional games on this list, it’s also one of the most memorable.
8. Wipeout Omega Collection
If driving a luxury sports car on a sun-drenched race track doesn’t give you enough adrenaline, then why not consider the Wipeout Omega collection, where you can take part in the futuristic sport of hovercraft racing at incredibly fast speeds.
The Wipeout franchise is practically synonymous with PlayStation, and while it’s been dormant on the PS5 to date, the PS4 received this incredible bundle in 2017. The Omega Collection includes Wipeout 2048 and Wipeout HD, enhancing the visuals so you can enjoy the science fiction. races in 4K resolution and there’s even full PSVR support.
There’s also single-player campaigns to immerse yourself in, as well as multiplayer modes, from split-screen racing to online competitions, so there’s plenty of content to keep you competing in the future.
9. Lego 2K Unit
Another family-friendly pick, Lego 2K Drive, includes a huge world of plastic bricks to explore and plenty of unlockable vehicle parts. Since it’s a Lego game, customization is a key component, and you can even build the moving brick of your dreams from scratch.
Lego 2K Drive plays like a mix between Mario Kart and Forza Horizon. Races are crazy events where you try to destroy your opponents’ vehicles, and the large open levels are packed with events to complete, from standard races to stunt challenges. There are even special types of races where your vehicle transforms, allowing you to race on fairer roads. One moment you’ll be speeding down the tarmac, before switching to a flying car and then crossing the finish line in a boat.
Unfortunately, some of the fun is dampened by 2K Drive’s atrocious microtransactions. Unlocking new parts and customization options can be quite complicated, as the game frequently encourages you to spend real-world money to speed up the process.
