Assetto Corsa
Best Racing Games on PS4
If it’s realistic, highly technical racing simulation you’re after, few do it better on console than Assetto Corsa. Originally released back in 2014, but recently updated, the game features a physics system like no other. You really feel the weight of the car as you corner and brake, a feeling of realism only bolstered by the game’s impressive graphical fidelity. A recent patch for PS4 Pro optimization was also released from Sony which makes a big difference to the performance. Assetto Corsa runs at a smooth 60 FPS on the PS4 Pro, regardless of how many vehicles are on screen.
Picking the game up now gives you the option to download all of the extra content that developer Kunos Simulazioni has added over the years. This includes custom lobbies, improvements to online multiplayer and several track and car packs. The game is often cited as the best racing-sim on consoles and with a game as polished as this it is easy to see why.
Driveclub
Best Racing Games on PS4
Despite a rocky start, Driveclub soon corrected its course to be one of the most solid racing experiences on PlayStation 4. What makes Driveclub so unique is just how damn good it feels despite being a more light-hearted racing sim. There’s a real sense of momentum conveyed by the game’s excellent physics modelling and handling. The incremental Fame system gave the act of racing a greater purpose meaning that every single challenge and activity you took part in built towards a common goal.
Then there’s the updates brought to the game after launch. The Driveclub Bikes update switched the dynamic from four wheels to two and the final track pack gave off some serious Project Gotham Racing vibes. The game also served as one of the flagship launch titles for PSVR, showing users just how realistic sitting inside its cars could feel. It’s a shame that the game had such a troubled development because the state it ended its life cycle in was so much better than the one it started in. The shutting of Evolution as a studio also adds another layer of tragedy to the game but also allowed it the time and space to be recognized as one of racing’s greats.
Need for Speed: Rivals
Best Racing Games on PS4
Moving well and truly over to the arcade side of things we have Need for Speed: Rivals. Building off of the fantastic cops vs. robbers dynamic explored by Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, the game manages to put across an incredible feeling of blistering speed. Rivals is pretty, even by today’s standards, and its world filled with wide-open roads and sprawling hills is a delight to explore.
Essentially a car-chase simulator, Need for Speed: Rivals constantly offers up nail-biting set pieces time and time again, a dynamic which extends to its online modes. You can take on the role of racer or cop, with several weapons and abilities at your disposal. Chasing down drag-racers and deploying spike strips to send them crashing into obstacles never gets old, and there are a tonne of jumps, cars and secrets to test and explore.
TrackMania Turbo
Best Racing Games on PS4
Remember when you were a kid and would build elaborate tracks for your Hot Wheels toys? They rarely worked of course but you were definitely onto something. TrackMania Turbo takes this premise and runs away with it. The main lure of the game is just how accessible it is, featuring simple yet tight controls which can be progressively mastered in order to conquer TrackMania’s array of bizarre courses. And it’s the courses themselves that are the true stars here, often only lasting up to a minute but cramming so many twists, turns, jumps and power-slides into them.
There’s a veritable mountain of content to enjoy, from solo to multiplayer races and world record setting time trials. For a game so surreal and wacky, it really nails the act of driving and its physics are always consistent and fair. If it’s a fun racer you’re after, look no further.
Wipeout Omega Collection
Best Racing Games on PS4
A healthy dose of nostalgia now with a collection of some of the most iconic PlayStation games of all time. Bundling together Wipeout HD (and its Fury expansion) and Wipeout 2048, this collection boasts the anti-gravity, speed-boosting barrel rolls which make it tick. Both of these games looked positively gorgeous to begin with, but with Omega’s 4K support they are simply outstanding.
There’s also an appropriately great electronic soundtrack to experience, which is sure to take you back to 1996 in an instant. The solid AI and ship variety is still here along with the ship combat which serves as a more grown-up version of Mario Kart. This collection puts across the sheer blistering speed of Wipeout like never before and deserves to be a part of any racing fan’s collection.
Grand Theft Auto: Online
Best Racing Games on PS4
While not a pure racing experience, GTA: Online contains a hefty amount of vehicular modes and content. The driving itself leaves a little to the imagination but the sheer amount of options available is why this game deserves a place on this list. The ability to set up custom races adds an endless variation in game play and the Rockstar’s commitment to continue support for the near five year old title means you’ll get plenty of mileage.
Then there’s the Cunning Stunts DLC (which, incidentally, is the greatest name for a DLC pack in history ever) which turns the game into a Scalextrics set on steroids. Jump pads, boosts and impossible ramps add a whole new dynamic to the already insane proceedings, and the fact that a lot of it is user-generated is also great. It’s possible to play online completely as a racer so don’t write GTA off of your list just yet.
Project Cars 2
Best Racing Games on PS4
Project Cars 2 improves on the original in every single way. There’s more content, better visuals and a more realised multiplayer system to contend with, and the twitchy performance on consoles which marred the previous game is now non-existent. Project Cars 2 excels in its handling which is simply the best in its class. There are more than 130 tracks to race through and hundreds of cars to choose from.
If it’s value for money you’re looking for in a racing sim then Project Cars 2 is absolutely your best bet. The weather system is breathtaking, with rain effects feeling real and consequential. You can customize a single player race to your heart’s content too by tweaking precise weather settings, tracks and vehicles. There’s also a neat option which tunes your car for you, based on certain complaints you can tell it. There’s obviously still the option to do all of the tweaking yourself but it’s still nice to have the option for assistance regardless.
F1 2017
Best Racing Games on PS4
After a few years of stagnation, the F1 series came back in full-force with F1 2017. The cars are wider, more aggressive and energetic as a whole. The game’s career mode is the best its ever been with new little touches like team animations and driver gestures culminating in a truly authentic experience. There’s also the added depth to the game’s R&D systems, expanding what was already an incredibly extensive feature. The cars feel exactly as they should, especially with a wheel, feeling responsive and grippy, regardless of skill-level. F1 2017 is definitely the most accessible entry in years, bombarding the player with useful information in a way that never feels overwhelming.
Each car is recreated in exquisite detail for all 10 teams and lighting effects really give the impression of a real vehicle. Classic cars also make an appearance allowing for a truly wonderful opportunity to experience the evolution of the sport firsthand. If F1 is your bag then there really is no better title on the market than F1 2017.
DiRT 4
Best Racing Games on PS4
Last year, DiRT 4 set a new standard for rally racing games, overtaking its predecessor, DiRT Rally, by improving on every aspect. One of the reasons to pick up DiRT 4 is for its mode which creates procedurally generated tracks. What this means for the game is that there are literally endless possibilities, making it a real powerhouse in terms of value. The game also boasts an incredibly hefty career mode and two distinct options for difficulty; Simulation and Gamer. These two options open the game up to players of all skill sets and positions it as both an arcade experience and a simulation racer.
The game looks better than ever thanks to the care that’s been put into the wear and tear effects your car accumulates and the mud and rain which splashes up onto your windscreen. There’s a lot of great retro content to sink your teeth into too with vehicles from the 80s and 90s available to play around with.
GT Sport
Best Racing Games on PS4
Polyphony Digital created a new kind of beast with GT Sport. Cutting out the campaign and streamlining the roster of cars, they positioned the game as an online-focused affair, an area in which it excels at impressively. Online races are dolled out at five minute intervals and help you to increase your Driver Rank which, in turn, places you with more experienced racers.
If it’s a competitive racer you’re looking for then GT Sport is a great choice, focusing on gradual progression and player skill against others. This is absolutely not your usual GT game though so it’s worth doing a bit of research beforehand to see if it is what you’re looking for.
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