5 Best PS4 Driving Games of 2023
We uncover the five best PS4 driving games of 2023. Each game includes a video, our comments, and a professional review. Prepare to give those thumbs a workout!
What do I need to get started?
Console gaming is the most convenient plug-and-play solution to hitting the track and delivering you straight into the action.
Firstly, (as you may expect) you need to purchase or own a PS4 and any modern TV capable of running HDMI. If you’re looking to go down the VR route, you’ll also need to invest in the Playstation-specific PSVR headset.
You then must decide whether you will likely play single-player, online, or split-screen multiplayer. If you intend to play split-screen, invest in a second controller before you start.
The positive with console gaming is that you won’t need to worry about upgrading your system for new games. You can guarantee it will run smoothly if it is released for your console.
However, if it’s not released for your console, you may need to consider upgrading to the latest generation.
We feel that driving games are best on a steering wheel and pedal setup, which can be purchased reasonably at the lower end of the market, such as the Logitech G29, right through to ultra-realistic, yet expensive, brands such as Fanatec.
A recommended cheaper alternative is to use the joypad that came with your console, as these are often good enough for basic racing.
Thankfully, after testing, we have gotten away without scraped knuckles or oil stains to bring you our list of the 5 Best PS4 Driving Games of 2023.
5 – Trackmania Turbo
If it’s fun and entertainment you’re looking for, then Trackmania Turbo is the perfect thrill ride for gamers who like some insanity added to the mix in their racing games.
After being a PC-only game for quite some time, console users are now welcome to join in the fun with this latest edition.
For those new to the series, it’s a fantastic alternative to serious sim racing, which will undoubtedly provide you and your friends with hours of entertainment.
Trackmania Turbo review
Gamespot’s Jason D’Aprile went thrillseeking to deliver his verdict:
“Trackmania Turbo, has hit the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and the result is as fun as fans of the series could have hoped. The game’s unique focus on time trial racing gives it a distinctly refreshing feel from the Forzas and Need for Speeds of the world.”
“The game constantly lets you know where you stand and frequently restarting the race entirely after a mishap is a common, and necessary, tactic to stay on top. The ghostly nature of multiplayer manages to alleviate any frustration from vehicle collisions while still maintaining a constant sense of competition. This system also allows for an absurd number of players to be involved in a single online tournament–even on launch day, there were easily 70+ cars in each race.”
Read the full Trackmania Turbo review
4 – F1 22
Nothing quite matches the high-adrenaline thrill of being strapped into the seat of an F1 car, yet so few of us ever get to experience it.
F1 22 is the latest offering from Codemasters, which gets you as close as possible.
Renowned for their impressive ‘career’ mode, why not begin your virtual racing career and see if you can become the next Lewis Hamilton?
F1 22 review
Gamespot’s Alessandro Barbosa delivers his verdict:
“In the same way that the changes have made this Formula 1 season enticing to watch as drivers figure out the new limits of these cars around familiar circuits, F1 22 is a reset on your own understanding of racing in the game. Tracks with tight chicanes, such as the street circuit in Baku or the classic in Monte Carlo, are even more treacherous to navigate, with each slow corner feeling like it’s demanding far too much steering from the new chassis.”
“F1 22 can feel far more revolutionary than is apparent on the surface. If you’re returning to the series after last year’s entry, this year’s driving model offers more than enough in terms of meaningful changes to make learning each track feel like a satisfying challenge again. That’s especially true if you’re accustomed to racing around circuits with many of the game’s assists off, such as traction control. The heaviness of the new vehicles and the temptation to claw back control from the understeer tests your patience on the throttle, which makes even the medium assist setting tough to get comfortable with. F1 22 hits the mark of replicating the challenges that real-world drivers have been facing with these regulation changes.”
“F1 22 delivers, offering up a satisfyingly challenging way to wrestle these extreme racing machines around every track on the Formula 1 calendar.”
3 – DiRT Rally 2.0
If you’re a true gamer and you think of rally games, Colin McRae rally is most likely one of the first to come to mind from way back in 1998.
Rally games have evolved immensely ever since, and the DiRT series’ latest offering is no exception.
Steering away from what you may expect from the earlier DiRT games, DiRT Rally 2.0 is their shot at creating a realistic sim that makes nailing maneuvers such as the ‘Scandi Flick’ even more satisfying than ever! If you prefer the arcade-ish feel, perhaps consider Codemasters’ ‘DiRT 4’ offering.
With challenging physics combined with stunning visual effects, DiRT Rally is undoubtedly a must-have in any rally fan’s gaming collection, but just be prepared for a serious (yet satisfying) challenge along the way.
DiRT Rally 2.0 review
IGN’s Luke Reilly spent some time with the game to share his thoughts:
“Dirt Rally 2.0 feels great, looks good, and sounds fabulous.”
“Dirt Rally 2.0 is a confident rally racer for serious revheads. Stern, focussed, and harder than a woodpecker’s lips, it’s as tricky to tame as its predecessor but doing so is as satisfying as ever.”
Read the full DiRT Rally 2.0 review
2 – GT Sport
Gran Turismo has undoubtedly been the heart of Playstation’s racing genre since it began in 1997, and this was once again the perfect opportunity for Sony to silence Xbox’s Forza fanboys.
Whilst an impressive game, we expected it to dominate our list completely, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite match our expectations.
With so many driving games featuring great physics and AI, and stunning graphics, GT Sport feels slightly dull in the looks department.
Whilst the driving aspect is more impressive than ever, the lack of cars to choose from compared to rival games and a stripped-down single-player mode is somewhat disappointing.
Despite this, many fans will undoubtedly be more than happy, and GT Sport could well be the perfect game for your requirements!
GT Sport review
Trusted Reviews Simon Miller wrote his honest verdict on GT Sport:
“Every car handles differently, and as closely to their real-life counterparts as possible, and if you have the finances for a proper racing setup, I imagine a large portion of your driving dreams will be catered for. The emphasis is on how a car responds and feels when you put your foot down. Here, GT is as good as it’s ever been.”
“Gran Turismo Sport is worthy of the name and a great driving simulator, but a lack of content compared to what the series usually offers makes it a curious beast. If you love Polyphony Digital’s approach and cars, however, it will still tick a lot of your desired boxes.”
1 – Project CARS 2
You may be surprised that Gran Turismo Sport didn’t land the top spot on our list, but with plenty of missed opportunities to hit the mark, Project CARS 2 has delivered the better overall package this time.
You’d also be forgiven for thinking, “Hold up, it’s 2023, why isn’t Project CARS 3 here?”
Unfortunately, Project CARS 3 was also a major flop. In fact, it was unfortunately so bad that EA has now pulled the plug on further development of the Project CARS franchise, so we sadly recommend steering clear of the last ever Project CARS game.
After the love-hate initial edition of the game, which seemed to come with teething issues, Slightly Mad Studios listened to the hard-core fans to deliver a solid title for their second game.
It’s undoubtedly one of the more challenging sims to get to grips with, but we guarantee that you won’t want to leave the room once you nail those lap times!
Project Cars 2 review
IGN’s Luke Reilly delivered his verdict:
“I enjoyed the first Project CARS, and I liked the way the touring and GT cars felt in particular, but not everyone agreed. A lot of that is due to the fact that the grip admittedly dropped off a cliff the second you broke traction, and it required a fair amount of finessing to hone the handling to a gamepad. Plenty of people rapidly retreated from the original Project CARS for precisely this reason.”
“The handling has been tuned to a T, the content is excellently curated, and the amount of variety and racing available in it is delightfully daunting.”
Read the full Project CARS 2 review
With an immensely vast collection of racing games available for PS4 users, there is no doubt we have missed many impressive games from the list. For that reason, we highly recommend that you try out the following honorable mentions to deliver your opinion!
Other notable driving games
- Assetto Corsa
- Grand Theft Auto 5
- DriveClub
- NASCAR Heat Evolution
- The Crew
- DiRT 4
Want to play some free driving games right now? Try Madalin Stunt Cars 2.
Want to read more? Try our 7 Best Driving Games for PC article. Do you know a girl racer? Be sure to share our 9 Best Driving Games For Girls article with them.