The PlayStation 5 is where a lot of drivers meet sim racing for the first time, and the console makes a fair introduction. You get strong exclusives, painless setup, and full wheel support without a PC’s tuning headaches. What you give up is the modding freedom and the deepest ranked ecosystems that live on PC. This list sorts the best racing games on PS5 by the kind of driver each one suits.
We weighed editorial reviews against recurring player feedback rather than chasing a single number, and you can read how we review. If the terminology is new, our Getting Started hub explains the basics, and the full Console Racing Games category has more.
How we picked
A console racer earns its place on three counts: how honest the driving model feels with a wheel, how much content and career depth it offers, and how well it uses the PS5 hardware, from load times to the adaptive triggers. A title can be a great couch racer and a poor sim, or the reverse, so we call out which lane each game runs in.
Gran Turismo 7: the flagship simcade
Gran Turismo 7 is the reason many people buy a wheel for PS5. It carries more than 25 years of series heritage, a huge car list, and a career that eases newcomers in while giving veterans a reason to grind. Reviewers describe handling that sits between arcade and full simulation, approachable on a controller and rewarding on a wheel. The recurring criticism is its reliance on an online connection and its economy, which some players find slow. Our Gran Turismo 7 review goes deeper.
Assetto Corsa Competizione: the console GT specialist
The console version of Assetto Corsa Competizione brings PC-grade GT3 physics to the PS5, and reviewers who race it praise a driving model that rewards clean, disciplined inputs. It runs at a lower frame rate than its PC counterpart, which committed players notice, and its narrow focus on GT racing means it is not the game for someone who wants variety. For a dedicated GT fan on console, few titles come closer to the real discipline.
F1 25: the licensed single-seater
The official Formula 1 series remains the go-to for open wheel fans on console. Reviewers credit its deep career and team-management modes, adjustable assists that scale from pad-friendly to demanding, and a presentation that mirrors a race weekend. The knock is familiarity: the series tends to iterate rather than reinvent, and EA is covering the 2026 season with a paid Season Pack for F1 25 rather than a new game, so returning players should weigh how much is genuinely new before upgrading.
WRC and EA Sports WRC: the rally option
Rally asks a different skill set, and EA Sports WRC, the most recent official WRC game, is the most complete stage-racing option on PS5, although Codemasters ended new content for it in 2025. Players report a demanding surface model and a long career with a builder mode, though some note performance and stability wrinkles depending on the build. If tarmac circuits bore you and loose surfaces excite you, this is where to look on console.
At a glance
| Game | Lane | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Turismo 7 | Simcade, broad career | Newcomers and returning GT fans |
| Assetto Corsa Competizione | Focused GT simulation | Dedicated GT3 racers on console |
| F1 25 | Licensed single-seater | Formula 1 and open wheel fans |
| EA Sports WRC | Rally and stage racing | Drivers who prefer loose surfaces |
Who should skip these, and who should buy in
| PS5 racing suits you if | Look elsewhere if |
|---|---|
| You want painless setup and strong exclusives | You want deep modding and open online ecosystems |
| You play on a couch and value career depth | You want laser scanned tracks and ranked licensing |
| You are pairing the console with a wheel | You already own a capable gaming PC |
Getting the most from a wheel on PS5
Most of these games transform with a force feedback wheel, and only wheels marked compatible with PlayStation will work here, so check the label before you buy. Our best sim racing wheels guide breaks down the options by budget and platform. If you also own a PC and want to see how the deeper end of the hobby looks, our best sim racing games for PC roundup is the next stop.
