Best PS1 Racing Games: Tried Tested and Rated in 2024

The Playstation One (PSX) rolled off factory belts and into our homes with hype, anticipation, grandeur, and the usual lack of supply vs demand to fuel want.

Released in Japan in 1994 and then the U.S. and Europe in 1995 it was the first console to take things a step further than Nintendo’s SNES or Famicom had managed to go.

After the release of the PS1 one game genre really stood out.

This genre had been tried many times before on the many consoles prior, but none of the other consoles could match the realism the PS1 was able to show off.

Racing games had arrived!

I remember the very first racing game I played on the PS1 way back in 1996, Gran Turismo.

An old school friend called Martin told me how each of the car sounds from the game were realistic replicas of the actual cars being raced.

This literally blew my mind back in the day.

After the joys of Gran Turismo, further racing games were asked for and begged as birthday and Christmas presents and none of them (well hardly any of them) ever disappointed.

Having recently dusted off the PS1 and relived those memories of the 90s in school and college playing these awesome games, here is a selection of the very best PS1 racing games tried, tested, and recently rated!

Gran Turismo

The opening score is a reason to get excited. The intro of near picture perfect car racing digital video footage was nothing short of jaw dropping in the 90s.

Players can either start with an arcade single race, time trial or battle or simulation mode where all the fun begins customizing your car and earning up points to play for bigger trophies and more rewards to splash up customizing your prized car.

The arcade option is a great way to get started and with a choice of Nissan, Honda Acura, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Aston Martin, and Chevrolet cars to choose from your spoilt for choice.

The gameplay is pretty sound, the controls are easy enough although even getting close to top speed you never really feel your driving fast. Bends are simple enough to take in standard mode using automatic transition and considering I haven’t played in 25 years I’ll take the 3^rd place I got.

The video sequence of your race after the event is a nice touch considering the video graphics dramatically improve.

It has aged a little over the years but brought back some memories.

Colin Macrae Rally

I always remember Colin Macrae being a tough game and dusting off the cover of this classic I can remember why!

Rally games such as Sega Rally and Daytona dominated youngers time in the arcade. Sitting in a cabin with steering wheel and foot pedals meant throttling the gas and catching a perfect skid with the brake is a little more difficult to achieve using a gamepad.

Nonetheless, the PS1 version of Colin Macrae Rally does a decent enough job.

The controls do take some getting used to, and it’s easy to veer of course before hitting some barricade telling you you’ve gone the wrong way.

The point of the game is a mud filled rally but at times it can be temperamental just how far the terrain with slow you down or not impact you at all.

Each course takes some getting used to in order to master, which isn’t a bad thing.

Graphics are not as good as I remember. This is a faster game than some of the others and background scenery had to be able to render and adapt to the pace, but the starting New Zealand track is somewhat special and well created.

Even on a gamepad the joint effort of the gas and brake buttons to hit a perfect slide still gives a small dopamine rush.

The truth is out of all the PS1 racing games I have played again, Colin Macrae is the game I keep coming back to. It’s an incredible game, and well worth trying again.

Destruction Derby

The raw, brutal, and savage nature of Destruction Derby brought a smile to many racing fans in the 90s.

Unlike the typical F1 or official racing game, the aim of the Destruction Derby is to get around the racetrack as fast as you can whilst smashing your opponent to smithereens in the process.

Banger style racing had arrived in style with some of the most realistic graphics and gameplay to date.

Buckle up…and sit tight!

Playing today the game feels like it was a little rushed putting together.

The graphics aren’t bad, and controls are pretty standard, but you never really feel as if you’re picking up speed, and every single lapped car on the track has it in for you, purposefully throwing themselves in your way.

The top down camera angle is too far back for the narrow track and ends up becoming a bit of a hindrance. That said, I was pleased to get first place after 12 laps, although after the first 6 or 7 laps, the game does start to become a little repetitive.

It is certainly a game to try out for all racing fans.

I do remember this one a little differently and players are unlikely to have more than a few goes, although for those who played this non-stop back in the day will surely have a blast reminiscing.

Formula 1 Championship Edition

Another Psygnosis title, just like Destruction Derby, F1 Championship Edition attempted to bring the world of F1 into our homes.

The graphics are decent even if the rendering of the trees as you pass through some straights is off and out of alignment.

The gameplay is good, but the controls can be challenging.

Each lap is time controlled meaning the clock is against you as much as your opponents.

Momentum feels slow when driving along the straights, but the bends hit fast and hard leaving little time to react without learning the tracks with care.

It of course doesn’t compare to the F1 games on the PS3, PS4 or PS5 of course but it stood head and shoulders of anything F1 game the 8-bit or 16-bit consoles could produce.

F1 Championship Edition was incredibly popular back in the 90s, so many will have a great time getting back into the gameplay. Just watch those turns!

Felony 11-79

The opening scene of the archaeologists searching for the City of Gold and finding the infamous casket that went on to sell for $2million to an entrepreneur is hardly the setting of a racing game.

This is a racing game with a difference.

Felony 11-79 may very well be the inspiration for the Grand Theft Auto games that launched on the PS2 and onwards as 3D versions rather than the top down experiences on the PS1.

For a 1997 title the opening graphics are still great even by todays very high standard and set the scene with much excitement.

Of course, the gameplay graphics will never quite match the opening titles but nonetheless despite the speed at which you fly around the streets of Downtown the rendering and graphic quality stood up to scrutiny.

The Jade Statue as part of the lost treasure is the aim of Mission One.

Race through the streets of Downtown to grab the 5 boxes of dynamite, avoiding all manner of cars, pedestrians and the cops determined to bring you down, before heading out of the city to safety – oh, and with a time limit too!

The only negative is the video crash sequence that plays each time an object is hit, which is unnecessary and slows the gameplay down.

Other than that, it is a decent title with great controls, good story line and one that even now you’ll want to play more than once.

Motor Toon Grand Prix

Motor Toon Gran Prix is a funny little game which feels like a mixed-cross between Wacky Races and Super Mario Kart, with a bit of Wreck it Ralph thrown in.

After choosing your racing star (Captain Rock, Raptor & Raptor, Princess Jean, Penguin Bros. etc..) you take to your toon car and hit the cartoon tracks.

The cars are really loony toon type which actually bend as you weave you way in and around the track.

Each track is bright and bubbly and fun to play (Toon Village at night is probably the best) and the controls are pretty decent too.

Gravity certainly doesn’t exist in Motor Toon Gran Prix as running off the edge of the track sees you continue on vertical cliffs as you climb back up to the track again.

Standard settings are pretty easy so you may want to take that up a notch before playing, but each placement sees progress to the next track.

A lively spritely game that should be part of anyone’s retro racing game collection.

Ridge Racer

Ridge Racer made a big name for itself with the PSP port, but how does the PS1 version of Ridge Racer perform?

The opening graphics are a little lacklustre compared to many of the racing games here but don’t let that fool you too much, it’s still a pretty decent port.

The PS1 tracks will be familiar to anyone who has played the later ports such as PS2 or PSP – helicopters included, which must have pushed the rendering engine quite a bit.

Unfortunately, it does lack some of the good drifting capabilities seen in the later ports and speed sensation which is slightly lack-lustre but compared to other PS1 racing games it certainly fares very well.

The terrain and tracks are well created considering this is a PS1 port that could never have existed on even a 16-bit machine, the rendering is decently smooth as well.

The tunnel segment is particularly well rendered on the PS1, a nice touch. Controls, aside from the drifting are above average when playing. Bends can be tricky on the PS1 version, but then why should they be easy!

Rollcage

Psygnosis certainly made their mark on the PS1 racing games industry, and another quirky game comes in the form of Rollcage.

The opening sequence is really top notch, incredibly immersive and fantastically designed for the PS1.

Players start in the Gemini league and after choosing a hit the racing circuit.

Its every bit as exciting and intense as I remember back in the day.

Gameplay is incredibly slick, controls are as smooth as can be and not only are they many speed up sections and an arsenal of weapons to collect along the way, you’ll have a variety of spacecraft trying to shoot at you too.

Some of the weapons to collect are off track, especially in the second bend, so watch out for them.

Corners are incredibly smooth to take whilst playing which is rare for a PS1 game offering the sensation of high speed in a racing game.

Explosions, rolling cages (can drive upside down as well as right way round), incredibly sprite graphics and smooth rendering make this one of the best racing games on the PS1!

This really is one of the hidden gems in the collection.

Wipeout XL

The Wipeout franchise has existed for some time and started with the PS1 back in 1995.

It followed with Wipeout XL the following year, and as this is another Psygnosis title on the list it’s another reason to be excited.

The year 2097 and instead of the usual four wheel car this time an anti-gravity craft is waiting on the tarmac.

It’s a step up from the original Wipeout with enhanced speed and gameplay but doesn’t quite tick every box.

Gameplay is good and controls are solid. Unfortunately hitting along any barrier usually stops the craft completely in its tracks which does take the edge of the game play.

There are a number of power ups and speed sections to boost you along on your plight but watch out for the sonic booms as they really slow you in your tracks.

I remember playing this many times growing up and although still a great port and worth playing every now and again it wouldn’t be the first racing game I’d reach for, but then again wouldn’t be the last either.

Road Rash

Road Rash stepped up its game for the PS1 and 3DO ports.

Having been a dire hard fan of the 3DO version, I was really keen to drop the Road Rash disc in to the PS1 and relive some memories.

The opening sequence is incredible. Full video quality and very similar to the 3DO opening sequence.

Thrash mode is similar to the arcade version, where Big Game Mode takes you further in to different tracks and a more enhanced gameplay.

The courses include The City, The Peninsula, Pacific Highway, Sierra Nevada, and Napa Valley – and I’m sure all die hard Road Rash fans remember the Restroom!

Not only do you have oil slicks, pedestrians, taxis, cars, walk signs and buildings to look out for, you also need good time, speed, and placement to reach the further tracks.

It’s always fun throwing a solid fist out to passing competitors on the route, although watch for the run back to the bike after being thrown off as the competitors are looking for their revenge and won’t think twice to run you over.

The gameplay is good on the PS1 port and controls easy enough to manage. The graphics and speed make the game what it is. It’s one of those games someone can easily lose and afternoon and evening too.

Suggested Reading: Best PS1 Platform games, tried and tested!

TOCA 2

TOCA 2 was incredibly hyped up back in the 1990s.

This really was the granddaddy in terms of racing games on the PS1.

The opening sequence after loading the disc are second to none.

Incredibly designed and brought to the console, it is enough to capture you into game and want to start exploring the touring cars and circuits.

TOCA 2 is a hard game to master but when you do it becomes one of the best racing simulators there is.

Not a game to pick up and put down for half an hour, to get in to TOCA 2 means really getting in to TOCA 2. The cars, the turns, the layouts, and everything in between.

Mastering TOCA 2 comes with its own rewards.

The controls are tricky and the road and surrounding terrain unforgiving.

Some other racing games almost go out of their way to keep you on the track, but TOCA 2 isn’t playing so nice.

It will force you to become better and better to get the best experience possible.

You don’t just play TOCA 2, you have to master it.

Rage Racer

I love the opening graphic sequence on Rage Racer.

This 1996 Namco game attempted to fill a niche similar to Ridge Racer, with similar style, tracks, and terrain.

It though surpasses Ride Racer on a number of different levels.

The controls and experience are super smooth.

Playing Rage Racer gives the experience of speed, but the controls around the track and a particular delight and it even has decent drift capabilities.

It isn’t possible to go off track, as the car simply bounces off the edge but will slow you down somewhat.

The rear view mirror is a nice touch too which is lacking in many of the racing games on the PS1.

Rage Racer is one of those games that’s enjoyable to play, easy to pick up and play, and encourages you to return to it again and again.