We already published the list of best PSP games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best PSP racing games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the PSP definitely has a great library of racing games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the PSP and racing games, there’s a chance you’ll like this list.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. MX vs. ATV Unleashed: On the Edge
- Release Data: Rainbow Studios/THQ, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
At its heart, On the Edge is a dirt racer, with Motocross bikes and ATV quad-racers tearing around supercross tracks and outdoor courses.
Those who are desperate for off-road action on the PSP will get just that with On the Edge, provided they’ve got the patience to deal with its flaws.
#24. Ridge Racer 2
- Release Data: Bandai Namco Games, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Considering that the main draw of this game is all-new content, the one element that brings this release down is the lack of new content.
Overall Ridge Racer 2 doesn’t really feel like a worthy addition, but if you haven’t played the first Ridge Racer, it’s a great addition to your collection.
#23. F1 2009
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Codemasters, 2009
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
F1 2009 is a fun, accessible take on Formula One racing, but it’s arcade style and unrealistic physics mean it’s something of a false start for the new series.
If you’re looking for an arcade-style sim racer with a Formula 1 badge, then F1 2009 may fit the bill and is likely to keep you busy for quite some time.
#22. Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Games, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
There’s already a ton of accomplished racing games on the PSP, but the core driving in Need for Speed Carbon: Own the City is solid enough.
All in all, Own the City is a very different game from the console versions of Need for Speed Carbon, but it’s still an exciting racer in its own right.
#21. ModNation Racers
- Release Data: SCEA San Diego Studios/SCEE, 2010
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
With a host of content and customization tools for karts, tracks, and players, this game succeeds admirably.
All in all, ModNation Racers is a fun kart racer that brings plenty of its own gameplay ideas to the mix, with a plenty of depth to the racing, and long and varied Career mode.
#20. GripShift
- Release Data: Sidhe Interactive/Sony Platform Publishing, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
With this game, everything moves at a solid 30 FPS, with no slowdown apparent, and the basic track environments have a neat look to them.
For as bad as the driving mechanics in GripShift are, big-time puzzle fans and those who really enjoy the notion of a track editor will at least get something out of the game.
#19. TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Codemasters, 2007
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
Codemasters’ TOCA Race Driver series has always been about two things: solid, simulation-based driving, and an insane amount of racing variety.
All in all, TOCA 3 boasts an awesome variety of racing disciplines, and it backs that boast-up with some excellent driving mechanics.
#18. Sega Rally Revo
- Release Data: Bugbear/Sega, 2007
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
This version of the game does have the dynamic track deformation that the console versions did, though not to quite the same degree.
Overall, the wonky car physics and controls, as well as a general lack of challenge, prevent Sega Rally Revo from being a very interesting title for very long.
But it’s still an interesting racing game.
#17. Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0
- Release Data: EA Canada/Electronic Arts, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
This game is, at its core, a basic street racer with all the usual toppings, like a variety of unlockable cars, both performance and visual tune-ups, and so on.
Overall, Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0 has most of what’s needed to make a good PSP racing game, but it lacks the biggest one of all: a true excitement.
#16. Burnout Dominator
- Release Data: Criterion Games/Electronic Arts, 2007
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Burnout Dominator isn’t a proper sequel for the series.
It takes bits and pieces of the driving mechanics and features from the past Burnout games and brings them together in a new way.
Burnout Dominator is more impressive on the PSP and you’ll have a distinct impression that this game was designed for the system.
#15. FlatOut: Head On
- Release Data: Bugbear/Empire Interactive, 2008
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Other
What FlatOut lacks in refinement, it makes up for with a twisted sense of humour, an assortment of game modes, and some frankly outrageous stunts.
Overall, FlatOut is a fantastic PSP game, offering a mix of racing modes that are great to play in short bursts or long sessions.
#14. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
- Release Data: Rockstar San Diego/Rockstar Games, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
Midnight Club 3 is an arcade racer through and through, with the physics geared toward big jumps, taking tight corners at ridiculous speeds, big, exaggerated crashes, and frenetic action.
While PSP-owning street fans will likely find Midnight Club 3 to be a genuinely enjoyable game, there’s no denying that it feels like a missed opportunity, overall.
#13. Gran Turismo: The Real Driving Simulator
- Release Data: Polyphony Digital/SCEA, 2009
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
The first handheld iteration of “the real driving simulator” isn’t as fully featured as some of its predecessors.
However, while it lacks a number of the features that the series was built on, Gran Turismo still has a lot to offer to anyone who’s ever dreamed of taking a supercar for a test drive.
#12. Need for Speed Underground Rivals
- Release Data: Team Fusion/EA Games, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
Just like it’s predecessor, Need for Speed Underground Rivals has done a good job of capturing the thrill of late-night illegal street races while including all of the parts and customization.
Fans of the Need for Speed: Underground series will feel right at home with Rivals.
#11. ATV Offroad Fury Pro
- Release Data: Climax Studios/SCEA, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
ATV Offroad Fury Pro dramatically ups the ante in terms of content compared to its predecessor.
Simply put, there is an awful lot to do in ATV Offroad Fury Pro and much of it is a good time.
Overall, this game provides so much value that you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better game than this off-road racing game.
#10. TOCA Race Driver 2: The Ultimate Racing Simulator
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Codemasters, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
This game has few annoying quirks though, for one, it seems to rely on a finer level of throttle and brake control than the PSP can provide with only its analog and buttons.
But, overall, you’ll come to love TOCA Race Driver 2 as much as your first race sim if you’re a hardcore racing game fan.
#9. Midnight Club: LA Remix
- Release Data: Rockstar London/Rockstar Games, 2008
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Midnight Club: LA Remix is a surprisingly dense PSP game, packed to the brim with hours of intensely fast racing as well as addictive aesthetic and performance upgrades.
Almost as much an RPG as it is a racer, Midnight Club: LA Remix would be a great addition to any petrolhead’s portable library.
#8. Test Drive Unlimited
- Release Data: Melbourne House/Atari SA, 2007
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
As the game starts, you’re whisked away to fabulous Hawaii to buy a car and a house, and do a lot of random racing. That’s about all there is to the premise.
This PSP version of Test Drive Unlimited cramps in just about every online feature found in the PS2 version, and it does so without mucking up the experience.
#7. Race Driver 2006
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Codemasters, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
Race Driver 2006, despite its largely recycled career mode, it feels like a mostly new game, thanks to the addition of an all-new single-player mode, some new cars and tracks.
This title may be a port of a nearly two-year-old game, but the wealth of new content makes this version every bit as necessary as its predecessor.
#6. MotorStorm Arctic Edge
- Release Data: Bigbig Studios/SCEA, 2009
- Genre: Racing » Simulation » Automobile
Arctic Edge may be portable, but it otherwise encapsulates all the pros and cons of this series’ fast-paced off-road racing.
Each course is meticulously crafted, offering an ideal path to the finish line no matter which of its vehicles you prefer.
All in all, MotorStorm Arctic Edge provides plenty of boisterous fun, in spite of a few irregularities.
#5. OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
- Release Data: Sumo Digital/Sega, 2006
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
This game doesn’t stray very far at all from the formula established by OutRun2, offering gameplay that largely feels the same as the previous game, but with a good deal more content to explore and unlock.
OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast offers a fun, accessible experience to racing fans who just want to jam on the accelerator and go.
#4. Wipeout Pulse
- Release Data: Studio Liverpool/SCEA, 2008
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Futuristic
Wipeout Pulse is the follow-up to Wipeout Pure, which arrived in 2005.
The soundtrack boasts the usual mix of electronic dance from established artists such as Aphex Twin and Mason, all licensed and of a high quality.
Overall Wipeout Pulse offers a deep and rewarding career mode while pushing the technical capabilities of the PSP.
#3. Burnout Legends
- Release Data: Criterion Games/EA Games, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
Burnout Legends is like something of a greatest hits collection, combining gameplay elements with cars and tracks from the first three console Burnout games to form a package that feels pretty original and unique.
In short, this title is one of the best racers the PSP has to offer, and any PSP owner should definitely check it out.
#2. Wipeout Pure
- Release Data: Studio Liverpool/SCEA, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Futuristic
Wipeout Pure is a distillation of all the Wipeouts that precede it, highlighting the traits that earned the series its fan base and straining out the impurities that have crept in over the years.
On paper, Wipeout Pure doesn’t really sound like anything special, but it comes together beautifully in the execution, especially with regards to the presentation.
#1. Ridge Racer
- Release Data: Namco, 2005
- Genre: Racing » Arcade » Automobile
While the gameplay in Ridge Racer is certainly no slouch, the real treat to Ridge Racer on the PSP is how it looks.
This game is the smoothest-running PSP game on the block at launch.
All in all, Ridge Racer does a fine job providing the same smooth gameplay that still holds up after all these years.
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See also: Best PS2 Games & Best PS3 Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which PSP racing game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
