The PS1 has aphenomenal library of games, and many of its series are still alive and well today. We have games like Tomb Raider and Metal Gear Solid that are just as relevant today as ever.
10 Best Racing Games With Story Modes
What’s a racer without any good story?
We also have racers, likeGran Turismo, that even eventually dipped its toes into VR, provided you own a PSVR2 headset. We all know about top-tier racers likeWipeoutandRidge Racer, but there’s an impressive amount of great games thatslipped under the radar. Theyaren’t exclusive to just racing either.
If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane or want to try out somefancy driving gamesyou may have never heard of, here are 10 bangers for you to try. I collect PS1 games and have played all of these. With that in mind, don’t take offense if I’ve missed your favorites, as these are simply the ones that stand out the most to me!
10Rally De Europe
The Power Of Imports
Key Information
Prism Arts
Arcade / Rally
Release Date
April 2000
Rally De Europeis a superb PS1 racer that feelssimilar toSega Rallyin many ways.
Colin McRae Rallyis theundisputed king of off-road racingon the PS1, but it’s a pretty serious racer, which may not be for everyone.Rally De Europefills thatarcade niche, and you race other cars instead of just the clock.
The steering still holds up today, and you may effortlessly glide around hairpin bends with practice. Theroad surfaces matter, and the track and car selection are decent.
Rally De Europeis tough-as-nails, and one mistake usually means you’ll lose a spot on the podium. Still, it’s a superb racer I never see anyone talk about.
9Tank Racer
Why Go Around When You Can Go Through?
Tank Racer
Tank Raceris farbetter than it has any right to bewith intuitive controls and destructible environments.
Glass Ghost went ‘all in’ on arcade-style racing for this one, and the game is all the better for it. Tanks are snappy and responsive to drive, and you canflatten and crush plenty of objects. Those hazards stay broken between laps, so courses subtly evolve as the race progresses.
You can shoot with your tank, and theshoulder buttons guide the turret. It’s instantly user-friendly and a refreshing take on combat racing versus something like Wipeout or Crash Team Racing.
8Mobil 1 Rally Championship
Move Over, Dirt Rally
Mobil 1 Rally Championship
While researching this list, I honestly forgot justhow many Rally games there arein the PS1 library. That said,Mobil 1 Rally Championshipistoo good to ignore,and a great alternative toColin Mccrae Rally.
Mobil 1looks and sounds the part withdetailed car models and engine growls. Cars also sound and feel noticeably different on the various terrains, which is a nice touch.
Themenus are narrated, which is a notable addition as the commentator reels off Rally facts.
Best of all, thecourses are fairly longand reportedly modeled on real tracks. Like most games on this list,Mobil1 is brutally difficult, so you’re forced to follow your co-driver’s instructions.
7Total Drivin
An Ocean Of Content
Mixed Racing
October 1998
Total Drivinis apersonal favorite of mineand one of the games I’ve played the most on the system.
You’re spoiled for choice of vehicles and tracks in Total Drivin. Each of thesix countrieshas multiple courses with aunique vehicletype tied to it. For example, one track in Scotland may have you in a rally car while the next gives you a sporty number.
There are several teams to choose from, and while I’m a Roberts fanboy, Xu rocks that awesome yellow and black drip.
The game has a few shortcomings, such as collisions almost always ending up poorly for you while your opponent speeds away. That said, thecourse unlocks are a great incentive to keep playing, as is the weird techno soundtrack.
6Motorhead
Racing In The Future
When you think of futuristic racers on the PS1, you likely think ofRollcageor Psygnosis' masterpiece,Wipeout XL/2097. Both arebrilliant additions to any PS1 library, but there’s another you shouldn’t neglect.
Motorheadis adark, moody racerwith satisfyingly weighty cars and impressive visuals for the console. The vehicles feel great to control, and I’m absolutely sold on the aesthetic. The game also sounds the part with agreat electronic soundtrack.
Funnily enough, you may opt for four opponents or seven, but the latter has a reduced framerate. If you’re going to check out Motorhead, I’d saygo with the boosted frames.
10 Underrated PS1 Exclusives You Need to Play
Sony’s maiden console is full of incredible games you don’t want to miss.
5Vanishing Point
Wait, Is That A TVR?!
Vanishing Point
If you want to play a PS1 game with licenced cars, most players would go withGran TurismoorNeed for Speed. Well, it turns out you canaddVanishing Pointto that list too.
Vanishing Pointis a solidstreet racing gamewithdecent graphics and physics. Cars are prone to oversteering but can be tamed with good throttle control.
There’s astrange selection of cars, but I like it, as there’s a bit of everything. Youstart with a humble Ford Explorerbut stick around, and you can ride in an Aston Martin DB7 and even a Dodge Viper.
You always earn something for winning, and there’s agreat lineup of courses, from desert roads to tight, claustrophobic streets.
4Racing Lagoon
The ‘Car’ PG You Never Heard Of
RPG/ Street Racing
I was introduced toRacing Lagoonlong after the PS1’s heyday, andI still can’t believe this game exists.
Racing Lagoonhas aheavy emphasis on its story, which already makes it very different from other racers on the console. But the most shocking part of all is thatit’s made by Square! Yes, the sameSquareresponsible forFinal FantasyVII, VIII, andIX.
You play as Sho,a budding street racer takenin by the scene and enthralled by much stronger drivers than himself. The game is in Japanese, althoughEnglish translations exist, and any fan ofInitial D, Wangan Midnight, orTokyo Xtreme Racerwill find a lot to love here.
3N.GEN Racing
Take To The Skies
N.GEN Racing
N.GEN Racingis easilythe most unique game on this list, taking what makes arcade-style racing so addictive into the skies.
N.GEN Racingswaps cars for planesand the open road for the sky. You will find gates dotted through the courses that grant a speed boost, andyou can even shoot your opponentswith a steady hand. Your height matters, and flying in the cockpit view feels likeAce Combaton steroids.
Honestly,I struggle withN.GEN Racingand might be one of the worst players on the planet. No matter what I do, I can’t get my head around the controls and find them too sensitive, and I knowthis is on me, not the game.
Still, it’s hard not to appreciate this remarkable take on the racing genre, and theverticality adds a new layerto the gameplay you can’t find elsewhere.
2TNN Motorsports Hardcore 4X4
Flat Roads Are Overrated
TNN Motor Sports Hardcore 4x4
Hardcore 4X4is anambitious monster truck racing gamewhere you must battle with the terrain as much as your opponents.
Stages inHardcore 4X4havea refreshing amount of verticality, demanding a different approach to normal. All the trucks in the game are bouncy and require a surprising level of throttle control if you want to be first over the finish line.
There’s a small but serviceable selection of tracks, and they take you everywhere,from deserts to lush forests.
If I’m being critical,Hardcore 4x4was released early during the PS1 era, and it shows. The trucks suffer from massive oversteer, and thephysics are questionableat best. Regardless, it’s a lot of fun exploring the wild environments as long as you don’t take it too seriously.
1Porsche Challenge
Quality Over Quantity
Porsche Challenge
Racing games focusing on a single manufacturer aren’t common, butthey’ve existed for a long time. If you really want to dig through the history books, we hadLotus Turbo Challengeon the Sega Genesis, and this is Porsche’s turn in the spotlight.
The car models inPorsche Challengeareimpressively detailed, although that should be expected for a game with such a small vehicle roster. The game makes up for its lack of cars with a decent selection of courses, includingStuttgart, Porsche’s official test track.
Cars stick to the road like glue, and there’s even somefun banter between racers, which didn’t become commonplace in the genre until much later.
