Every racing game on PlayStation Now

Thomas Harrison-Lord
With the new PlayStation Plus Extra and Plus Premium on the way in June, we look at the existing PlayStation Now before it disappears and see if there are enough decent racing games.
Every racing game on PlayStation Now

Initially launched as an Open Beta in 2014, PlayStation Now was a video game streaming service a good seven years ahead of its time – and some would argue, that remains the case even now in 2022.

Originally touted as a way of playing PlayStation 3 games on Bravia televisions and the PlayStation Vita, it morphed into a monthly or yearly subscription service that had some steaming games and some available to download and still exists on PlayStation 4 and 5.

PlayStation Now

But, its library has been stagnant for a long time, but only small updates every month mostly made up of older titles. As of June 2022, it will officially cease to exist, being rolled into the new PlayStation Plus subscription, which includes Extra and Premium tiers.

It’s that PlayStation Plus Premium tier that sounds as if it will include the PS3 game streaming straight from Now, while the Extra tier may take some inspiration from the existing PS4 game library on Now.

With that in mind, here’s every racing game on PlayStation Now, and their current format and availability, so that we can see what carries across – or not, as the case may be – when the new service arrives in June.

GamePlatformDownload/Stream
Anarchy: Rush HourPS3Stream
Armageddon RidersPS3Stream
Assetto CorsaPS4Download and Stream
Baja: Edge of Control HDPS4Download and Stream
BlazeRushPS3Stream
Car Mechanic SimulatorPS4Download and Stream
Carmageddon: Max DamagePS4Download and Stream
CARS MATER-NATIONALPS3Stream
CARS RACE-O-RAMAPS3Stream
Cel Damage HDPS3Stream
Crazy TaxiPS3Stream
Danger ZonePS4Download and Stream
Daytona USAPS3Stream
Death Track: ResurrectionPS3Stream
DiRT 4PS4Download and Stream
DiRT RallyPS4Download and Stream
Disney Pixar Cars 2 The Video GamePS3Stream
F1 2020PS4Download and Stream
KineticaPS4Download and Stream
Mantis Burn RacingPS4Download and Stream
Monster Energy Supercross – The Official VideogamePS4Download and Stream
Monster Jam Steel TitansPS4Download and Stream
MotoGP 15PS3Stream
MotoGP 17PS4Download and Stream
MotorStorm ApocalypsePS3Stream
MotorStorm RC Complete EditionPS3Stream
MudRunnerPS4Download and Stream
MX vs ATV All OutPS4Download and Stream
MX vs ATV ReflexPS3Stream
MX vs ATV: AlivePS3Stream
MX vs ATV: UNTAMEDPS3Stream
MX vs ATV Supercross EncorePS4Download and Stream
MXGP – The Official Motocross VideogamePS3Stream
MXGP2 – The Official Motocross VideogamePS4Download and Stream
MXGP3 – The Official Motocross VideogamePS4Download and Stream
NASCAR Heat 4PS4Download and Stream
NASCAR Heat 5PS4Download and Stream
Need for Speed RivalsPS3Stream
ObliteracersPS4Download and Stream
PixelJunk Racers 2nd LapPS3Stream
RidePS3Stream
Ride 3PS4Download and Stream
Sébastien Loeb Rally EVOPS4Download and Stream
Split/Second: VelocityPS3Stream
Star Wars: Racer RevengePS4Download and Stream
Super Toy CarsPS4Download and Stream
Team Sonic RacingPS4Download and Stream
Truck RacerPS3Stream
Valentino Rossi: The GamePS4Download and Stream
WRC 5 eSports EditionPS4Download and Stream
WRC 8 FIA World Rally ChampionshipPS4Download and Stream
WRC 10 FIA World Rally ChampionshipPS4Download and Stream
WreckfestPS4Download and Stream

There are 52 racing games on PlayStation Now at present, and the results are more than a bit mixed. There are three Disney Pixar Cars games, but the best one – Cars 3: Driven to Win – is notable only by its absence. Plus, are you really going to play through three sub-far, outdated, Cars games?

In a similar vein, there are five MX vs ATV games. I just don’t believe even a super-fan will be able to put enough hours into each to justify a subscription, however as a warm-up for the upcoming MX vs ATV Legends, perhaps these will whet your appetite.

PlayStation Now ATV vs MX

I suppose this is a similar gripe to any video game subscription available today. There’s a lot of filler, and the killer is a time sink.

If you’re happy paying per month for access to a variety of games you’d like to dip in and out of, then go for it. But if you really get into a game, or like one or two genres, it’s probably ‘better value’ to just buy those games outright and cancel your recurring payment for 300 games you’ll never touch.

Despite these criticisms, there are some belters on the service. Here are the best…

The best racing games on PlayStation Now

Assetto Corsa

Ferrari F312T 1975, Assetto Corsa

Still heralded by many a sim racer to be the best handling game of all time, the original Assetto Corsa from 2016 may be long in the tooth and the console version may lack mod support – but this is a great PS4 conversion, with still-functioning private lobbies, a single-player career and a varied car and track list.

Danger Zone

Danger Zone

Former Criterion Games developers split off from the Electronic Arts mothership, found Three Fields Entertainment and create Danger Zone – something that harks back to the original Burnout game’s Crash Mode.

The results are typically explosive if a little shallow. This went on to form the basis of Dangerous Driving, a game we hope receives a sequel.

Daytona USA

DAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYTOOOONA, LET’S GO AWAY. With Trophies, the PS3 re-release. A shame you can only stream it.

MotorStorm Apocalypse and RC

MotorStorm Apocalypse PlayStation Now

It’s a sad reality that all three of the PS3-era Motorstorm games, plus Motorstorm RC from PS3/PS Vita and Motorstorm Arctic Edge on PSP, are not officially playable in any backwards compatibility capacity. An entire arcade racing series lost to the annals of time and the Cell Broadband Engine.

A crying shame. You can however play the final ‘main’ entry, Apocalypse via streaming on PlayStation Now, alongside the pint-sized remote-controlled car spin-off. Both are excellent games but come on, Pacific Rift is where’s it’s at…

Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO

This was saddled by an inconsistent frame rate – and that’s being kind – and some mediocre content creator opinions, without giving the game a fair shake.

But, overlook the visuals, plug in a steering wheel peripheral, select the DS3 WC and a Sanremo stage. Then come back to me.

Plus, the car variety was better, arguably, than the far more recent DiRT Rally 2.0 and it featured one of the last video game appearances of the Pikes Peak Hillclimb.

Split/Second: Velocity

I don’t need to say more here than Rich’s excellent video, so please watch that instead.

Truck Racer

Truck Racer Kylotonn

Aha, bet you didn’t see this one coming. This is a very overlooked game, by Kylotonn in its nascent stages, now of Test Drive Unlimited and WRC fame.

You race trucks, duh. But there’s damage and destruction, a pliant – for the time – handling model and a surprising amount of fun. It’s of its time and not to be confused by an inferior title with the same name on the Wii and PS2.

Valentino Rossi: The Game

Valentino Rossi: The Game MotoGP 16 MotoGP

I went back to this official MotoGP game recently, which included rally driving and remote-controlled cars, and found it to be charming.

Not a simulator by any stretch, something that MotoGP 22 is aiming for, but a fun title that beguiles you. There’s a lot to be said for the variety and charm on display here.

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