It is hard to believe thatPlayStation 3is now close to 17 years old today, as most games that emerged on it are still pretty huge in 2022. A few of these titles includeThe Last Of Us, theUnchartedseries, theGod of Warseries,Demon Souls,Yakuza,Gran Turismo, and more.
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Besides exclusives,PS3also offered some of the most diverse games in history that belonged to unique categories. Onesuch rare genre is simulationracing, which became undeniably popular on the system. Let us look at some of thebest yet forgotten sim racing gamesthe seventh generation console offered to the players.
10GRID Autosport
GRID Autosportis the third main game in theGridseries that originally came out on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 in 2014. Since then, the game has seen the light of day on Linux, iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch. All because of its undeniable popularity among fans.
GRID Autosportis a racing sim that brought authenticity back to the series when it needed it the most. As a result, the game became an instant hit, getting positive review scores up to 9/10 by various publications.
9MotoGP 13
MotoGP 13came out in 2013 on various platforms, including PlayStation 3, becoming one of the final motorcycle racing sims on the console. The game was the first MotoGP title developer team Milestone made since they quit making MotoGP games in 2008 after Capcom took over the franchise for a while.
MotoGP 13came packed with unique single-player and multiplayer modes such as Grand Prix, World Championship, Career, Time Attack, and more. The game also featured multiple DLCs, which added numerous iconic motorbikes for players to experience.
8Blood Drive
Blood Driveis a less-known PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game from 2010 that none other than Activision published. It’s a vehicular combat sim that takes inspiration from movies such asDeath Race, MadWorld, World War Z, and more.
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Blood Driveallowed players to enjoy single-player and multiplayer with various modes. Additionally, the game featured eight unique combat vehicles, over five vast arenas, up to four players in online matches, tournaments, and rage powers. Sadly, the game didn’t get popular among the critics, which led to its downfall.
7NASCAR The Game: Inside Line
NASCAR The Game: Inside Lineis an Automobile racing sim that first came out in 2012 on the consoles and a year later on Microsoft Windows. It’s an Activision title that entirely focuses on the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) andgives players authentic stock car simulation gameplay.
NASCAR The Game: Inside Linegot mostly positive reviews from fans and critics, as it offers many new features compared to the previous games. First and most important were the in-game artificial intelligence, life-like pit crew animations, generation 6 cars, and a detailed career mode.
6Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends
Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legendscame out in 2012 but never reached the popularity of other games in theTest Driveseries. Despite that, it is one of the best racingsimulation games on PlayStation 3, as it offers the same iconic gameplay the series is known for but manages to shift things up by changing the formula.
Like previous games in the series that were more about open-world sandbox-style gameplay,Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legendsopts for a circuit racing game design. Hence, it’s more linear and has more variety. The game offers over 35 tracks and more than 40 vehicles.
5Jeremy McGrath’s Offroad
Jeremy McGrath’s Offroadis asemi-simulation game focusing on four-wheeled roadrace trucks. The game is named after legendary motocross/supercross champion Jeremy McGrath and is all about offroad rally racing, cutting tight corners, physics-based drifting, and high-speed maneuvering.
Jeremy McGrath’s Offroadfeatures a lot of content for the players. First, there is a huge variety of vehicles, which includes rally cars, pro buggies, TrophyLite trucks, and regular automobiles. Then there is a fun single-player mode with unique arenas and a multiplayer mode with 8-player challenges.
4DiRT Showdown
DiRT Showdownis a unique entry in the Dirt series, as it confuses the players into believing it is an arcade title. After all, the game features ridiculous modes like a demolition derby, which does not fit the vibe of a normal racing sim.
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That said, the game still uses the iconic EGO engine, which means it pretty much expands on the older titles. As a result,DiRT Showdownoffers semi-simulation gameplay with a touch of arcade-style modesthat makes it stand out from the rest of the games.
3SBK Generations
SBK Generationsis another motorcycle racing sim that came out in 2012 on PlayStation 3 and other systems. The title is about Superbike World Championship, a modified motorbikes-oriented road racing series. Hence, it offers players gameplay that takes place across different seasons.
SBK Generationsnever got the critic-love, unlike other racing games by the developer team at Milestone. However,it did impress hardcore simulation racing fans, who wanted more than just a casual title with simpler mechanics and easy-to-learn gameplay design.
2Shift 2: Unleashed
Shift 2: Unleashed(more commonly known as Need for Speed: Shift 2: Unleashed) is a semi-simulation game from the era when Electronic Arts tried making NFS titles racing sims. The PlayStation 3 classic came out in 2011 and got critically acclaimed for improving on the formula of the original Shift.
Shift 2: Unleashedisone of the most massive simulation racing gameson the seventh-gen consoles, featuring over 140 vehicles from over 35 popular manufacturers. The game also offers players dozens of circuits, with more than thirty unique tracks and a variety of gameplay modes.
1Test Drive Unlimited 2
Test Drive Unlimited 2was to PlayStation 3 what Forza Horizon 5 is to Xbox Series X. It was the ultimate racingsemi-simulation game that is still worth playingon Microsoft Windows. The game offers players the massive island of Oahu to explore, in addition to Ibiza island and more.
Test Drive Unlimited 2also features dozens of cars, all within multiple categories and classes. There are asphalt automobiles, off-road vehicles, classic cars, and motorcycles, all of which players can use to win tournaments and progress.
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