The PlayStation Portable wasn’t just a hub for JRPGs and shooters — it had a surprising amount of awesome racing games, too. From underground street racers to explosive combat tracks and off-road challenges, the PSP’s racing library deserves a second lap. Whether you’re a nostalgic fan or discovering these for the first time, here are 20 underrated or forgotten PSP racing games that are still worth playing today, plus a few honorable mentions!
20. F1 Championship Season 2009
F1 2009 was the first officially licensed Formula One game developed by Codemasters, released exclusively for PSP and Nintendo Wii in November 2009. It was developed by Sumo Digital and featured all 20 drivers and 17 tracks from the 2009 season2. Codemasters later shifted focus to HD consoles with F1 2010, making F1 2009 the only Codemasters F1 title for PSP.
19. Test Drive Unlimited
Test Drive Unlimited on PSP features over 1,000 miles of Hawaiian roads, modeled after the island of Oahu using real-world mapping data. Despite hardware limitations, the game delivered an impressive open-world experience with seamless exploration, licensed vehicles, and online multiplayer support.
18. Split/Second: Velocity
Split/Second: Velocity on PSP does include exclusive tracks not found in the console versions. One standout is “The Docks”, a track specifically designed for the PSP port, featuring unique route changers and powerplays tailored to handheld gameplay. These additions helped differentiate the PSP version and gave players fresh content beyond the original console release.
17. GripShift
GripShift is a hybrid racing and puzzle-platform game developed by Sidhe Interactive, first released for the PSP in 2005, followed by versions for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is known for its stunt-based tracks, collectible challenges, and physics-defying driving mechanics, earning it awards like Best Handheld Game at the 2005 Australian Game Developers Conference.
16. Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights was inspired by the real-life Hot Import Nights (HIN) tour, which is the largest lifestyle custom car show in the U.S. The game reflects this culture with flashy visuals, music, and models, immersing players in the street racing scene. While the PSP version didn’t have exclusive challenges in the traditional sense, it did include special unlockable events and cars via cheat codes and save data transfers2—such as linking with the PS2 version to unlock bonus vehicles.
