6. Ridge Racer 2
Ridge Racer 2 on PSP is basically a “greatest hits” remix of the franchise’s best tracks. It features 21 unique courses, each with a reverse variant, totaling 42 playable track layouts—making it one of the most content-rich entries in Ridge Racer history. The game pulls from classics like Ridge Racer Revolution, Rage Racer, and Ridge Racer Type 4, and even throws in new modes like Duel and Survival to spice things up.
So yeah, if Ridge Racer were a music album, this one’s the deluxe edition with all the bonus tracks and remixes.
5. Need for Speed: Own the City
It is not a port of the console version—it’s a completely different game built specifically for handhelds like the PSP. It features a PSP-exclusive storyline, where you play a racer trying to uncover the truth behind your brother’s death. The game introduces original characters, unique crews, and a darker narrative tone compared to the console release. It also includes free roam, territory control, and crew-based racing, making it one of the most distinct entries in the NFS franchise for handhelds
4. Wipeout Pulse
Anti-gravity racing that’s all speed and style. It’s like F-Zero on a Red Bull! Wipeout Pulse did indeed feature a custom ship skin editor, which players could access via the official Wipeout website on their PC. After designing your own futuristic paint job, you could upload it to your PSP using Wi-Fi infrastructure mode, making your anti-gravity racer look as slick as it handled. It was one of the few PSP games to offer this kind of cross-platform customization—basically, graphic design meets hyperspeed.
3. Burnout Legends
Burnout Legends is basically the greatest hits album of the Burnout franchise—remixed for your PSP. It features tracks and gameplay modes from Burnout 1, 2: Point of Impact, and 3: Takedown, all repackaged into one explosive handheld experience. You get fan-favorite modes like Crash, Road Rage, and Pursuit, plus a massive roster of unlockable cars across multiple classes1. It’s the only handheld-exclusive Burnout title, and it launched the same day as Burnout Revenge in North America.
Basically, if you ever wanted to cause mayhem in traffic while waiting for your dentist appointment—this game had your back.
2. Initial D: Street Stage
Japan-exclusive PSP game, released in 2006 as a handheld adaptation of Initial D Arcade Stage Ver. 3. Developed by Sega and Tose, it features iconic mountain pass racing, anime-based storylines, and voice acting from the original cast. While it was never officially localized or released outside Japan, it gained a cult following internationally—thanks to fan translations, imports, and the sheer love for drifting down Irohazaka in an AE86.
