It is hard to believe that PlayStation 3 is 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 include The Last Of Us, the Uncharted series, the God of War series, Demon Souls, Yakuza, Gran Turismo, and more.

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Besides exclusives, PS3 also offered some of the most diverse games in history that belonged to unique categories. One such rare genre is simulation racing, which became undeniably popular on the system. Let us look at some of the best yet forgotten sim racing games the seventh generation console offered to the players.

10 GRID Autosport

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GRID Autosport is the third main game in the Grid series 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 Autosport is 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.

9 MotoGP 13

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MotoGP 13 came 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 13 came 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.

8 Blood Drive

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Blood Drive is 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 as Death Race, MadWorld, World War Z, and more.

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Blood Drive allowed 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.

7 NASCAR The Game: Inside Line

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NASCAR The Game: Inside Line is 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) and gives players authentic stock car simulation gameplay.

NASCAR The Game: Inside Line got 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.

6 Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends

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Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends came out in 2012 but never reached the popularity of other games in the Test Drive series. Despite that, it is one of the best racing simulation 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 Legends opts 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.

5 Jeremy McGrath's Offroad

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Jeremy McGrath's Offroad is a semi-simulation game focusing on four-wheeled road race 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 Offroad features 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.

4 DiRT Showdown

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DiRT Showdown is 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 Showdown offers semi-simulation gameplay with a touch of arcade-style modes that makes it stand out from the rest of the games.

3 SBK Generations

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SBK Generations is 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 Generations never 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.

2 Shift 2: Unleashed

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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: Unleashed is one of the most massive simulation racing games on 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.

1 Test Drive Unlimited 2

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Test Drive Unlimited 2 was to PlayStation 3 what Forza Horizon 5 is to Xbox Series X. It was the ultimate racing semi-simulation game that is still worth playing on Microsoft Windows. The game offers players the massive island of Oahu to explore, in addition to Ibiza island and more.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 also 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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