Gran Turismo 7: The Racing Game That Finally Makes Your PS5 Feel Worth It
15.01.2026 - 00:20:16
You know that feeling when you fire up a new racing game, blast through three shiny intro races… and then never touch it again? Maybe the handling feels floaty, the career mode is a grind, or every car seems like a copy?paste reskin with slightly different stats. You wanted a love affair with cars; you got a fling with good lighting.
That disconnect is the pain point for modern racing games: they look like the future, but they rarely feel alive. There’s no real sense of owning a car, learning it, tuning it, and building a relationship with it. Just menus, microtransactions, and a nagging sense you’re playing a spreadsheet with engine sounds.
Gran Turismo 7 is Sony’s answer to that problem—and, judging from PS5 owners, Reddit threads, and review scores, it’s the closest anyone has come in years to turning digital driving into an emotional hobby again.
Gran Turismo 7: The Solution for People Who Actually Care About Driving
Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) takes the series back to its roots: you start small, you earn your way up, and you fall in love with cars one machine at a time. Instead of throwing supercars at you from minute one, it gives you a used hatchback, a humble race, and a clear path to mastery.
Developed by Polyphony Digital and published under the Sony Group Corp. umbrella (ISIN: JP3435000009), GT7 runs on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, with a clear sweet spot on PS5 thanks to 3D audio, DualSense haptics, fast loading, and ray?traced replays. It’s not just about going fast—it’s about feeling every shift, bump, and weather change.
If you’ve been waiting for a game that treats cars like art, motorsport like a craft, and you like the idea of a long?term “car life” rather than a weekend fling, this is where Gran Turismo 7 shines.
Why this specific model?
The racing genre is crowded: Forza Motorsport aims at track sim fans, Forza Horizon owns the open?world arcade fantasy, and hardcore PC sims like iRacing or Assetto Corsa Competizione demand rigs and dedication. Gran Turismo 7 threads a rare needle: it’s approachable enough for casual controller players but deep enough that sim?wheel drivers with triple?screen setups still take it seriously.
Here are the pillars that make GT7 stand out in 2026, based on current reviews, Sony’s official specs, and ongoing Reddit discussions:
- Unmatched car culture presentation: GT7 isn’t just about lap times. The Gran Turismo Café campaign has you completing “Menu Books” that tell the story of iconic car brands and eras. You don’t just unlock a car; you learn why it matters.
- Huge car list with realistic driving physics: With over 400 cars from everyday compacts to Le Mans legends and Group 3/4 race cars, there’s always something new to master. The physics model rewards good habits—smooth braking, smart lines, weight transfer—without feeling like a brick wall to beginners.
- PS5 haptics and 3D audio that actually change how you drive: The DualSense controller lets you feel ABS pulsing in the triggers, tire slip, and curbs under your virtual wheels. Combine that with positional 3D audio and you get unusually clear “feedback” on what the car is doing, even without a wheel.
- Dynamic time and weather: On supported tracks, rain can roll in mid?race, the track can rubber in, and temperatures shift grip levels. It adds tension and variety you simply can’t get from fixed?condition races.
- Deep but flexible assists: Whether you’re a complete novice or a track?day regular, driving aids can be tuned so GT7 is either a forgiving driving school or a punishing sim.
In real terms, that means this: GT7 lets you grow. You start by relying on assists, on?screen racing lines, and gentle rivals. As you gain confidence, you dial everything back and discover the car is the same—but you’re better.
At a Glance: The Facts
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| Platform: PlayStation 5 & PlayStation 4 | Play it on your existing PS4 or unlock the best visuals, loading times, and haptics on PS5. |
| Car Roster: 400+ cars from classic compacts to GT and prototype racers | Gives you a long?term collection goal and lets you discover both dream cars and everyday heroes. |
| Tracks: Real?world circuits & original Gran Turismo tracks | Mixes iconic venues like Nürburgring with GT?exclusive fantasy tracks for both authenticity and variety. |
| Dynamic Time & Weather (on supported tracks) | Adds unpredictability and strategy—changing grip, visibility, and tire choices mid?race. |
| Gran Turismo Café Campaign | Guided progression teaches car history and structure, making the huge content library feel focused, not overwhelming. |
| PS5 DualSense Haptics & Adaptive Triggers | Lets you feel tire slip, ABS, and surface changes, improving immersion even without a racing wheel. |
| Online Sport Mode & Daily Races | Ranked multiplayer with driver and sportsmanship ratings keeps racing mostly fair and competitive. |
What Users Are Saying
Reddit and racing forums have had plenty to say about Gran Turismo 7 since launch, especially around its controversial early?game economy and always?online requirements. The good news: much of the initial frustration has been softened by updates, and the core sentiment in 2025–2026 threads is that GT7 has matured into one of the best all?round console racers.
Common positives from real players:
- Driving feel: Users repeatedly praise the handling model on both controller and wheel, calling it “satisfying without being punishing.”
- Visuals and replays: Ray?traced replays on PS5, realistic lighting, and gorgeous car models are frequent highlights. Many players use Scapes and Photo Mode almost as a separate hobby.
- Progression & Café mode: The structured Menu Books give players a clear sense of direction, especially compared to older GT titles that could feel aimless.
- Online racing: When it works, Sport Mode is praised for clean racing, smart matchmaking, and regular official events.
Recurring criticisms and caveats:
- Always?online requirement: The need for a constant internet connection for most modes still annoys many, especially those with unreliable networks.
- Economy & grinding: While car rewards and payouts have been tweaked, some players still feel that high?end cars demand too much repetition or push toward microtransactions.
- AI behavior: Offline AI is described as “serviceable but not brilliant”; some wish for more aggressive or adaptive opponents.
Overall, the tone in current Reddit reviews is clear: if you’re here primarily for the driving, collection, and long?term engagement, GT7 delivers in a way few rival titles match. If you’re allergic to grinding and always?online checks, you’ll feel the friction.
Alternatives vs. Gran Turismo 7
So where does Gran Turismo 7 sit in the broader racing landscape?
- Forza Motorsport (Xbox/PC): The closest direct competitor in terms of track?focused sim racing. Forza leans heavily into car customization and a more flexible structure. GT7, by contrast, feels more curated and romantic about car history, with a distinct “Japanese car culture” personality.
- Forza Horizon series: If you want open?world driving, stunt events, and more arcade?style freedom, Horizon is unmatched. GT7 is strictly about circuits and disciplined driving, not tearing across fields.
- iRacing / Assetto Corsa Competizione / rFactor 2: These PC sims are kings of hardcore online or laser?focused GT racing. They demand a wheel, time, and tolerance for rough edges. GT7 doesn’t quite hit that level of hardcore realism, but it’s vastly more accessible, polished, and console?friendly.
- F1 series (EA/Codemasters): Brilliant if you love Formula 1 specifically. GT7 is for people who want variety—from kei cars and JDM legends to GT3 machinery and concept cars.
If you own a PS5 or PS4, the real question isn’t “GT7 or something else?” It’s “GT7 or no serious racing game at all?” On PlayStation, Gran Turismo 7 is the flagship sim?style racer, and nothing first?party rivals its blend of physics, presentation, and car?culture storytelling.
Final Verdict
Gran Turismo 7 is not just another racing title on a crowded digital shelf. It’s a slow?burn relationship with cars—one that starts with a modest hatchback and, dozens of hours later, has you obsessing over gear ratios, tire compounds, and the perfect photo angle of your garage.
Its handling model, PS5 haptics, and commitment to car culture make it one of the few games that can genuinely teach you better driving instincts, not just better joystick tricks. The dynamic weather, structured Café progression, and evolving online modes turn what could have been a sterile simulator into a living hobby.
You do have to accept its flaws: the always?online save system is annoying, the in?game economy can still feel grindy if you’re chasing hypercars, and offline AI isn’t going to give seasoned sim racers nightmares. But the moment you carve a clean lap through a drenched Suzuka at dawn, feeling every curb through the triggers and hearing the rain shift across the cabin, those quibbles shrink.
If you own a PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 and you’ve ever caught yourself watching onboard laps on YouTube, browsing used car listings for fun, or pausing in a parking lot to admire a well?kept old coupe, Gran Turismo 7 is the racing game that finally respects that part of you. It doesn’t just let you drive cars—it lets you live with them.
For anyone who wants a deep, beautiful, and surprisingly emotional driving experience, Gran Turismo 7 absolutely earns a place on your dashboard.
