Every Gran Turismo Game Ranked

Sony’s Gran Turismo series is one of the most established and best-selling racing franchises. GT is renowned for its realistic physics and extensive car selection, making it a favorite among fans who seek a balance of fun and realism.

Each new Gran Turismo title aims to outdo the last, offering more cars, tracks, improved graphics, and greater detail. Some titles nailed it, while others? Let’s just say that not every game was podium-worthy. Sometimes it’s the gameplay, the visuals, or just the overall feel behind the wheel.

In the following list, I’ll rank every Gran Turismo game from the earliest to the latest, based on how much each one stands out in the series. My rankings take into account factors such as gameplay, graphics, car and track variety, realism, content depth, and the overall fun and immersion each title provides.

Main Titles

Since the release of the first Gran Turismo, the franchise has undergone numerous additions, including the main games and several fun spin-offs. Since you can’t really compare a full Gran Turismo game to a spin-off, I’ll be ranking them separately, starting with the main titles.

8. Gran Turismo 6 (2013)

Gran Turismo 6 felt more like an upgraded GT5 than a brand new game. It featured better physics, more cars, additional tracks, such as the laser-scanned Nürburgring, and improved visuals, lighting, and transitions.

The game didn’t take many risks, which may have disappointed some fans. Still, it’s a solid entry with lots to keep players interested. But it lacks a personality of its own, feels more like a rework of GT5.

7. Gran Turismo 5 (2010)

Gran Turismo 5 was highly anticipated as the first HD installment of the series, offering over 1,000 cars, 81 tracks, dynamic weather, tire wear, online races, NASCAR, rally, and more.

However, the initial launch was terrible. The menus had bugs, load times were long, and many of the ‘1000 cars’ were just updated PS2 models. For a lot of fans, the first impression was quite poor, which resulted in a lot of hate for the game. Even so, GT5 offered plenty of content and a career mode with lots of variety

The bugs were fixed later on, and more content was added, but because of the poor first reception, a lot of players steered away from this game. In short, is GT5 a bad game? Not really, but there are better options in the franchise.

6. Gran Turismo Sport (2017)

Gran Turismo Sport dropped the massive car selection and single-player grind, instead focusing on competitive multiplayer and esports. If you wanted FIA-backed tournaments, it excelled. If you wished to be a classic car collector, it wasn’t for you.

As a result, players who loved the single-player aspects of the game were very disappointed. Not to mention, back then, multiplayer racing wasn’t as popular, and most people preferred single-player. But the few who enjoyed multiplayer racing had positive reviews about this game.

This game has its own niche space within the Gran Turismo franchise; it’s quite different from the other games.

5. Gran Turismo (1997)

Every franchise has to start somewhere, and for Gran Turismo, it was this game. Sure, it looks outdated now, but it’s a nostalgic game for a lot of the franchise fans.

Even during its era, Gran Turismo was a game-changer. There was no game like this at the time; even the first Forza Motorsport game (usually considered the GT’s direct competition) was released at the time of GT 4. This lack of competition made the original Gran Turismo a massive hit.

Despite being a 1997 game, it didn’t lack in content. It had a massive car lineup and impressive physics for its era. A good mix of tracks that were fun and thrilling. Sure, the graphics are outdated now, but it was immersive for its time.

4. Gran Turismo 7 (2022)

Gran Turismo 7 is the latest addition to the series. After the poor reception of GT6 and GT7, fans were eagerly waiting for a good Gran Turismo game, and the developers delivered.

Classic features like the story mode and garage building are back, and they are better than ever. Not to mention, the game looks visually stunning on the PS5. The weather looks realistic, and affects how cars drive on the track; the lighting looks real, and the adaptive triggers add to the experience.

It’s the most complete Gran Turismo in a long time. Of course, there were some complaints about the online features and progression, but overall, it’s a great modern racing game.

3. Gran Turismo 2 (1999)

Gran Turismo 2 was a standout in the late ‘90s, with nearly 650 cars and 27 tracks. The lineup had everything from Lamborghinis to old Camaros and unique Japanese kei cars you’d never see elsewhere.

At one moment, you’re ripping through dirt in rally races, and on the other, you are burning rubber through drag strips. If that gets boring, you can race around tracks like the Rome Circuit or that crazy Pike’s Peak knockoff. Honestly, you could spend weeks messing around and still have plenty to do.

The handling improved significantly, with smoother controls and brakes that actually worked, allowing you to take corners without spinning out. You could pick Arcade mode for quick races or Simulation mode for collecting cars and earning licenses. Because of the massive amount of content the game offered, there were loading time issues, but back then, nobody really cared.

Overall, GT2 still has a special place for many fans.

2. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001)

Launching as PlayStation 2’s first Gran Turismo title, expectations were soaring high, and Gran Turismo 3 surely fulfilled them.

The game looked stunning for its time and ran smoothly at 60 FPS, which in turn made older racing titles feel slow and sluggish, almost as if their time had passed.

However, the game lacked content. GT3 launched with 180 cars and 19 tracks, fewer than GT2. This did displease fans, but the graphics and gameplay made up for it.

This was because the developers focused on graphics and car detail. The driving was exceptional. GT3 is where Gran Turismo clicked for me: immersive, fun, and pure driving escapism. Sure, there were fewer cars, but the polish made up for it.

1. Gran Turismo 4 (2004)

Gran Turismo 4 stands as a pinnacle in the series, featuring over 700 cars to explore and drive. The track list was extensive, and the handling was a significant improvement over previous entries. The game truly captures the sensation of being behind the wheel. Moreover, its vast content ensures players remain engaged for weeks.

Fans keep arguing about which GT is the best, but this one’s always unbeaten at the top. If you’re into racing simulator games, you’ve either played it or you’re missing out, simple as that.

Spinoffs & Side Games

Gran Turismo is a huge franchise; as such, many spin-offs have been made. While most of these games weren’t that great, some stood out.

1. Gran Turismo 4 Mobile (2009)

Most people don’t remember Gran Turismo 4 Mobile. It was meant to be a smaller GT for phones or PSP, and it was decent. Instead of the open-world feel of GT4, you get quick missions, time attacks, and drift challenges. There were about 45 tracks, including different versions, and the car list was small but worked well enough.

The driving physics were more straightforward but still familiar, and you could tinker with upgrades or swap cars with friends. It wasn’t meant to outshine console versions, but for killing time on the go, it worked.

2. Gran Turismo Concept (2001-2002)

Mainly a showcase for high-end concept cars. Fun to mess around with, but honestly, there wasn’t much to do.

3. Gran Turismo PSP (2009)

For a handheld game, it was impressive. The visuals were good, it handled well, and there was a nice variety of cars. Without a career mode, though, there wasn’t much to do besides casual races.

4. Gran Turismo 4 Prologue (2003)

Just a teaser for Gran Turismo 4. Tight driving, a few cars and tracks, mostly to build hype for the main game.

5. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (2007)

Same idea as GT 4 Prologue, but on PS3. A playable tech demo with HD graphics and new physics glimpses. However, fans were eagerly awaiting the full release of Gran Turismo 5.

6. Tourist Trophy (2006)

Not technically a Gran Turismo, but developed by the same team, now featuring bikes. The handling was deep. If you’re into motorcycle racing, give it a try.

7. My First Gran Turismo (2024)

My First Gran Turismo was primarily aimed at younger audiences; basically, it’s a gentle introduction to the Gran Turismo world. It’s extremely beginner-friendly and easy to get started with. No, it’s not packed with tons of cars or endless upgrades, but as a starter, it’s a great choice. It’s the best gateway in the series.