I mean that has licensed tracks and cars that you can modify in stupid fun ways? The last time I played Gran Tuismo was on a PS3 and I played it so much.

I have purchased a few games over the years, Project cars 1-3, Asetto corsa, Forza Horizon, The Crew 2… all of them were interesting in some ways, but I just miss grabbing a boring car and modding it to stupid power levels and racing it at Laguna seca for example.

  • Toes♀@ani.social
    2·
    8 hours ago

    I’m not really plugged into the racing scene but my buddy suggested Wreckfest. As they have workshop support, so someone may have made the tracks you’re hoping for.

  • otacon239@lemmy.world
    25·
    19 hours ago

    BeamNG actually ticks all these boxes, as much as it’s known as the crashy smashy game. Every component of the car can be swapped out, including everything from body panels to engine components, to suspension and tires.

    The tuning is also incredibly in-depth and even more so once you start getting into the modding scene, which is huge.

    If this isn’t already a staple of your library, I can’t recommend it enough.

    • mortalic@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      5 hours ago

      Ok, I just purchased BeamNG and Automation - Thje car company tycoon game (In Early access which I generally avoid, but made an exception). Can’t wait.

    • AndyMFK@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      14·
      17 hours ago

      I’ll also add here, you can buy a second game, automation - the car company tycoon game.

      This allows you to build your own cars and export them to play with in beamNg. I personally like building drag cars and seeing what times I can get in a quarter mile.

  • Danitos@reddthat.com
    2·
    12 hours ago

    I think your best bet is emulation. I don’t know how easy is it to emulate PS3, but PS2 is incredibly easy, and Gran Turismo 4 runs flawlessly that was.

  • Hond@piefed.socialEnglish
    131·
    21 hours ago

    I mean there is Forza Motorsport (2023). Personally i’m not a big fan of this particular iteration but its pretty much the only game which checks all your boxes on Steam.

    Or you could check out PS2 Emulation with PCSX2 and the Spec II Mod for GT4. PS3 Emulation for GT5 and 6 still isnt perfect and pretty demanding for the hardware but also worth a look. I think there is the “master mod” to spice things up? Like why search for an imitation if you can have the original?

    • mortalic@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      17 hours ago

      I didn’t even think about trying to emulate. What does it take to do ps3 emulation? Would it run in the steam deck?

      • Hond@piefed.socialEnglish
        2·
        12 hours ago

        I’m going to frontload a few links:
        https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Main_Page Emulation Wiki(very good)
        https://retrogamecorps.com/2022/10/16/steam-deck-emulation-starter-guide/ he has also a YT channel and lots of other guides

        The emulator itself is RPCS3 but you can use probably frontends like Emudeck or Retrodeck to make things easier.
        To obtain the gamefiles you either get them from your modded PS3 or you make a visit to r/roms.

        I dont have a steamdeck so idk how well the GT games would run. It really depends on the game. Demon Souls or Skate 3 probably run just fine. MGS4 on the other hand is really taxing even on the newest desktop hardware. The GT games are probably somewhere in the middle. Check youtube, there are high chance somebody already uploaded steamdeck gameplay.

        Otherwise i cant recommend the GT4 Spec II Mod enough. Upscaled GT4 still looks fantastic and even more so on a handheld screen.

      • Midnight Wolf@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        15 hours ago

        Not to self advertise, but I run multi-player servers for Motor Town, as well as BeamNG (using the BeamMP mod), and other games. So if you want to learn/play with someone who knows the ropes, in a server that doesn’t expect you to immediately know everything, in a casual environment, that’s what I try to provide for these games :)

        If interested I can drop server names

        • mortalic@lemmy.worldOP
          3·
          8 hours ago

          I may DM you when I get going. I’ve got a busy weekend coming up but I want to pick a game and get going.

  • BurgerBaron@piefed.socialEnglish
    4·
    19 hours ago

    Most or all the franchises with a bunch of good legacy entries have turned into money grubbing grinds, including Gran Turismo, or instant gratification titles like Forza Horizon.

    So I have nothing to recommend :(

    Maybe Project Motor Racing? It’s out November and has a Career mode, but idk if that’s what you’re looking for. I don’t think it has any slow street cars.

  • archonet@lemy.lolEnglish
    3·
    21 hours ago

    the best racing/driving game I know is Motor Town: Behind the Wheel.

    Don’t let the graphics fool you. Check out nexusmods, get the most popular ones and hoon to your hearts content – it’s not quite as deep as BeamNG or My Summer Car (which I also recommend, but they are not my favorites), but you can do some very goofy shit (1000HP EV engine in a go-kart is a personal favorite). Plus there’s tons more to do besides just races. It looks like a deceptively simple game, it is not.

      • archonet@lemy.lolEnglish
        2·
        14 hours ago

        My Summer Car isn’t even really a racing game, it’s a Finland simulator that happens to involve fixing a car. And it’s also possibly the best “actions have consequences” game. An example: There is a local drunk you can sell booze to, who will regularly call you and ask for a ride home from the pub. Spoilers follow.

        1

        If you stiff him by selling him bottles filled with water instead of alcohol, he will slash your tires and cut your brake lines.

        2

        After giving him several rides home, he will drunkenly confide in you about winning the lottery, not having told his wife, and that he hid a suitcase full of money in the woods. You can actually find this suitcase and steal his money.

        3

        If you steal the money, some time later, you’ll go to sleep and awaken to him in your bedroom with an axe, about to kill you. You can knock him out and escape fairly easily, however

        4

        at the end of the game if you’ve stolen the money his body will be found swinging from a noose underneath a nearby bridge, and will have left a suicide note pinned to his front door by an axe.