Grid is the Codemasters renaissance of TOCA Race Driver with spectacular and accessible racing gameplay. Realistic damage, variety of disciplines, lively multiplayer. One of the best arcade-simulation racing games on PS3.
Your verdict
Category
Racing2 players3+
Split screen
Description
Codemasters arcade racing game reviving the TOCA heritage in a variety of international motorsport disciplines. Published by Codemasters, released in Europe in June 2008. Three racing regions Europe, USA and Japan, Drift mode, Touring and Le Mans endurance races, licensed cars, and online multiplayer. European version.
Grid review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Almost photographic reproduction of the cars, realistic circuits and natural light: Codemasters' racing reaches a cutting-edge realism. The care for mechanical detail and the brilliance of the environments impress at every corner. This visual rigour, elegant and polished, illustrates the studio's exigency in simulation.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A racer that favours sensation and spectacle: tight races, spectacular damage and a rewind function that forgives mistakes without breaking the rhythm. Skirting perfection through a corner mid-battle delivers an instant thrill. Snappy, immersive and superbly made, a racing game that pairs accessibility and intensity with constant flair.
A Codemasters racer praised for its balance of simulation and arcade and its sense of speed, founding a respected sub-series. Printed widely, it stays common and lightly priced. Its collector interest lies mostly in its role as the first entry of a line liked by racing fans, more than in scarcity, the Korean edition being the only slightly rarer variant.
Better with friends
A race with realistic yet snappy positioning, where wheel-to-wheel fighting and damage management add depth to circuit duels. The competition rewards controlled aggression and calculated risk-taking, in a tight rivalry where every overtake counts. Local split-screen delivers intense face-offs, while the original online depends on servers whose activity is no longer guaranteed.
Is Grid still worth playing in 2026?
Grid marks the rebirth of the TOCA series under Codemasters, with a racing approach halfway between arcade and simulation that has aged remarkably well. The sense of spectacle, the realistic damage and the variety of disciplines, from circuit to drift, make it a brisk and immediately rewarding game. The Flashback system, allowing you to rewind a crash, smooths the learning without watering down the challenge. The competitive tone and the biting AI give the races depth. For anyone after an accessible yet sensation-rich racing game, this PS3 classic remains an excellent choice.
