

I know I can start the game, play through a few races or license tests, and make some meaningful progress. More than how it looks or plays, I appreciate Gran Turismo 7’s vibe. You can feel when the machine is fighting back. There’s something intuitive about it, kind of like driving an actual car. The way the controller shakes or how the triggers resist you can give you a lot of information on how you should drive. It also makes great use of the Dual Sense controllers. The cars themselves look as good as any digital vehicles ever have, and the tracks can show off some stunning vistas. Gran Turismo 7 is gorgeous on PlayStation 5. GT7 manages to make each vehicle feel special. A friendly patron at the café can give you information about whatever car you’re driving. Some of the in-game dealers include detailed timelines about specific manufacturers. These cars aren’t just trophies for some showroom. It lets me unleash my inner Jay Leno (something I never thought I’d want) and amass my own car collection, starting small and eventually unlocking classic brands like Mustang and Corvette. You can unlock them by completing certain races, challenges, or by buying them directly from the in-game stores (you use credits you earn by completing races and challenges for those transactions).

But you also have a collector level that increase whenever you unlock new cars. Gran Turismo 7 has multiple progression systems, like filling out those menu books or completing those license tests. You can practice important racing skills like cornering and passing at the License Center and Missions challenges, and completing those can also help you unlock more cars. You start off with simple cars before moving up to stronger, faster vehicles. You can keep these options on and then slowly switch them as you become more comfortable with racing, and Gran Turismo 7 gives you plenty of tool to learn. Or you can turn on markers that let you know when you should brake ahead of turns.

You can even let the game handle acceleration for you. You have a lot of options when it comes to racing difficulty. It’s also one that lets you ease into the experience. Even though it’s all about racing, this is (more often than not) a relaxing game. The café, with its chill, pretty atmosphere, epitomizes Gran Turismo 7.
