If your looking for the best racing games for the PlayStation 3 console, either to play yourself or to buy as a gift, then this top list of the best 5 games may give you some inspiration. I've tried to include a good cross-section of different kinds of game and I've written a short review of each one along with screenshots where I could find them and a link to the relevant product page on the Amazon website.

There is also a comments box at the bottom of the page so if you know a game that you think should have been included then please feel free to use this space to make your case.

This game does a great job of offering players a realistic race driving experience with true to life tracks and cars and what the makers call 'real-world physics' - developed with the help of experienced professional racing drivers. There is a good range of tracks and race types as well as cars and customization options for the car that you choose. But one of the best things about this this game is the driver profile system, which assigns you a unique character persona based on your own driving style and skills. This profile and persona then influences who you are matched up to race against, what path your career takes, and what extra content is available for you to unlock.

Just released in September 2009 Dirt 2 adds some real attitude to the off-road racing genre. Rather than focussing on realism this game goes for the adrenaline and excitement of extreme sports and rewards aggressive risky driving. There are some great locations to compete in with impressive graphics, such as canyon racing in Utah and a rainforest rally in Malaysia. There are a range of events types and vehicles, and you can race any ride in any race which is quite fun.

This is another off road rally racing game, but rather than being all about aggressive driving and going all out to win like Dirt 2 it is all about maximum carnage and maximum fun without taking itself too seriously. There are extra controls such to duck flying cars or ram your competitors, and the aim of the game is to win the race in style with bug jumps and manic manouvers. There are some fun vehicles too, including monster trucks.

 If bikes are more of your thing rather than cars or monster trucks then I would say that this is the best game for the PS3. It is the official MotoGP so features realistic racing on real world tracks and with bikes from all of the top manufacturers. You can also choose to play as a famous racing legend or create a character to play as yourself.

 I know that strictly speaking this isn't actually a racing game, but it is a driving game and it is also great fun to play. Stuntman combines the skill test of pulling off complex and tricky stunts correctly with the joy of big explosions and impressive movie style replays of the action.