Project CARS 3

When it comes to racing games, there’s often a rigid expectation of what they should be—either a full-blown simulator or a flashy arcade racer. But sometimes, stepping outside the genre’s usual boundaries is exactly what a franchise needs to stay fresh. Project CARS 3 is a perfect case of that risk-taking—one that has split its community down the middle. Some see it as a betrayal of the series’ simulation roots, while others appreciate its return to the Need for Speed Shift-era formula.

Instead of getting caught in the debate, let’s take a step back and see what Project CARS 3 truly offers from a broader lens.

Presentation – Flashes of Style, But Not Without Flaws

On a visual level, Project CARS 3 holds its own, delivering a clean racing experience with some added flair like dynamic weather and volumetric fog that enhance immersion—especially in photo mode. However, performance issues on the base PS4 are hard to ignore. Night or rain races often produce graphical glitches, and snow-heavy races can see noticeable slowdowns, though most events still manage a smooth 60 FPS.

The car models themselves look great. Familiar vehicles return from previous entries alongside fresh additions like the Corvette C8R and the new Toyota Supra, all rendered with care. That said, the user interface has a “mobile game” aesthetic that might put off some series veterans. It’s functional, but far from refined.

Sound-wise, PCARS 3 hits more than it misses. Most cars sound unique and satisfying, though vehicles like the Formula E feel off compared to their real-world counterparts. Race engineer voice loops can get repetitive, but the high-energy soundtrack helps maintain excitement during gameplay.

Gameplay – A Surprising Strength

This is where Project CARS 3 truly shines. Whether you’re using a wheel or a controller, the driving mechanics feel significantly improved over PCARS 2. Handling is more forgiving and engaging—you can recover from slides more easily, and driving on wet or snowy surfaces has a much better sense of feedback.

The revamped career mode is another bold shift. Gone is the slow climb through karting ranks. Instead, you start as a road racer, climbing your way up to GT and top-tier motorsport categories like Formula E and IndyCar. This structure, inspired by Gran Turismo 3 and Shift, adds variety and lets players chart their own progression path.

Fun extras like Breakout (think Dirt’s Gymkhana), hotstints, and time attacks inject arcade flair without overwhelming the racing core.

AI also sees meaningful improvements. They no longer bottleneck at tight corners and now battle you for position with more aggression. While not perfect, it’s a definite step up and makes single-player races far more engaging.

Multiplayer holds its own too, offering rotating hotlap challenges and daily races. Borrowed cars for events mean you’re never locked out, and there’s always a new competition to test your skills.

However, the race objectives can be hit or miss. Some are bugged or feel unreasonably hard, even on lower difficulties. Hopefully, future patches or DLC will smooth out those rough edges.

Personal Take – A Nostalgic Return to Simple Racing Fun

As someone who’s spent time in competitive sim racing, Project CARS 3 might look like a step back. But to me, it feels like a tribute to the pick-up-and-play racing games of the PS3/360 era—where fun and progression mattered just as much as precision.

Had it launched under a different name, like Project CARS: Shift, perhaps expectations would’ve been kinder. Still, I can’t deny that I’ve had a great time with it, and its charm lies in the very simplicity that upset some longtime fans.

Conclusion – An Identity Crisis That Works

Project CARS 3 is a divisive game, no doubt. It sheds its hardcore sim roots in favor of something more accessible—more “simcade.” But once you accept it on those terms, there’s a fun, responsive, and surprisingly deep racing game underneath.

It may not be the sequel some wanted, but for anyone open to a fresh take on the genre, PCARS 3 is well worth checking out. It may even become your next favorite racer.