Gran Turismo is a video racing game developed by Polyphony Digital for the PlayStation. It is the first game in the Gran Turismo series. The game has been beloved by critics and players for its wealth of content. More than 170 vehicles are in the game, with nearly all of them being licensed. The graphics at the time were superior to most racing games available on the PlayStation. One of the main appeals to the game was the ability to increase vehicles' performances by purchasing parts and upgrades. While there is no actual final boss or last championship stage, the ultimate goal is to unlock all of the features in the game.

There are two known modes in the game: Arcade and Simulation. In Arcade mode, players pick one of several cars and race on a track against the CPU or another player. The feature is very limited and considered a side option in the game. Gran Turismo is mostly based on Simulation mode.

Players initially start out with 10,000 credits, which can be used to buy a low-end vehicle from one of the many shops. The shops are designated by manufacturer (Toyota, Ferrari, etc.). There are races a player can take part in right away, but nearly all of the tracks can't be played unless a player has a specific license. There are three types of licenses: Class A, Class B and Class I-A. A player received a license only by passing all of the tests for a specific class. The tests included braking, high speed driving and turning.

Players can earn more credits by entering races and placing high. Additionally, if a player won the qualifying time trial (which is normally skipped unless the player wants to do it), more credits are earned. The credits can go toward upgrading vehicles and purchasing new vehicles.

The game does not have an ending. However, after winning the GT World Cup, an "ending video" is played, which includes credits.