It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Forza Horizon 6 is the most successful racing game of the year. From the visuals to the freedom the game gives, few racing games have ever come close to this mainline Forza entry. However, PS5 players are still waiting for Forza Horizon 6 to come out on their console of choice. Fortunately, a handful of games should scratch the Forza itch, at least for a while.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 6 may be unavailable on the PS5, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play the prequel. Forza Horizon 5 was regarded by many as one of the best racing games before the sixth entry came out. Players are dropped into Mexico and expected to race, explore, and drift around while doing challenges.
Like with most other Forza games, this game’s biggest strength is its world. It has all sorts of scenery for players to enjoy, from deserts to volcanic areas. The weather is constantly changing, and there are hundreds of cars to choose from. While the racing isn’t the most realistic, that isn’t new when it comes to this specific series.
The Crew Motorfest
The Crew Motorfest is the closest PS5 alternative to Forza Horizon 6, at least for now. The game is set on the island of O’ahu, Hawaii. The island theme isn’t the only similarity, because The Crew also uses a festival-style structure, very much like Forza Horizon 6. You have to get through multiple themed challenges and races instead of there just being one long career mode.
This game doesn’t just have cars. Instead, it has boats and planes in some modes, which makes exploration even more dynamic. The driving is more arcade-style, which means that cars slide more. Handling is also lighter, while fun is the overall focus. The map is also smaller, though it’s filled with multiple activities.
Gran Turismo 7
While Forza Horizon 6 is extremely arcade-like, that isn’t true at all for Gran Turismo 7. The game prides itself on being a realistic racing simulator instead of an open-world game. This isn’t to say that you don’t have multiple types of maps to race on, but exploration isn’t on this game’s bucket list.
Gran Turismo 7 is built around collecting cars, improving lap times, and mastering the existing tracks. There’s a strong focus on car culture and history, though this sometimes means that this game’s pacing isn’t as quick as Forza Horizon’s. Still, it’s an awesome alternative for those PS5 players who want something more grounded.
Need for Speed Unbound
The Need for Speed games may not be nearly as popular as they once were, but that doesn’t mean recent entries have been bad. In particular, Need for Speed Unbound is an awesome game that focuses more on giving street racing a more stylized look. From underground racing to police chases and car customization, this game knows how to keep you on your toes.
While the map isn’t too large, it’s more focused when compared to Forza Horizon 6. Players race in illegal street events to earn money and upgrade their cars. The game has a unique visual style with cartoon effects on cars and speed lines, giving a more memorable look. Realism isn’t really in the cars, but fun definitely is.
Riders Republic
If you’re looking for freedom that closely resembles Forza Horizon 6, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that comes close to Riders Republic. This isn’t a car racing game, but an extreme motorsport game. This means that you have access to bikes, skis, snowboards, and wingsuits.
While racing is still somewhat important in the game, it’s much more important to perform tricks and gather speed. Riders Republic gives players the same freedom that Forza Horizon 6 does, with constant events and a large map.
