Games Like Forza Horizon 6: Best Picks for 2026

Open-world racing games are more popular than ever, and Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of 2026. If you want to play something similar right now, the options can feel overwhelming. This guide ranks the best games like Forza Horizon 6, explains what makes each one worth your time, and matches every pick to a specific type of player. For deeper coverage of the upcoming release, check out our full breakdown of Forza Horizon 6’s Japan map and confirmed details, and our look at how it has been received critically in 2026.

Best Games Like Forza Horizon 6 Ranked

This list covers eight games ranked from solid alternatives down to the single best pick for most players. The ordering reflects overall similarity to the Forza Horizon formula, which means open-world freedom, arcade-leaning handling, strong car variety, and a festival or progression structure that keeps you coming back. Quality, accessibility, and replay value also factor in. Whether you are a PlayStation player looking for a console option or a PC racer chasing variety, there is something here for you.

Games Like Forza Horizon 6, Ranked #8 to #1

Each entry below follows the same format: what makes it similar to Forza Horizon, where it diverges, and who should play it first.

#8: DiRT 4

DiRT 4 sits at the bottom of this list not because it is a bad game, but because it is the least immediately Horizon-like of the group. It is stage-based rally racing rather than open-world cruising, but it earns its place for players drawn to Forza Horizon’s off-road racing, weather systems, and handling variety. The game offers rallycross, land rush, and a custom stage generator that adds meaningful replayability. If your favorite Horizon moments involve muddy hillsides and aggressive cornering rather than beachside cruises, DiRT 4 scratches that itch better than most alternatives.

Best for: Off-road enthusiasts who want more challenge and rally-focused discipline variety.

#7: GRID Legends

GRID Legends takes a more structured, motorsport-flavored approach compared to Horizon’s free-roaming festival vibe, but it brings a genuinely varied race roster that covers street circuits, mixed-surface tracks, touring cars, and drift events. A cinematic story mode and a robust event creator round out the package, making it a strong pick for players who enjoy Horizon’s discipline variety and accessibility but want racing that feels a little more serious. It appears regularly in “games like Forza Horizon” recommendation lists aimed at PC players specifically.

Best for: Players who like Horizon’s race variety but want a more structured motorsport context.

#6: LEGO 2K Drive

LEGO 2K Drive is the most family-friendly entry on this list and the one most likely to convert younger players who have been watching a parent enjoy Forza Horizon. It features an open-world structure with multiple explorable biomes, races, mini-challenges, and a vehicle collection system that genuinely echoes Horizon’s playful progression loop. It is particularly worth mentioning for Nintendo Switch owners, since Forza Horizon has never appeared on that platform. The arcade tone is lighter than anything else here, but the festival-style structure is unmistakably Horizon-inspired.

Best for: Families, younger players, and Nintendo Switch owners who want an open-world racing game.

#5: Need for Speed Heat

Need for Speed Heat is set in the fictional Palm City, a Florida-inspired open world that blends sanctioned daytime events with illegal night races and police chases. The customization system is deep, letting players build and personalize a garage that reflects street-racing culture. It captures the tuner and urban side of Forza Horizon better than almost any other game on this list, and the free-roam map means you can cruise between events at your own pace. The progression system, built around reputation and race earnings, keeps the loop engaging across dozens of hours.

Best for: Street-racing fans and players who prioritize deep car customization and urban atmosphere.

#4: The Crew 2

The Crew 2 is older than most entries here, having launched in 2018, but it remains active and still appears consistently in recommendation lists for players who love games like Forza Horizon. Its biggest selling point is scale: a recreation of the entire continental United States that you can explore by car, boat, or plane. If what you love most about Forza Horizon is the sense of endless road-tripping and the freedom to simply go somewhere new, The Crew 2 delivers that feeling more expansively than any other game in this genre. The vehicle variety is remarkable, and the event structure gives you reasons to keep exploring.

Best for: Exploration-focused players who love cruising a massive map without worrying about structured racing.

#3: Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown launched on September 12, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and it continues to grow into one of the most interesting open-world racers available right now. Set on a 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong Island, it leans into the lifestyle side of car culture, with free-roam driving, social hubs, car collecting, and a day-night cycle that gives the world a living quality. The Year 2 roadmap is ambitious: Season 5 in October 2025 brought a full graphics overhaul and returned casino features as a social hub, while later seasons through July 2026 plan to add Asian vehicles, community-voted missions, an official racing center, and a housing and real-estate system with customizable homes and garages. For players who liked Forza Horizon’s relaxed exploration and social atmosphere, Solar Crown is improving at a pace that makes it increasingly hard to overlook.

Best for: Players who prioritize atmosphere, car collecting, and an evolving online world over pure racing competition.

#2: The Crew Motorfest

The Crew Motorfest is the most direct competitor to Forza Horizon on this list and the one most often described as Ubisoft’s answer to the formula. It launched in September 2023 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and it is set on a scaled-down Hawaiian archipelago starting with Oʻahu and later expanding to include Maui. More than 20 themed “Playlists” cover street racing, off-road, drift, vintage, electric vehicles, and more, and the hundreds of cars on offer come with extensive customization. The festival structure, the tone, and the event variety are all unmistakably Horizon-inspired. Crucially, it is available on PlayStation, making it the top recommendation for PS5 and PS4 owners who want a games like Forza Horizon 5-style experience while waiting for Horizon 6’s eventual PS5 release. Car and Driver noted its list price of $69.99, slightly above Forza Horizon 5’s $59.99, but the content volume justifies the investment for most players.

Best for: PlayStation owners and anyone who wants the closest possible Forza Horizon festival experience available right now.

#1: Forza Horizon 5

The best game to play while waiting for Forza Horizon 6 is, plainly, Forza Horizon 5. Originally released on November 9, 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, it arrived on PlayStation 5 on April 29, 2025, marking the first time a mainline Forza title launched on a non-Microsoft console. The PS5 version sold an estimated two million units in its first month and surpassed three million copies sold by mid-2025, becoming the top-selling new PS5 game of that year. The Mexico open world is enormous and visually varied, the festival structure is essentially the blueprint that Forza Horizon 6 is building on, and the car roster and customization depth remain class-leading. If you have not played it yet, especially on PS5, this is the essential starting point. You can also check out our analysis of Forza Horizon 6’s Steam launch numbers to understand where the franchise is heading next.

Best for: Anyone who has not yet experienced the Forza Horizon formula and wants the definitive version before Horizon 6 launches.

Key takeaway: Forza Horizon 5 is the obvious first choice, but The Crew Motorfest is the strongest alternative for players on PlayStation or those who have already exhausted everything Horizon 5 has to offer.

Games Like Forza Horizon 6 at a Glance

Use the table below to compare all eight picks at a glance. Each column highlights the factor most likely to influence your decision.

Pro tip: If you are a PS5 owner who has never touched the Horizon series, start with Forza Horizon 5 before considering any alternative on this list.

How We Chose the Best Games Like Forza Horizon 6

Every game on this list was evaluated against the same set of criteria used to define what makes Forza Horizon so compelling. Similarity to the formula was a starting point, not the only factor.

• Open-world exploration: Does the game give you a real sense of freedom to go where you want? Map size, density, and design all mattered here.
• Driving feel: Forza Horizon sits between sim and arcade, and we prioritized games that share that accessible but satisfying handling model over pure simulators or purely casual kart racers.
• Event variety: Horizon’s appeal comes partly from discipline diversity. Games offering street racing, off-road, drift, and other formats scored higher than single-discipline titles.
• Car culture and roster depth: A wide, recognizable vehicle roster with meaningful customization options reflects the car-collector spirit at the heart of the Horizon series.
• Progression quality: Does the game give you consistent reasons to keep playing? Festival structures, seasonal content, and reward loops all contributed to scores here.
• Multiplayer and community features: Online co-op, competitive events, and social hubs add long-term value, especially as Horizon 6 itself is expected to emphasize connected play.
• Platform availability: Given that Forza Horizon 6 launches first on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026, platform coverage mattered, particularly for PlayStation players looking for alternatives in the short term.
• Overall replayability: Games with strong post-launch support and seasonal updates scored higher than those with static content offerings.

Which Game Like Forza Horizon 6 Is Best for You?

Not everyone wants the same thing from an open-world racing game. The list below translates the rankings into direct, player-specific advice so you can make the right call without reading every entry.

• Best for beginners or first-time Horizon players: Forza Horizon 5. The PS5 release makes it more accessible than ever, and its sheer content depth means you will not run out of things to do before Horizon 6 arrives.
• Best for PlayStation owners who want something Horizon-style: The Crew Motorfest. Its Hawaiian open world, themed Playlists, and festival structure make it the closest equivalent on PS5 and PS4.
• Best for atmosphere and lifestyle car culture: Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. Its Hong Kong Island setting, social hubs, and expanding Year 2 content through July 2026 make it the most immersive choice for players who love just existing in a car world.
• Best for pure exploration and map scale: The Crew 2. Nothing else on this list gives you a map as large, and the addition of boats and planes makes it uniquely freeing.
• Best for street racing and customization: Need for Speed Heat. Palm City’s day-night structure and deep tuner customization deliver the urban car-culture side of Horizon better than any other alternative.
• Best for families or Nintendo Switch players: LEGO 2K Drive. It is the only open-world racer with a Horizon-like structure available on Nintendo platforms, and it works for all ages.
• Best for sim-curious players: GRID Legends. It adds motorsport structure and a story mode without going full simulation, making it a natural step up for players ready for something more demanding.

The Bottom Line on the Best Games Like Forza Horizon 6

If you are looking for the single best game to play while waiting for Forza Horizon 6, the answer is Forza Horizon 5. The PS5 release in April 2025 made it available to a broader audience than ever, and its Mexico open world and festival structure are essentially the template that Horizon 6 will build on. For players who have already exhausted Horizon 5, The Crew Motorfest is the most direct substitute, especially on PlayStation. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown deserves attention if you want something that is actively evolving, with a content roadmap running well into 2026. Finally, explore the broader details on what early Forza Horizon 6 Steam data suggests about the next entry, so you know exactly what you are waiting for.