Almost every Xbox fan is currently having the time of their life behind the wheel of a virtual automobile in the open-world Mexico setting of Forza Horizon 5. Unfortunately, the game is exclusive to Xbox and PC.
With all this talk, those without the Microsoft console or a powerful enough PC might want to jump into some arcade racing goodness. There are still plenty of options for those who are playing on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch. The games below go from having an identical format to Forza Horizon 5to being notably different while still retaining the arcade racing feel. This list will be particularly helpful to Sony fans who are looking for games like Forza Horizon 5 for PS4 or PS5
14 Flatout
Flatout is a little older than most other titles recommended in this article, so it might be a little harder to find. All the same, it is worth checking out for anyone interested in arcade racing games with great crashes.
The detailed crashes and the way the driver flies out of the seat upon getting into a wreck are part of Flatout’s allure. If players cannot find this game on an older console, the next best thing would be to play the newer Wreckfest, which is from the same developer.
13 Hot Wheels Unleashed
Some games are way better than they have any right to be. Who would expect any amount of love and care given to a Hot Wheels game? Hot Wheels Unleashed defied all expectations as it proved to be one of the surprise hidden gems of 2021.
The racing feels good, the track designs are inspired, and it is surprisingly challenging on harder difficulties. Another major victory of Hot Wheels Unleashed is its use of scale. Players genuinely feel the tiny size of the cars and tracks while racing.
12 Split/Second
Split/Second was unfortunately the last game from developer Black Rock Studios. It is a shame, too, because it is a fun and unique racing game.
Split/Second’s main hook is the ability to build up a meter to activate special events on the track. It makes certain races feel especially cinematic, and the moments are all the more exciting because players trigger them. A PSP version was also released and even includes an extra track.
11 Blur
This one is for those who like kart racers such as Crash Team Racing or Mario Kart. Blur looks like a regular racing game, but playing it reveals it has more in common with the two previously mentioned games than with Burnout.
Players collect power-ups and weapons during a race and use them against other players. The mix of realistic graphics with kart racing sensibilities makes it extremely unique.
10 Burnout Paradise
The last real Burnout game is also the franchise’s first foray into the open-world genre. Players are free to drive around Paradise City and take on challenges at every traffic light.
It never becomes challenging, but the driving just feels so good, players could spend an eternity just cruising around the open-world environment. The multiplayer was also pretty innovative for its time, letting players explore the city together. A remaster came out on PS4 and Xbox a couple of years ago, making it a great alternative to Forza Horizon 5 on PS4 or PS5.
9 Riders Republic
While people might dismiss this as just another Ubisoft open-world game, it does have more going for it. For one, there are a variety of sports mixed into one. Additionally, players can join races and compete against up to 63 other players.
The main complaint some have brought up against Riders Republic is the aesthetic, which many have derided as overwhelming and simply trying too hard. Players can always mute the audio if the commentators become too much.
8 Wreckfest
Wreckfest is not an open-world racer, but it will definitely scratch a similar itch as most of the other games on the list. Races can have a ton of competitors on the track and the vehicular destruction is a marvel to look at.
There is not an impressive sense of speed, but it makes up for it by the destruction and seeing how cars fall to pieces during the course of a race. Though Wreckfest is available on PS4, the next-generation upgrade makes it look better than ever on consoles.
7 Dirt 5
Dirt 5 ushered in the current generation as one of the premier racing games. It came out on last-generation consoles and plays well enough for those who have yet to buy a PS5.
Nolan North and Troy Baker play prominent roles in the story mode, which is appropriate since they played brothers in Uncharted 4. It is also not open-world, but that only means players can jump into races faster.
6 Motorstorm
Motorstorm was an impressive technical showpiece early in the PS3’s life. The level of destruction and amount of cars in a single race was almost unprecedented.
Additionally, the different types of vehicles competing against each other and the large racetracks with branching paths made for a unique racing experience. There are two more games also available for the PS3, though fans would love a comeback on the PS5.
5 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit
After the Burnout franchise, developer Criterion Games was moved onto the Need for Speed series. Hot Pursuit, which received a remaster in 2020, is more grounded than Burnout Paradise and even Burnout Revenge but does not go into the realm of simulation.
Being chased by the cops in cars and helicopters is thrilling, and the crashes look gorgeous, even though they are not as bombastic as in the Burnout games.
4 The Crew
The Crew did not receive as good reviews as Forza Horizon 5, but it uses a lot of similar ideas. Players drive through a large open world where other players are also present and can ride with them or simply exist together.
The sequel also adds boats and planes. Even if the world is not as realized as Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico, it simply feels good to drive in The Crew, which is the most important part of a racing game.
3 Driver: San Francisco
This is not necessarily a racing game, but it is an intensely fun driving game with a surprisingly good story.
The whole game takes place inside the protagonist’s dream while he is in a coma, and as a result, players simply jump from car to car through some strange astral projection. It solves a problem that has plagued the Driver series for so long; mediocre on-foot segments.
2 Cruis’n Blast
This game is way different from nearly anything else recommended as part of this article. Cruis’n Blast is a revival of a classic arcade franchise.
It manages to successfully bring back everything people loved about the old Cruis’n games; fast-paced yet simple controls, colorful graphics, and ridiculous race tracks requiring a heavy suspension of disbelief. The game was first released in arcades in 2017 before being ported to the Nintendo Switch.
1 Need For Speed: Most Wanted
Even though there is already a Need for Speed game on this list, Most Wanted deserves its own entry because it is an open-world game.
It feels like the next step in the evolution of the series after Hot Pursuit and the open-world elements will remind fans of Burnout Paradise. There are still intense police chases and awesome crashes. A Wii U version also came out and includes unique features utilizing the gamepad.
Forza Horizon 5 is out now for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC
