Forza Horizon 5 is the best all-around starting point for most players who want an arcade racer on PC or console: its open-world Mexico setting combines varied driving with social challenges and player-created events. Choose The Crew Motorfest for a Hawaiian festival racer spanning street, off-road, and circuit driving, or Need for Speed Unbound for a more focused street-racing campaign with police pursuits.
What are the best arcade racing games to play on PC and console?
“Best” depends on the kind of racing you want. These three games cover distinct approaches: an expansive festival-style open world, a second open-world festival built around varied terrain, and a street-racing campaign. The recommendations below are based on official game and platform information, not comparative hands-on testing.
| Game | Best fit | Platforms listed by official sources | Standout features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 | Players seeking a broad open world and a range of activities | Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 | Mexico setting, changing seasons, Horizon Arcade social challenges, EventLab custom events, and listed accessibility options |
| The Crew Motorfest | Players who want a festival atmosphere and several kinds of terrain | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | Hawaiian open world, with street racing, off-road routes, and circuit driving |
| Need for Speed Unbound | Players who prefer street racing and a campaign structure | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Lakeshore setting, weekly qualifiers, custom rides, and police evasion |
Platform and edition availability can vary by region or change. Check the current store listing for the version you intend to buy.
Best all-around open-world racer: Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 is the broadest recommendation here if you want to roam freely rather than follow only a fixed sequence of races. Its Mexico setting and changing seasons provide the backdrop for a mix of driving activities.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- INTUITIVE TILT CONTROL - Pilot your console with motion sensor control! Tilt your console to turn the steering wheel and virtually drive the vehicles in the games for even more thrills.
- 30 CLASSIC GAMES INCLUDED - Choose from a selection of 30 extraordinary games, ranging from thrilling races to thought-provoking action challenges.
- PRACTICAL ERGONOMICS - With its integrated handles, easily accessible buttons and 2.8’’ color screen, your games come to life in your hands!
- CUSTOMIZABLE SETTINGS - Adjust the sound volume and screen brightness to suit your environment.
- BATTERY POWERED - Take your console with you wherever you go, with no need for cables. Simply insert 2 AA batteries and you're ready for hours of gaming!
Why it suits different play styles
- For social play: Horizon Arcade offers social challenges.
- For making your own events: EventLab lets players create races and challenges.
- For accessibility options: the official PlayStation product information lists sign language, game speed, subtitles, color-blindness features, and screen narration. Check the specific platform edition for which options it includes.
The official PlayStation listing also describes cross-platform play. If solo progression is your priority, review the current game and edition details to confirm that its available content fits what you want.
Best festival-style alternative: The Crew Motorfest
The Crew Motorfest is another open-world festival racer, set in Hawaii. Its activities cover different kinds of driving rather than focusing on only one setting: you can race on city streets in Honolulu, take off-road routes around a volcano, and drive circuit events.
Rank #2
- Immersive Gaming Experience: Perfect for Xbox and PC gaming titles, the Driving Force simulates the feeling of driving a real car with precision steering and pressure-sensitive pedals
- Premium Control: The Driving Force feedback racing wheel provides a detailed simulation of driving a real car, with helical gearing delivering smooth, quiet steering and a hand-stitched leather cover
- Customizable Pedals: These pressure-sensitive nonlinear brake pedals provide a responsive, accurate braking feel on a sturdy base - with adjustable pedal faces for finer control
- 900-Degree Rotation: Lock-to-lock rotation of the Driving Force means you can turn the wheel around two and a half times, hand over hand on wide turns - just like a real F1 race car
- Up Your Game: Take your racing simulation to the next level with Driving Force accessories like the Driving Force Shifter or desk and rig mounts
Ubisoft lists PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S versions and reports an ongoing live-game roadmap. That makes it worth considering if you want a festival format with varied terrain and a game receiving continued updates.
Best street-racing campaign: Need for Speed Unbound
Need for Speed Unbound is the most explicitly street-focused choice among these three. Set in Lakeshore, it centers on a campaign with weekly qualifiers and a larger racing challenge, alongside car customization and police pursuits.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #3
- 🕹️ Officially licensed titles: Includes POLE POSITION and POLE POSITION II. A classic 1982 arcade racing game by Namco
- High resolution 3.5" full color display. Features artwork inspired by the original POLE POSITION arcade cabinet. Dimensions: 4" L x 4.25" W x 7.5" H
- 🎮Realistic racing controls, High score saving,
- Built-in speaker with volume control. 3.5 mm headphone port. Adjustable screen brightness.
- Powered by either 4 AA batteries (not included) or a USB-C cable (not included).
Its PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S platform list is narrower than the other two games’ listed console coverage. Check your platform’s store before buying, especially if you play on an older console generation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the right arcade racer
- Choose the structure first. Forza Horizon 5 and The Crew Motorfest emphasize open-world festival activities; Need for Speed Unbound centers on a street-racing campaign. If you mainly want focused track racing, these descriptions do not establish a track-only recommendation.
- Match the setting and race types to your taste. Consider Mexico’s open-world festival, Hawaii’s mix of street, off-road, and circuit activities, or Lakeshore’s street racing and police pursuits.
- Decide whether you want social or player-created content. Forza Horizon 5 specifically lists Horizon Arcade and EventLab. Check current game details if you are choosing primarily for solo content.
- Confirm platform and edition. Compare the official platform lists above with your device, then verify the exact regional store listing and edition. Availability can change.
- Check accessibility information for your edition. Forza Horizon 5’s PlayStation listing details several options, but the options available may depend on platform edition.
- Verify price and access at the time you buy. Prices, subscriptions, and editions are volatile; consult your platform’s current store rather than relying on an old listing or roundup.
Recent GamesRadar+ and TechRadar guides offer additional editorial selections across racing styles. Their rankings are publisher judgments, not an objective or universal consensus.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ULTIMATE PRECISION WITH HALL EFFECT - Say goodbye to steering drift and lag. Our gaming steering wheel features advanced Hall Effect magnetic sensors for non-contact, high-precision linear control. Combined with responsive linear pedals, it delivers a professional sim racing experience that outlasts traditional mechanical potentiometers.
- 11-inch / 28CM LARGE GRIP & AMBIENT LIGHTING - Designed for comfort during endurance races, the 11-inch (28cm) oversized wheel is larger than standard 26cm models, featuring a wavy integrated rubberized grip to minimize hand fatigue. The built-in ambient lighting enhances your gaming setup's atmosphere, while the integrated storage keeps your desk organized.
- 270°/450°/900° ADJUSTABLE ROTATION - Master every track with one-touch switching between three rotation angles. Use 270° for arcade-style racing, 450° for professional driving lessons, and 900° for realistic truck simulators like Euro Truck Simulator 2. The automatic alignment function ensures you stay centered after every sharp turn.
- HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE & ERGONOMIC DESIGN - Unlike fixed-height competitors, our wheel supports height adjustment to perfectly match your desk and chair setup. Equipped with a sequential gear shifter and paddle shifters, it provides realistic manual control for Forza Horizon, Assetto Corsa, and more.
- DUAL MODES & PLUG AND PLAY - Seamlessly switch between D-input (Red Light) and X-input (Blue Light) modes on PC to ensure 100% compatibility with both classic and modern titles. This versatile racing setup is fully compatible with PC and PS3 platforms, making it the perfect gift for sim racing enthusiasts.
Rank #4
- Officially licensed Atari titles. Titles include Asteroids, Centipede, Millipede, Breakout, Missile Command, Crystal Castles and many more. Game save options.
- Packed with over 200 built-in Atari games + bonus titles. Pac-Man & Galaga not included. Full Game list listed below.
- Includes Atari console, games instructions, 2 wireless joysticks, USB power cable, HDMI cable, and user manual. System connects directly to TV.
- Includes two 2.4 GHz wireless joysticks, inspired by the original Atari joysticks, include paddles for paddle games like Breakout, Warlords and many more.
- User Guide Languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Japanese and Arabic. Dynamic RGB LED lights.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
