iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Crew Motorfest is the closest all-round alternative to Forza Horizon 6. It matches the festival atmosphere, mixes road and off-road driving, offers themed progression, and supports a very large vehicle collection across more platforms. Choose Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown instead if your priority is social cruising, luxury-car ownership, convoys, and a persistent 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong Island.
Forza Horizon 6 itself launched first on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19, 2026, with a PlayStation 5 release planned after launch. The alternatives below are therefore useful both for players on other platforms and for anyone who wants a different open-world driving experience.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Crew Motorfest | $27.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Gran Turismo 7 Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $41.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Wreckfest (PS5) | $24.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Wreckfest - PlayStation 5 | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
RIDE 5 - PS5 | $27.96 | Buy on Amazon |
What makes Forza Horizon 6 the game to beat?
Forza Horizon 6 sets its open-world driving around Japan. Its identity comes from Japanese car culture, mountain roads, competitive Touge Battles, Street Races, Car Meets, Convoys, and the wider Horizon multiplayer system. EventLab lets players create events, while Horizon CoLab adds cooperative building to the festival structure.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The game’s collection is one of its major attractions: the current Forza product information lists more than 550 real-world cars. Japanese car-culture stories, customizable garages, and a buildable Estate give the collection a personal context rather than treating vehicles as simple menu entries.
#1 Best Overall
- Welcome to Motorfest - the ultimate driving experience! Explore the versatile open game world in O'ahu Island in Hawaii and experience fast races, themed events and more!
- With hundreds of legendary vehicles for your collection you have plenty of opportunity to prove your skills and whizz through the streets of Honolulu
- The Motor Party is a constant favorite of automotive culture festivals, where you can test over 600 vehicles alone or with your crew and explore the new gaming world in Hawaii
- Discover the playlists and drive in theme-based promotions that take you to the most fascinating worlds of car culture, such as American muscle cars or Japanese street racing
- Compete in exciting competitions, develop your own style, participate in themed events, collect the most iconic cars, master all the challenges and expand your collection with the legendary vehicles
For wheel users, Playground Games documents updated steering animations supporting up to 540 degrees of wheel rotation. That specification describes the game’s steering animation support; actual wheel compatibility and tuning still depend on the hardware and platform being used.
Those features create several tests for an alternative:
- Does it provide a recognizable open world with more to do than point-to-point races?
- Does progression have a theme, campaign, or social structure rather than only a level number?
- Can it support collecting, customizing, and using many different types of cars?
- Does it offer convincing multiplayer activities for casual driving as well as competition?
- Is it available on the platform where you want to play?
Best overall alternative: The Crew Motorfest
The Crew Motorfest is the best alternatives to Forza Horizon 6 choice for most players. It follows the same broad idea of a car-culture festival in a scenic open world, but its Hawaiian setting, playlist campaigns, and island-to-island variety give it a distinct character.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
A festival structure that feels familiar
Motorfest is organized around themed Playlists. Each Playlist combines races, challenges, and car-culture campaigns instead of asking you to repeat one generic event type. That structure makes it easy to choose a theme for a session: a particular automotive era, driving style, vehicle category, or location can provide the evening’s progression.
This is the closest match for players who like Horizon’s mixture of guided activities and free exploration. You can follow a campaign when you want clear objectives, then leave the route and explore when you want to drive without a strict goal.
Hawaii supplies a different kind of open world
The setting covers four islands—Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Niʻihau—with environments that range from urban roads to volcanic slopes and off-road terrain. The result is less focused on one continuous regional identity than Forza Horizon 6’s Japan, but it gives Motorfest strong visual and surface variety.
Rank #2
- With the return of classic cars, iconic tracks, and fan-favourite modes like GT Simulation and Sport Mode - Gran Turismo 7 is the complete Real Driving Simulator, 25 years in the making.
- Find your line. Whether you're a racer, collector, tuner, designer, photographer or arcade fan - immerse yourself in the facets of automotive culture that matter most to you.
- Connect and compete. Join an international community of drivers to share race strategies, tuning tips, livery designs and photos, before taking to the track to go head-to-head.
Honolulu provides dense city driving, while the volcanic areas create a natural change of pace for dirt and cross-country events. Island-hopping also changes how an open-world trip feels: a long drive can become a scenic journey between distinct areas rather than merely another route across one landmass.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Collection size and ongoing content
Ubisoft’s current product information lists more than 800 vehicles from over 50 manufacturers. That is a larger stated catalog than Forza Horizon 6’s more than 550 cars, although catalog size alone does not establish which marques, models, classes, or customization options matter most to you.
Motorfest also receives ongoing vehicle drops and live activities. This suits players who want a game that continues to add reasons to return, but it means the experience is shaped by a live-service schedule rather than being a completely fixed package.
Platforms and access
Motorfest is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, and it is included through Ubisoft+. That makes it the most flexible alternative for households with mixed hardware or for anyone who has not moved to current-generation consoles.
Forza Horizon 6 launched first on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with PlayStation 5 following after launch. If you need an open-world racing game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Switch 2, Motorfest is the practical choice from the games like Forza Horizon 6 covered here.
Where Motorfest differs from Forza Horizon 6
- World identity: Hawaii’s four-island layout is not a substitute for Japan’s Japanese car-culture setting.
- Progression: Playlists are the organizing idea, whereas Forza Horizon 6 emphasizes Horizon status, meets, EventLab, and cooperative building.
- Content cadence: live activities and vehicle drops can be attractive, but they also make the game’s long-term shape dependent on continuing updates.
- Driving feel: Motorfest is described as driving-focused arcade racing, but no universal wheel specification is established. Check hardware support for your exact platform and wheel before buying.
Best specialist alternative: Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is the specialist pick for players who want open-world racing to feel like a persistent social driving lifestyle. It is less about reproducing a festival’s broad activity menu and more about owning desirable cars, meeting other drivers, cruising between destinations, and building reputation.
Rank #3
- Awesome cars - old, banged-up, patched-together cars that simply ooze style! From old American heavy-hitters to agile Europeans and fun Asians, you won't find anything like this in other gamesMeaningful customization - change not only the look of your cars but also upgrade their body armor!
- Multiplayer - wreck your friends online and take racing to the limit while chasing for Demolition dominance!
- Challenge modes - have hilarious fun with crop harvesters, lawns mowers, school buses, three-wheelers and more!
- 1 player game Network Players 2-16 - Full game requires PlayStation Plus membership to access online multiplayer
A 1:1 Hong Kong Island setting
Nacon describes Solar Crown as a massively multiplayer online racing game set on a 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong Island. That scale and location are its defining contrast with Forza Horizon 6’s Japan and Motorfest’s multi-island Hawaii.
A 1:1 recreation does not mean every real-world detail is represented identically in every activity or route. It does mean the game’s central promise is a persistent geographic space modeled on the full island rather than a small fictional circuit or a compressed festival map.
Luxury ownership and social progression
The official Solar Crown presentation centers on luxury cars, a Solar Hotel headquarters, reputation, meetings, transport missions, and convoys. These systems frame vehicles as possessions within a social world. The question is not only which car is fastest, but where you go, who you meet, and what your reputation unlocks.
Activities extend beyond conventional races. The game presents casinos, nightclubs, rooftop social spaces, and other venues alongside driving missions. That makes it a better fit for players who enjoy stopping, gathering, and cruising than for players who want every minute optimized around event rewards.
Release and platform context
Solar Crown released on September 12, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam, according to Nacon’s Gamescom 2024 announcement. There is no PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Switch 2 version established in the supplied product information.
Where Solar Crown differs from Forza Horizon 6
- Social emphasis: convoys, meetings, and venues are central rather than secondary features.
- Vehicle identity: the focus is luxury-car collecting, not a broad Japan-themed festival catalog.
- World design: Hong Kong Island provides one persistent, recognizable location instead of Japan’s regional variety or Motorfest’s four-island structure.
- Online dependency: its massively multiplayer design makes network access and the health of the online service important parts of the experience.
Forza Horizon 6 versus its two main alternatives
| Decision axis | Forza Horizon 6 | The Crew Motorfest | Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown |
|---|---|---|---|
| World identity | Japan, Japanese car culture, mountain driving, and Touge Battles | Hawaii, with four islands and mixed urban, volcanic, and off-road environments | 1:1 recreation of Hong Kong Island with a luxury lifestyle focus |
| Progression | Horizon status, races, meets, EventLab, multiplayer, and Horizon CoLab | Themed Playlists, races, challenges, campaigns, and live activities | Solar Crown competition, reputation, missions, meetings, and convoys |
| Collection emphasis | More than 550 real-world cars, customizable garages, and a buildable Estate | More than 800 vehicles from over 50 manufacturers, with continuing vehicle drops | Luxury-focused named brands and collectible cars |
| Social play | Convoys, Car Meets, Horizon multiplayer, and cooperative building | Crew activities, playlists, and live events | MMO-style world, convoys, meetings, casinos, nightclubs, and social spaces |
| Platform reach | Xbox Series X|S and PC first; PlayStation 5 later | PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series X|S/One, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and Ubisoft+ | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam |
| Control information | Officially documented steering animations up to 540 degrees | Arcade-oriented driving; verify wheel support by platform | Driving and cruising focused; verify wheel support by platform |
Which game should you choose?
Choose Motorfest for the closest overall substitute
Pick Motorfest if your ideal session is a festival-style open-world racing game with a clear stream of themed events, varied scenery, and many vehicles. It is the safest recommendation when you want the broad shape of Forza Horizon 6 without requiring the same setting.
Rank #4
- Awesome cars - old, banged-up, patched-together cars that simply ooze style! From old American heavy-hitters to agile europeans and fun asians, you won't find anything like this in other games.
- Meaningful customization - change not only the look of your cars but also upgrade their body armor!
- Multiplayer - wreck your friends online and take racing to the limit while chasing for Demolition dominance!
- Challenge modes - have hilarious fun with crop harvesters, lawns mowers, school buses, three-wheelers and more!
Choose Solar Crown for cruising and social ownership
Pick Solar Crown if you would rather drive across a persistent city-and-island environment, meet other players, attend social venues, and build a luxury collection. Its appeal is strongest when the journey and the surrounding lifestyle matter as much as the race result.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Stay with Forza Horizon 6 for Japanese car culture and creation tools
Forza Horizon 6 remains the unmatched choice among these three if Japan, Touge Battles, Japanese car-culture stories, EventLab creation, Car Meets, or the buildable Estate is the specific reason you are interested in the genre.
Choose by platform first
- PlayStation 4: Motorfest is the applicable option from this comparison.
- Xbox One: Motorfest is the applicable option from this comparison.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Motorfest is the applicable option from this comparison.
- PlayStation 5: Motorfest and Solar Crown are available; Forza Horizon 6 launched elsewhere first and received a later PS5 release after launch.
- Xbox Series X|S or PC: all three games fit the platform discussion, subject to the specific PC requirements and storefront edition you select.
What should you play while waiting for Forza Horizon 6?
That question now depends on your platform and what you want to practice. Players on Xbox Series X|S or PC no longer need a substitute for access reasons because Forza Horizon 6 launched on May 19, 2026. Players waiting for the post-launch PlayStation 5 version can use Motorfest for the closest festival-style structure or Solar Crown for a more social, luxury-focused alternative.
If you are deciding whether to buy an alternative even after playing Forza Horizon 6, use the difference in setting and progression as the deciding factor. Motorfest expands the festival formula across Hawaiian islands and live Playlists. Solar Crown changes the formula into a persistent social world built around cruising and reputation.
Controller, wheel, and setup considerations
Controller players
Both alternatives are designed around accessible driving controls, but no current official specification establishes identical handling models, assist menus, or controller layouts. Before committing to a competitive setup, check the current in-game control options and any platform-specific input limitations.
Wheel players
Forza Horizon 6 is the only game in this comparison with a documented steering-animation figure: up to 540 degrees of wheel rotation. That number should not be treated as a guarantee that every wheel, pedal set, or console adapter will work. Compatibility, force feedback, calibration, and button mapping remain hardware- and platform-dependent.
Best Value
- 8057168506976
- 10RID052
For Motorfest and Solar Crown, verify support for your exact wheel model and platform. A game can support wheel input while still offering a different level of force-feedback detail, calibration control, or competitive balance than you expect.
Online, live-service, and ownership trade-offs
Always-online and multiplayer expectations
Solar Crown’s massively multiplayer design makes online access central to its identity. Convoys, meetings, and social venues are most meaningful when the shared world is populated, so prospective players should consider their connection quality and tolerance for service-dependent play.
Motorfest’s live activities and continuing vehicle drops provide reasons to return, but they also mean that some of its long-term appeal is tied to ongoing updates. Players who prefer a stable, self-contained set of events should evaluate how much live content they actually use.
Catalog size is not the same as variety
Motorfest lists the largest stated vehicle count, while Forza Horizon 6 emphasizes more than 550 real-world cars and Japanese car-culture stories. Solar Crown takes a narrower luxury-oriented approach. Compare the kinds of cars you want to drive, not only the headline number.
A practical buying checklist
- Confirm the platform: eliminate games that do not run on your console or PC storefront.
- Choose the world: Japan, Hawaiian islands, or Hong Kong Island.
- Choose the activity loop: creator tools and meets, themed Playlists, or social cruising and reputation.
- Decide how much live content you want: Motorfest highlights ongoing activities; Solar Crown relies on a persistent online world.
- Check your input device: verify wheel and pedal support for your exact platform rather than relying on a general compatibility claim.
- Compare the collection style: broad real-world catalog, very large multi-manufacturer garage, or luxury-focused ownership.
Bottom line
For most people searching for open-world racing games like Forza, The Crew Motorfest is the right alternative: it preserves the festival structure, combines road and off-road environments, and offers the widest platform coverage. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is the better answer for a different kind of player—someone who values a persistent Hong Kong setting, luxury cars, convoys, and social life more than a broad festival playlist.
Quick Recap
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.
