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Forza Horizon 5 is the better choice for most players who want precise, realistic-feeling car handling, unrestricted exploration, user-created events and broad online variety. Choose The Crew Motorfest instead if you prefer a Hawaii setting, guided themed Playlists, a live seasonal structure and vehicles beyond cars, including bikes, boats and planes. Neither is an objective winner: they prioritize different kinds of open-world driving.
Forza Horizon 5 vs The Crew Motorfest at a glance
Both games turn a large open world into a festival-style driving playground, but their design priorities differ. Forza Horizon 5 (FH5) is car-focused and gives you considerable freedom to choose where to drive, what to race and which community-made events to try. The Crew Motorfest builds more of its progression around curated themes and a broader collection of vehicle types.
| Category | Forza Horizon 5 | The Crew Motorfest |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Players who value precise handling, freeform exploration, player-created events and many online activities | Players who want Hawaii scenery, themed campaigns, seasonal additions and cars, bikes, boats and planes |
| Setting | An open world inspired by Mexico | A festival on O‘ahu in the Hawaiian archipelago, with Maui added as a free Season 5 expansion |
| Driving assessment | A Red Bull review, as relayed by iTechGuides, judged its behavior more realistic and its handling more precise | Its appeal is less about that specific handling verdict and more about variety, presentation and activity structure |
| Progression emphasis | Open exploration, races, Horizon activities and player-created content | Themed Playlists, festival activities and a live seasonal roadmap |
| Vehicle emphasis | Cars, with expansions and festival play | Cars plus bikes, planes and boats |
| Cross-play | Forza announced cross-play for all players on Xbox consoles, PC and PS5 | Available on current PlayStation, Xbox and PC ecosystems; confirm the exact cross-play and peripheral rules for your platform |
| Subscription access | Listed with Xbox Game Pass | Listed with Ubisoft+ |
| Published map-area comparison | No authoritative, directly comparable area figure is established, so a larger-map claim would be unreliable | |
What kind of game is each one?
Forza Horizon 5: a flexible car festival
FH5 places you in a Mexico-based open world and lets you move between structured races and spontaneous exploration. Its official feature set includes Horizon Arcade, Horizon Tour, Horizon Open, Hide & Seek, Horizon Realms and player-created Gift Drops and EventLab-style content. That combination matters because the game does not require you to follow one fixed route through the world. You can race, join a multiplayer activity, browse community creations or simply use the map as a driving space.
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The result is a game that suits players who want to make their own itinerary. A person who enjoys tuning a car and repeating a favorite race may approach FH5 differently from someone who spends most of the time searching for unusual community events. Both approaches are supported by the same open structure.
#1 Best Overall
![Forza Horizon 5 – Premium Edition – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SeBIPzMvL._SL160_.jpg)
- REDEMPTION INSTRUCTIONS: Go to "Your Orders" and click "View Order" to receive install code. Xbox: Microsoft Store App --> Redeem --> Input code. Window: Xbox App --> Store --> Redeem --> Input code.
- The Premium Edition includes the Welcome Pack, Car Pass, VIP Membership, Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels expansion, and Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure expansion.
- NEW RALLY ADVENTURE EXPANSION - Drive purpose-built rally monsters and conquer the rugged Sierra Nueva. Feel the intensity of massive dust trails and deformable roads in 10 new cars. Play on March 29th, 2023.
- Explore a world of striking contrast and beauty. Discover living deserts, lush jungles, historic cities, hidden ruins, pristine beaches, vast canyons, and a towering snow-capped volcano.
- Take on awe-inspiring weather events such as towering dust storms and intense tropical storms as Mexico’s unique, dynamic seasons change the world every week. Keep coming back for new events, rewards, and new areas to explore.
The Crew Motorfest: a themed festival with a wider garage
Motorfest is built around a car-culture festival on O‘ahu, one of the main islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, according to Ubisoft’s official description. Its progression is organized heavily around themed Playlists rather than a single undifferentiated stream of races. That gives the game a more curated rhythm: select a theme, work through its activities and then move to another style of vehicle or motorsport.
The world expanded when Ubisoft added Maui in Season 5. Ubisoft describes that addition as one of Motorfest’s largest map expansions and says it is free for all players; the announcement does not provide a single area measurement. Seasonal additions are therefore part of the game’s value proposition, but the exact amount of new content depends on which season and edition are current when you buy.
Which game has better handling?
On the available evidence, FH5 has the stronger case if your priority is realistic-feeling, precise car control. A Red Bull review cited by iTechGuides assessed Forza Horizon 5’s driving behavior as more realistic and its handling as more precise. That is an experienced reviewer’s judgment, not a controlled laboratory comparison or a universal measurement of physics.
In practical terms, choose FH5 when you want steering response and vehicle behavior to be the deciding factor in a purchase. You can still enjoy Motorfest’s driving, but its documented differentiators are the setting, Playlists, seasonal model and mixed vehicle roster rather than a published claim of superior handling.
Rank #2
- Lead breathtaking expeditions across the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.
- Explore a world of striking contrast and beauty. Discover living deserts, lush jungles, historic cities, hidden ruins, pristine beaches, vast canyons, and a towering snow-capped volcano.
- Immerse yourself in a deep campaign with hundreds of challenges that reward you for engaging in the activities you love. Meet new characters and choose the outcomes of their Horizon Story missions.
- Take on awe-inspiring weather events such as towering dust storms and intense tropical storms as Mexico’s unique, dynamic seasons change the world every week. Keep coming back for new events, challenges, collectibles, and rewards, and new areas to explore. No two seasons will ever be the same.
- Choose FH5 for: a car-first experience in which handling precision is central to the appeal.
- Choose Motorfest for: a festival format where the activity theme and ability to switch vehicle types are as important as the road feel.
- Do not treat the review verdict as a benchmark: no controlled, directly comparable handling test is established here.
Which map is bigger or more fun?
Forza’s Mexico setting
FH5’s Mexico world is designed for freeform movement between its activities. The official feature list emphasizes multiple ways to use the map, from Horizon Arcade and Horizon Tour to Horizon Open, Hide & Seek, Horizon Realms and community-made events. If “fun” means discovering your own route or jumping between unrelated activities, that flexibility is a major advantage.
Motorfest’s O‘ahu and Maui setting
Motorfest trades some of that open-ended feeling for a strong island-festival identity. O‘ahu supplies the primary setting, and Maui’s free Season 5 addition gives returning players another island to explore. The scenery and island theme are the main reasons to favor Motorfest’s world when atmosphere matters more to you than a car-only sandbox.
Why there is no honest size winner
No authoritative source in the available material publishes directly comparable map-area figures for the two games. That means neither “FH5 is larger” nor “Motorfest is larger” can be presented as a verified conclusion. Map enjoyment is also affected by road layout, activity density and how much of the world you actually use. Buy based on the setting and activity design you prefer, not an unsupported square-mile comparison.
Which game offers more single-player content?
FH5’s breadth of activities
FH5’s single-player-friendly content is spread across its festival activities, open-world events, Horizon Realms and player-created Gift Drops or EventLab-style creations. This breadth is useful if you want to alternate between official challenges and an effectively changing supply of community content. The game’s structure does not force every player through the same sequence.
Rank #3
- PREMIUM UPGRADE — Includes VIP Membership, Welcome Pack, Time Attack Car Pack, Car Pass, Italian Passion Car Pack, and two Premium Expansions. Requires Forza Horizon 6 base game or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
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Motorfest’s Playlist-driven progression
Motorfest organizes much of its progression around themed Playlists. That is a better fit for players who prefer a clear premise for a session—for example, selecting a theme and completing its connected activities—rather than browsing a large menu of unrelated events. Its seasonal roadmap also gives the game an ongoing cadence after launch.
What cannot be quantified
No authoritative, directly comparable campaign-length or total-activity figure is established for either title in the available material. It would therefore be misleading to declare one game the winner by hours of single-player content. FH5 is the stronger choice for variety and player-created replayability; Motorfest is the stronger choice for curated themes and seasonal progression.
How their vehicle lineups differ
Motorfest’s official store description explicitly includes cars, bikes, planes and boats. That is a meaningful design difference, not just a larger car list: the game is built to let you move among different vehicle categories as part of its festival concept.
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FH5’s official listing emphasizes cars, expansions and cross-platform festival play. If your definition of a driving game centers on road cars and car handling, that emphasis aligns with the recommendation for FH5. If you want the garage itself to include air and water vehicles as well as motorcycles, Motorfest is the more suitable option.
Rank #4
- Tauchen Sie in eine immersive Kampagne mit Hunderten von Herausforderungen ein, die Sie dafür belohnen, dass Sie das tun, was Sie lieben
- Treffen Sie neue Charaktere und bestimmen Sie den Ausgang ihrer Horizon-Story-Missionen
- Bezwingen Sie unglaubliche Wetterereignisse wie die gigantischen Sand- oder intensiven Tropenstürmen, während Mexikos einzigartige und dynamische Jahreszeiten die Welt jede Woche verändern
- Schauen Sie regelmäßig für neue Events, Herausforderungen, Sammlerstücke, Belohnungen und neue Gebiete zum Erkunden vorbei. Keine Jahreszeit wird der nächsten gleichen
- Schließen Sie sich mit anderen Spielern zusammen und stellen Sie sich gemeinsam Horizon Arcade für eine fortlaufende Serie unterhaltsamer und abgefahrener Herausforderungen, die euch Action ohne Menüs, Ladebildschirme oder Lobbys bietet. Treffen Sie in Horizon Open und Tours neue Freunde & teilen sie Ihre Kreationen
| Your priority | Better fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Car-focused driving | Forza Horizon 5 | The official presentation centers the game on cars and festival driving. |
| Cars, motorcycles, boats and aircraft in one game | The Crew Motorfest | Ubisoft explicitly lists all four vehicle categories. |
| Trying community-created events with your car collection | Forza Horizon 5 | Its feature set includes player-created Gift Drops and EventLab-style content. |
Can you play with friends across platforms?
Forza Horizon 5
Forza announced on March 10, 2025 that cross-play would be available for all Forza Horizon 5 players across Xbox consoles, PC and PS5. That announcement is the clearest cross-platform statement in the supplied material. Your ability to join a particular activity can still depend on platform services, account setup and the activity’s own requirements.
The Crew Motorfest
Motorfest is available across current PlayStation, Xbox and PC ecosystems. The supplied evidence does not establish one universal rule covering every cross-play mode, input device or platform combination. Before buying for a group, check Ubisoft’s current platform support information for the exact consoles or PC storefronts involved, and verify whether the activity you want supports your chosen combination.
Practical checklist for a mixed-platform group
- Write down each friend’s exact platform: PS5, Xbox console or PC.
- Check the game’s current cross-play support for that combination, rather than assuming that availability on several platforms means every mode is cross-platform.
- Confirm that everyone can use the required online service and has the appropriate account links.
- Check peripheral restrictions if one player uses a wheel, specialized controller or another input device.
- Confirm regional availability and the edition or subscription access each player plans to use.
Which platforms and subscriptions make sense?
| Platform or access question | Forza Horizon 5 | The Crew Motorfest |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Forza announced PS5 cross-play support on March 10, 2025. | Available in the current PlayStation ecosystem; check the edition and current online requirements. |
| Xbox | Available on Xbox, with the official Xbox page showing an early-access date of November 5, 2021; listed with Xbox Game Pass. | Available on current Xbox platforms; verify the edition and subscription terms. |
| PC | Included in the announced Xbox-console, PC and PS5 cross-play group. | Available on PC; confirm the storefront, controller support and cross-play rules relevant to your friends. |
| Subscription route | Xbox Game Pass listing can reduce the need for a separate purchase, subject to the current plan and regional terms. | Ubisoft+ listing can provide access, subject to the current plan, region and edition contents. |
Subscription catalogs and conditions can change. Treat the listings as access options, not permanent guarantees, and check the current service page on the day you subscribe or purchase.
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Forza Horizon 5
FH5 is sold as a standalone game and is listed with Xbox Game Pass. The material provided here does not establish a single current price, a universal bundle, or identical expansion contents in every region. Compare the edition shown in your storefront with the Game Pass terms before paying for an expansion or a second copy.
Best Value
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The Crew Motorfest
Motorfest is sold in Standard, Deluxe, Headliners and Grand Garage families, and it is listed with Ubisoft+. Contents and prices vary by region. The edition names alone do not tell you which vehicles, passes or cosmetic items are included, so open the current store description for your platform and compare the included items line by line.
| Buying situation | What to check |
|---|---|
| You already subscribe to Xbox Game Pass | Confirm that FH5 is still included in your specific plan and region, and check whether desired expansions require a separate purchase. |
| You already subscribe to Ubisoft+ | Confirm that Motorfest is included in your plan and determine which edition’s content the subscription supplies. |
| You want a physical copy | Verify the disc’s platform, region, included bonuses and whether an online account or download is required. |
| You are buying a higher Motorfest edition | Compare the Standard, Deluxe, Headliners and Grand Garage contents; do not assume a higher label automatically adds the feature you want. |
Which game should you buy?
Buy Forza Horizon 5 if you want…
- More realistic-feeling and precise handling, based on the attributed Red Bull review assessment.
- A Mexico open world that supports unscripted roaming and many different activity types.
- Player-created events and Gift Drops or EventLab-style content.
- A broad set of official online activities, including Horizon Arcade, Horizon Tour, Horizon Open, Hide & Seek and Horizon Realms.
- Cross-play that Forza has explicitly announced across Xbox consoles, PC and PS5.
- An Xbox Game Pass access route, if the current plan in your region includes the game.
Buy The Crew Motorfest if you want…
- Hawaii scenery and a festival identity centered on O‘ahu.
- Maui as a free Season 5 expansion, with the caveat that no single area figure is published.
- Themed Playlists that give your sessions a more curated progression.
- Cars, bikes, boats and planes rather than a primarily car-focused roster.
- A live seasonal roadmap and Ubisoft+ access, subject to current regional terms.
Choose based on your group
If your friends are split between PS5, Xbox and PC, FH5 has the more explicit cross-play announcement. If everyone is on a supported platform and your group wants to switch between cars, bikes, boats and planes, Motorfest’s vehicle variety may matter more. In either case, confirm the exact platform combination and online requirements before purchasing for a group.
Common pitfalls before purchase
- Assuming map size has a verified winner: no directly comparable published area figure is established.
- Treating a review opinion as a benchmark: the handling advantage attributed to FH5 is an expert assessment, not a controlled test.
- Assuming every Motorfest edition has the same content: Standard, Deluxe, Headliners and Grand Garage packages differ, and regional pricing or contents can change.
- Assuming platform availability guarantees cross-play: verify the exact platform pair, mode and peripheral conditions.
- Assuming a subscription is permanent ownership: Game Pass and Ubisoft+ access depends on the current catalog and subscription terms.
- Using campaign length as the only measure of value: neither game has an authoritative, directly comparable campaign-hour figure in the available information.
Final decision
Pick Forza Horizon 5 when driving feel, free exploration, community-created events and clearly announced Xbox-PC-PS5 cross-play are your priorities. Pick The Crew Motorfest when O‘ahu and Maui, themed Playlists, seasonal additions and a garage spanning cars, bikes, boats and planes sound more appealing. Check the current platform, edition, price, online requirement and subscription availability on the day you buy, because those details vary by region and can change.
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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.
