I have spent a lot of 2026 watching clips of Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico, but I do not own an Xbox or a beefy gaming PC. That situation forced me to search for racing games that capture the same joy on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. I tested a wide range of titles over the past few weeks, and I am happy to report that there are still excellent options in 2026. Some feel almost identical to Playground Games’ open-world racer, while others lean harder into arcade chaos. My goal was simple: find games that keep the sense of speed, discovery, and friendly competition alive for players like me. Below, I have broken these games into categories because not everyone wants the same thing from a Forza alternative. Some players want open-world exploration, while others want quick races with friends.
The Crew Motorfest was my first stop. It remains the easiest recommendation for a Forza fan on PlayStation. The game builds on the success of The Crew 2 and drops players onto a scaled-down version of Oʻahu. That tropical setting gives the whole experience a personality I really appreciated. I spent hours simply driving along the coast and joining events when I felt like it. The handling is approachable, the car list is deep, and the festival atmosphere feels familiar.
Lego 2K Drive was the surprise of my testing. It is an inoffensive and creative arcade racer that uses the Lego brand better than most licensed games. The tracks are genuinely impressive. I found myself looking for shortcuts and hidden paths constantly. Rubber-banding sometimes made races feel artificially close, but that was a small trade-off for such a playful package.
Need for Speed Unbound impressed me with its visual style. The game mixes realistic cars with graffiti-like effects, and that makes every race feel fresh. I will admit the progression can be a bit grindy. However, once the gameplay clicks, the grind becomes easier to forgive. It is a bold entry in a franchise that needed a jolt of originality.
On Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the obvious party racer. It is much more cartoonish than Forza Horizon 5, and the powerups can flip a race in seconds. Still, the core speed and competitive energy are exactly what I wanted. The Booster Course Pass has kept the game alive with extra tracks, so it still feels relevant in 2026.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a different kind of kart racer. It demands more precision than Mario Kart while still being accessible. I liked that it sits between arcade fun and serious racing. It does not always know what it wants to be, but that tension made it memorable for me.
Older gems deserve attention too. FlatOut is harder to find now, but its crash physics and flying drivers are still hilarious. If you cannot locate a copy, Wreckfest from the same developer is a great modern replacement. Split/Second is another older title that I wish had received a sequel. Its track-changing events feel cinematic because the player triggers them. Blur mixed realistic cars with powerups, and that combination remains unique.
Hot Wheels Unleashed was a hidden gem I had ignored for too long. The scale is the star. Cars feel tiny, tracks feel enormous, and the racing is surprisingly challenging on higher difficulties.
Finally, Burnout Paradise Remastered remains my favorite open-world cruising alternative. Paradise City is not as large as Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico, but the driving physics feel smooth enough that I spent hours doing nothing but exploring. The remaster is easy to find on modern PlayStation hardware. It may not be the newest game on this list, but it still delivers that relaxing open-world loop I wanted.
Not every title on this list is a perfect replacement. But in 2026, PlayStation and Switch players do not need to feel left out of the racing fun.