Playground Games largely led the way in pioneering a new subgenre with its ballsy open up-globe racer, Forza Horizon in 2012. Since then, they've managed to rev things upwards, decking out their already dynamic formula with their Xbox Ane sequels.

By the time they released the fourth rendition to this renowned series in 2018, the studio had truly excelled in polishing and fleshing out this successful cadre. Thanks to the vast, vibrant environments, tons of diverse content, and most-photorealistic visuals, gamers could experience this thrilling racer in its well-nigh enhanced, realistic course ever. Despite the seemingly countless fun content Forza 4 offers though, there's jump to be a yearning for some similar racers and driving games. Information technology'due south tough to match the rich, 1-of-a-kind gameplay that FH4 offers, to exist certain.

Still, whether it be that stellar blend of arcade and sim racing or the more dynamic sandbox structure, there are definitely some that approximate the thrilling feel in some manner.

Updated August 30th, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: Forza Horizon hype has revved into high gear once again with the announcement of the even more than gorgeous and expansive FH5 for Xbox serial 10/S, which volition explore the lush, diverse landscapes of Mexico. Still, the fourth game in this open-world racing franchise continues to flourish and impress with its exhilarating speed and wealth of appealing gameplay. For those who accept been won over by the sandbox racing formula and yearn for more FH-esque titles—we decided to tune up this slice and take information technology into overdrive with fifty-fifty more than games similar to Forza Horizon 4.

eighteen Clay four

Dirt 4 gameplay rally car plowing through obstacles and tires on dirt road

Those who fancy the exhilaration of FH4's speedy street and elevate races are near sure to get a kick out of this 2017 driving romp. The popular rally-themed racer from Codemasters manages to respect its appealing roots while going above and beyond with new features and more than depth than ever.

Amid the new inclusions in Dirt iv are a diverseness of awesome new cars, well-crafted rallycross circuits—and a new characteristic called "Your Phase." This addition amps up the already healthy replay value by producing procedurally generated rally stages based on histrion-selected conditions. This keeps the experience feels fresh as well as unpredictably fun.

17 SnowRunner

A snow plow crossing a rocky stream in Snowrunner

At least when it comes to the ample off-road bouts offered by FH4, this free-wheeling sim from Saber Interactive should satisfy that same itch with its comparable gameplay. Released in early on 2020, this game draws upon the sandbox foundations of that franchise while exploring some new terrain, granting an feel both familiar and unique.

Players are tasked with delivering cargo to unlike locations while traversing rough, off-route terrain. This is done in a variety of trucks that are mostly well-equipped for the bumpy ride. The game likewise offers a similarly organic feel with a dynamic arrangement of conditions, vehicle impairment, and deep customization as players progress through diverse missions.

sixteen Cyberpunk 2077

cyberpunk 2077 driving mod

Taking a turn into more unorthodox territory—this dystopian sci-fi ARPG may seem like a far cry from the more relaxed, realistic racer that is FH4. Still, even outside of its comparable deep gameplay and open-earth elements, there are moments where CD Projekt Red really does capture that Forza feel.

This comes in the class of the game's aplenty driving portions, which alloy frantic arcade gameplay with the nuance and costless-roaming found in sandbox romps. The developers take blurred the lines even further in early 2021, with a mod that improves the fairly shaky driving and car treatment mechanics, giving a more than refined open-world racing vibe. While it may lack that serene experience of Forza's natural landscapes, zipping through the bustling neon streets of Night City proves similarly thrilling.

15 Driver: San Francisco

Driver San Francisco

Featuring a comatose protagonist with the ability to possess most drivers in the game's titular urban center, Commuter: San Francisco uses its absurd central mechanic to arts and crafts one of the almost insane and freeing racers e'er conceived.

While the key plot is nothing to write home about, the "Shift" organisation is a godsend that turns the game'southward open up-earth into the ultimate sandbox. Driver: San Francisco could have benefitted from having more missions or side content, but this arcade racer can easily match Forza Horizon 4 when information technology comes to sheer madness.

14 Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Midnight Club Los Angeles

Rockstar might be generally known for its story-driven epics, but the studio used to take a racing franchise in its back pocket. Midnight Club was a staple of the console racing scene for shut to a decade, with Los Angeles being its final entry.

A challenging arcade racer with visuals that still look decent in 2021, Midnight Club: Los Angeles gets its handling spot on, with each of its forty+ vehicles feeling unique. Rockstar's expertise in crafting immersive open-worlds is on total display here, as the game's Los Angeles is a sight to behold and experience.

thirteen Grid

Grid gameplay speeding across street from behind car

With the F1 and Dirt games, Codemasters has cemented itself as perchance the definitive racing developer of the last few years. The Filigree serial is not quite as consistent as the studio's flagship properties, but all four of its entries should be able to discover a home with arcade racing fans. Grid (2019) is a decent identify to starting time, while Nintendo Switch owners tin can do much worse than Filigree Autosport. 2008's Race Commuter: Grid is also still fantastic.

The Grid games lack Forza Horizon iv's explorative map, as the series utilizes an events-based structure that is divide into different categories and disciplines. What Codemaster's franchise delivers is some of the well-nigh thrilling and frantic races of its genre, all framed through an accessible Career mode that covers a respectable range of vehicles.

12 Need for Speed Heat

need for speed heat, final update coming, crossplay, origin

EA's Demand for Speed spent the eighth console generation treading water, every bit newer entries struggled to live upwards to the property's reputation. Need for Speed Estrus is far from the serial' greatest achievement, but it represents a solid stride in the right direction.

Palm City, which is inspired past Miami, is the star of the evidence here. The world reflects the in-your-face nature synonymous with Need for Speed's most recent entries, and the game uses a day/night cycle to great outcome. The treatment is unsurprisingly very responsive, which is to be expected of EA'south license.

11 Test Drive Unlimited 2

Test Drive Unlimited 2 split image of the gameplay

Released in 2011, Test Drive Unlimited ii primarily takes place on the isle of Ibiza, a playground that proves to be a fantabulous setting for an open-world racer. While the game's servers have long since airtight down, Test Drive Unlimited 2 is not devoid of single-player content, making it a worthwhile buy more than a decade after its release.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is not quite every bit satisfying to play equally Forza Horizon four, mainly due to its handling existence a touch more frustrating to main. However, this aggressive projection tin can be rewarding for those willing to invest the fourth dimension.

10 Rising: Race The Future

Rise Race the Future sharp turn through dirt raceway

Much like open-world racing games, futuristic arcade racers aren't easy to come up by—simply this high-intensity romp has players covered.

Like the Horizon series—with perhaps a tinge of the classic F-Goose egg—this thrilling racer contains a healthy dose of adrenaline-pumping speed and anarchy. This title stresses arcade-style sensibilities rather than the tougher, more nuanced mechanics of a racing sim. While it isn't open-globe, the ability to floor information technology to absurd speeds and pull off feats like speeding through h2o is reminiscent of Horizon's crazy action-hero moments.

9 Just Crusade iv

Just Cause 4 Flying Vehicles with propellor in desert area

Avalanche Studios' Just Cause serial largely did to the activeness genre what Playground did for racers - adding depth and huge environments, granting the actor greater freedom. This delightful action romp uses a sophisticated system of physics, cheers to the studio's refined Apex engine, which sets the foundation for a deep feel.

Like Horizon, players tin can control a slew of diverse vehicles and wreak havoc on their environment. Unlike that racing-centric title, though, the latest installment of Simply Cause blends in tons of other activities and mechanics too. Players tin can cobble together various vehicles and gadgets, engage in shooting missions, or fly around in an amusing wingsuit. Merely spotter out for the weather conditions, which can turn from sunshine to an ominous storm quite apace!

8 Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 4 driving past pitstop on raceway

This marks some other more traditional racer; one that'due south more than like to Forza Horizon in its branding and themes than content.

Still, information technology would seem fitting for fans to take the original that birthed Horizon for a spin. Not only can players drive many familiar cars which have been recycled for the Horizon games, merely Forza Motorsport 4 also offers that same sense of speed and solid mechanics that are accessible and deep. It as well has traces of Horizon iv'due south semi-RPG organization of xp, and comes with solid online options. Plough 10 Studios has cranked out many iterations of this renowned racing sim, merely fans tend to gravitate towards this stellar quaternary entry. Despite being on the Xbox 360, it likewise still holds upward visually today.

7 Thousand Theft Machine V

GTAV explosions and car turning on street with chopper above

It'southward difficult to talk about open up-world games without mentioning a pioneer in this evolutionary style of software, Rockstar Games. GTA has long served as their iconic, defining franchise, and the fifth rendition of this massive series is at its visual and mechanical best here.

While players will get into quite a few shenanigans that expand across driving, they'll be spending a lot of fourth dimension flying downward the highways and crashing through crowded streets too. Though it'southward now several years old, GTAV's sleek, cinematic presentation notwithstanding shines, and the vast, detailed environments to play around in notwithstanding prove impressive today.

vi Burnout 3: Takedown

Burnout 3 driving towards intersection with on fire bar earning takedowns

The Exhaustion series tin somewhat exist described equally a more cluttered and destructive version of Horizon. While players will exist racking up streams of points for pulling off stunts, Burnout three encourages more merely flashy driving. Rather than evading cars and obstacles, the premise of this game really revolves around causing impairment (in addition to near misses) and triggering Michael Bay-style explosions.

The series as a whole has been renowned for its thrilling arcade-like gameplay and swift speeds. Yet, this third entry from '04 is typically looked at as peak Burnout, with its more accessible boost power, a slew of fun modes like Crash, and its satisfying new Takedown feature that rewards players for shunting foes.

5 Project Cars two

Project Cars turning on raceway cinematic

Like Horizon four, the refined, bombastic Project Cars felt like a revolutionary step in deep, immersive racers. When it comes to epic racers, this late 2017 release is one of the few that can really become toe-to-toe with Playground Games' latest project from a technical standpoint. Not only this, but the jump in quality from the more flawed Project Cars i is meaning, to say the to the lowest degree.

Those looking for the deep, expansive gameplay of Horizon four in racing sim form demand look no farther than Slightly Mad Studios' project. In that location'due south the Horizon-esque array of cars and events, dynamic weather, and tightened driving mechanics. It looks simply gorgeous on PS4 and Xbox I, yet a loftier-end gaming PC can really permit this visual marvel to polish.

four Forza Horizon

driving through Colorado street in Forza Horizon Xbox 360

What better alternative for Horizon 4 fans to try than the 2012 game that started it all? While the 2nd and tertiary entries in this franchise provide similar thrills and even greater visuals, this more apprehensive originator makes for an enthralling ride through fourth dimension. Despite being more limited by its 360 hardware, the slick visuals of the colorful Colorado landscapes and smooth animation still dazzle to this day.

Not only does this open up-earth epic provide players with much to do flying solo, only it's been regarded past many fans every bit having the most enjoyable online modes in the series, with games like Cat and Mouse.

3 The Crew

Close up of cars zipping across crowded street cinematic in The Crew

There's certainly quite a bit to sink one's tire treads into when playing FH4 solo. Still, what captivates a great number of fans is the game'due south constant stream of thrilling new online content. Those who enjoy this aspect of the game would do well to give this huge online-just racer a spin.

One of the most impressive aspects in The Crew is that its environments expand the length of the US, being split into 5 distinct regions of the country. Much like FH4, players tin traverse the array of colorful areas and tackle events (with both AI and human opponents) at their discretion. There also exists some light, but rewarding RPG elements throughout, granting cash prizes and upgrades.

2 Need For Speed Hole-and-corner 2

need for speed underground three quarters shot of Nissan race car driving through street

Released all the manner back in 2004, this arcade racer from EA Black Box was a corking bound compared to its predecessor and for the genre every bit a whole. It was among the first driving-centric games to implement a more costless-flowing sandbox environment, and it pulls information technology off quite well.

Need for Speed Underground 2 is brimming full of depth and exciting action. Information technology features a myriad of game modes including Circuit Races, Outrun, Migrate Races, and the new "Street X." Though the blockier visuals and cheap physics haven't aged also well, Horizon 4 fans should enjoy the similarly thrilling, various gameplay.

1 Burnout Paradise

Burnout Paradise Remastered old car veering into oncoming traffic on busy street

Impressively, Burnout Paradise predates the flashier Forza Horizon iv by over a decade - but one wouldn't know information technology from its in-depth gameplay and huge environments. The game is largely a more punishing take on the formula, as players won't be able to "rewind" when inevitably veering off-class, and will have to hang onto the impairment cars sustain upward to a certain indicate.

Even so, it'due south these more realistic elements that make BP more thrilling; a fact which fans were reminded of following the remaster released past Stellar Entertainment in 2018. With a polish 60FPS and crisp 4k visual enhancements, this classic tin can be enjoyed in its best class yet.

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