Choose Forza Horizon 5 if you want to roam Mexico, mix varied activities with player-created EventLab events, or play across Xbox, PC and PS5. Choose The Crew Motorfest if themed car-culture Playlists, a large live-game vehicle roster and Ubisoft’s ongoing seasonal content appeal more. If you plan to play with friends, check everyone’s platform and the current cross-play details before deciding. Neither game is an objectively established handling winner: the official product information does not provide a controlled comparison of how they drive.
This comparison is about Forza Horizon 5, not the Forza Horizon series as a whole. The games’ structures, platform support and available editions can change, so check the store listing for your platform and region before buying.
How do the games differ?
Both are open-world driving games, but they organize the experience differently. Forza Horizon 5 emphasizes exploring its Mexico setting and choosing among a broad mix of activities, including cooperative, competitive and player-created events. The Crew Motorfest centers much of its car-culture content on themed Playlists.
| If you want… | Look first at… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Open-ended exploration and varied event types | Forza Horizon 5 | Its official game information highlights exploration, varied activities and EventLab player-created content. |
| Curated, themed car-culture experiences | The Crew Motorfest | Its official page presents Playlists as a central way to experience different automotive themes. |
| Creative events to play or share | Forza Horizon 5 | EventLab lets players create content, adding a different kind of activity to the mix. |
These are differences in format, not a quality ranking. The better fit depends on whether you prefer choosing freely among activities or following themed collections.
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#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.
Which one works with your platform and friends?
Check the exact platform combination before purchasing. Cross-play is not the same as every possible platform pairing being supported, and the available platform list can change.
| Game | Platforms listed in current official information | Multiplayer details |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 | Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming and handheld access on the Xbox listing; PS5 is also available. | Forza’s PS5 announcement explicitly confirms cross-play with Xbox and PC. The Xbox listing also identifies online co-op, online multiplayer and Xbox cross-platform multiplayer. |
| The Crew Motorfest | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch 2; Ubisoft+ access is also listed. | Ubisoft describes the game as supporting cross-play and cross-progression. Its 2023 guide says Live Competitions can include up to 32 players; that is a mode capacity, not a general player-population figure. |
For Motorfest in particular, verify the current platform-specific cross-play and cross-progression details for your group. The multiplayer guide describing the 32-player mode dates to 2023, while the platform list is from Ubisoft’s current game information.
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.
What does each game offer for ongoing content?
Forza Horizon 5: updates and player-created events
Forza’s current official page describes more than 40 content updates. That is the publisher’s product-page count, not an independent assessment of how much content you will enjoy. The game also offers EventLab, so its activity mix includes player-created events alongside the activities promoted by Forza.
The Crew Motorfest: Playlists and a changing vehicle roster
Ubisoft’s current page claims more than 800 vehicles and promotes continuing seasonal content. Its October 2026 updates cover Year 4 and Season 11; Ubisoft dates the Year 4 showcase article to September 15, 2026, and the Season 11 lineup and overview to October 6, 2026. The page describes Season 11 as available October 7, 2026. These are publisher statements about a live game, so check the current page for what is available when you play.
Rank #3
- Seasons change everything. For the first time in the racing and driving genre, experience dynamic seasons in a shared open-world. Explore beautiful scenery, collect over 450 cars, and become a Horizon Superstar in historic Britain. (Some cars provided by online update.
- Britain like you’ve never seen it. Discover lakes, valleys, castles, and breathtaking scenery all in spectacular native 4K and HDR on Xbox One X and Windows 10.
- Master driving in all seasons. Explore a changing world through dry, wet, muddy, snowy, and icy conditions.
- New content every week. Every week, a new season change brings new themed content, gameplay, challenges, and rewards.
- Go it alone or team up. Play solo or cooperatively. Join team multiplayer for casual fun or ranked teams to take on the best in the world. Xbox live gold (sold separately) required for online multiplayer on Xbox consoles.
The raw update and vehicle counts are not directly comparable measures of value: they describe different things, come from the publishers, and do not establish which game has better content. Consider which format you are likelier to return to—EventLab and a varied activity mix, or themed Playlists and seasonal additions.
Which editions should you compare?
Compare the listing for the platform you will actually use. Bundles differ, and a name such as “Premium” does not guarantee that the same content is included across storefronts.
Rank #4
- 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.
- Play on Xbox Series X and Xbox One consoles. With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, download and play it directly on your Xbox console or Windows 10 PC.
| Game and listing | What the cited edition information says | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5, PlayStation Premium Edition | Includes the base game, Rally Adventure and Hot Wheels expansions, Car Pass cars, VIP Membership and Welcome Pack content. | Confirm the current PS5 listing and included content before purchase. |
| Forza Horizon 5, Xbox listing | Shows Standard, Deluxe and Premium editions, as well as separate add-ons. | Check the exact edition and add-ons in the Xbox store for your region. |
| The Crew Motorfest | Ubisoft’s current page describes Headliners and Grand Garage editions; Grand Garage is presented as unlocking over 60 vehicles from the start. | Confirm regional availability and the current edition contents on your platform. |
Captured listings are not a like-for-like price comparison across both games, platforms and regions. Prices, offers, subscription access and bundles can change; compare current local store pages rather than relying on an old price or assuming an edition is identical everywhere.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What about accessibility and platform features?
Forza’s official game information describes sign-language options, game-speed controls, subtitles, color-blindness options and screen narration. Its PS5 page also details haptics and Quality and Performance modes. If any of these features matter to you, check the platform-specific listing for the options available in your version.
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- 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.
- VIP MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS — Enjoy a 2x Credit boost to race rewards, 3 VIP-Exclusive Forza Edition cars, a weekly bonus Super Wheelspin, and special Vanity Items.
- WELCOME PACK — Features 5 special pre-tuned cars and a Car Voucher, which can be used to claim any car available from the Autoshow.
- TIME ATTACK CAR PACK — Receive 8 legendary cars ideal for mastering every turn and corner at the Time Attack Circuits located around Japan.
- ITALIAN PASSION CAR PACK — Introduces 4 great new Italian cars in Forza Horizon 6 post-launch, perfect for cruising, racing, or exploring.
Is one game’s driving better?
That depends on personal preference, and the official product information does not establish a fair head-to-head handling winner. Do not treat promotional feature lists as proof that one game’s driving feels better. If a demo or trial is available to you, try it; otherwise, look for an independent comparison that tests both games under clearly stated conditions and on comparable platforms.
Quick Recap
How to make the choice
- Start with your platform and friends. Check the current platform list and verify the cross-play setup your group needs.
- Pick the event structure you prefer. Favor Forza for exploration, a broad activity mix and EventLab; favor Motorfest for themed Playlists.
- Consider the ongoing content format. Decide whether Forza’s accumulated updates and player-created events or Motorfest’s seasonal roadmap and vehicle roster are more appealing to you.
- Check the specific edition. Compare included expansions, passes, vehicles and other add-ons in the store for your platform and region.
- Compare the live local price. Store prices and offers are time- and region-dependent, so make this check at purchase rather than relying on a captured listing.
- Test driving feel if it is your deciding factor. A controlled trial or an independent comparison is more useful than an unsupported blanket claim about handling.
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.
