The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Choose Forza Horizon 5 if you want a broad festival campaign set in Mexico, with expeditions, Horizon Stories and a mix of competitive and co-op multiplayer. Choose The Crew Motorfest if themed Playlists, a Hawaiian setting and Ubisoft’s ongoing seasonal content appeal more—and you can meet its permanent-internet requirement. Neither is an objective winner: platform, friends, event structure and the contents of the edition you buy should decide it.
At a glance: how the games differ
| Decision | Forza Horizon 5 | The Crew Motorfest |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Mexico, with varied biomes and changing weather, according to the PlayStation product page. | A Hawaiian driving festival. Ubisoft’s current page also promotes additional islands as part of its Year 4 plans; planned content is not the same as content already available. See Ubisoft’s game page. |
| Event structure | A broad campaign with expeditions, Horizon Stories and hundreds of challenges, as described by PlayStation and Forza. | Themed Playlists organize much of the campaign. Some races can use loaned cars, and completed Playlists can be replayed with customizable events, according to Ubisoft’s Starting Guide. |
| Multiplayer | Horizon Open competition and Horizon Tour co-op are among the modes described in Forza’s launch overview. | Ubisoft describes cross-play and cross-progression; its guide says Live Competitions support up to 32 players. |
| Platforms listed in official materials | PS5, Xbox and PC. Forza’s PS5 FAQ says cross-play is available across platforms. | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 on Ubisoft’s current game page. Regional availability can vary. |
| Connectivity | The sources cited here do not establish whether the game can be played offline. | Ubisoft’s store listing states that a permanent internet connection is required. |
Pick the game whose event structure suits you
Forza Horizon 5: a broad festival campaign
Forza Horizon 5 is built around the Horizon Festival in Mexico. Its official descriptions point to a deep campaign, expeditions, Horizon Stories and hundreds of challenges. That makes it a natural fit if you want a range of activities under one festival umbrella, rather than a campaign organized mainly around themed sequences.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Crew Motorfest | $27.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Crew Motorfest - Standard Edition, PlayStation 5 | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Ubisoft The Crew Motorfest | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
For multiplayer, Forza identifies Horizon Open as a competitive option and Horizon Tour as co-op. Consider which mode your group is most likely to play; the fact that both games support cross-play does not, by itself, confirm every platform-specific mode detail.
The Crew Motorfest: themed Playlists
Motorfest uses themed Playlists to organize its campaign. The format gives activities a curated theme, and the Ubisoft guide notes two useful details: some Playlist races let you use loaned vehicles, and completed Playlists can be replayed with customizable events. That may suit you if you like moving through a sequence of related activities and then revisiting it with different event settings.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#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
Ubisoft also describes Live Competitions for up to 32 players, alongside cross-play and cross-progression. The player figure refers to Live Competitions, not a claim that every activity supports that many people at once.
Setting and seasonal content: Mexico or Hawaii?
Forza Horizon 5’s setting is Mexico, with varied biomes and changing weather emphasized in its official description. Motorfest is presented as a Hawaiian driving playground. Choose based on which setting you would rather explore; official promotional descriptions do not establish that one map is better designed, larger or more beautiful.
Rank #2
- Explore a vibrant Hawaiian open world. The Crew Motorfest has settled down in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth: the island of O’ahu, Hawaii. Join high-speed street races through the bustling city of Honolulu, test your skills off-road on the ashy slopes of a volcano, or master the perfect curve on the tracks
- Celebrate all the facets of car culture. Enjoy a variety of thrilling driving activities and choose how you want to have fun with your cars! Discover the playlists and dive into thematic campaigns that will immerse you in the most exciting car culture universes, including American muscle, Japanese-style street racing, and legendary machines of the past!
- Collect the most legendary cars. Compete in intense driving races, show off your own style, collect the most iconic cars, and much more! Master every driving challenge and fill your collection with the most legendary vehicles ever created
- Offer available while supplies last. Limited quantities available
Motorfest’s Ubisoft page, retrieved October 7, 2026, promotes a Year 4 roadmap that includes new islands and other additions. Ubisoft’s dated news feed says Season 11 is available October 7, 2026. Seasonal details can change, so check the live page to see what has actually launched before buying for a particular update. A roadmap announcement should not be treated as proof that every planned feature is already in the game.
Check platform support and your group before buying
Both games have official cross-play statements, but platform fit still matters. Forza Horizon 5 is listed for PS5, Xbox and PC in the cited Forza and PlayStation materials. Its PS5 FAQ says the PS5 version became generally available on April 29, 2025, and that cross-play spans platforms. Motorfest’s current Ubisoft listing includes PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.
Rank #3
- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
- Defend your own country and visit the World: United States, Australia, Japan, France…
- Train yourself alone or compete with your friends!
- An enhanced version of “30 Sport Games in 1”, with revamped design, new games and more customisation!
Before purchasing, check the store page for your region and exact platform. If you plan to play with friends, confirm the relevant cross-play support and the modes you want to use on those platforms; a general cross-play statement is not a substitute for checking your particular setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare editions by their actual contents
Edition names are not a reliable measure of value on their own, and content lineups can change. The listed details below come from the current pages retrieved October 7, 2026; check the live store listing for your region before purchase.
Rank #4
- UBI SOFT
- 2 Years
| Game and listing | What the listed edition includes |
|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5, PS5 Standard | Standard edition. The page’s higher-edition inclusions are listed separately on the PlayStation product page. |
| Forza Horizon 5, PS5 Deluxe | Includes the Car Pass. |
| Forza Horizon 5, PS5 Premium | Includes the Car Pass, Hot Wheels, Rally Adventure, Welcome Pack and VIP Membership. PlayStation says the Car Pass provides 42 cars. |
| The Crew Motorfest, Headliners | Promoted by Ubisoft as a current edition; check its live listing for the exact included content. |
| The Crew Motorfest, Grand Garage | Ubisoft advertises over 60 unlocked vehicles for this edition. That is an edition-specific bundle claim, not a directly comparable total of cars in either game. |
The Forza edition details above are specific to the cited US PlayStation listing, not a guarantee of identical bundles on Xbox, PC or in other regions. Ubisoft’s current page promotes Headliners and Grand Garage, but confirm the contents shown for your platform and territory.
Internet access and PC requirements
Ubisoft’s store listing says, “Permanent internet connection required to play,” for Motorfest. If you have unreliable internet or need to play without a connection, treat that as a concrete purchasing constraint. The sources cited here do not establish Forza Horizon 5’s offline availability, so do not assume it has the opposite requirement; verify its current platform-specific terms if offline play is essential.
Ubisoft’s US store listing gives these Motorfest PC minimum requirements: Windows 10 64-bit, AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-4460, AMD Radeon RX 480 8 GB or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB, 8 GB RAM and 40 GB storage. These are the displayed minimum specifications, not a guarantee of performance on every PC. Check the current store page before installing, as requirements and supported configurations may change.
Quick Recap
A quick decision checklist
- Choose Forza Horizon 5 if its Mexico setting, broad festival campaign, expeditions and Horizon Stories are the activities you want.
- Choose Motorfest if themed Playlists, a Hawaiian setting and the Ubisoft seasonal roadmap are a stronger draw—and you can stay connected to the internet while playing.
- For either game, check that your platform is supported in your region and that your friends can join the modes you care about.
- Compare the exact edition contents on your platform’s store instead of relying on edition names or vehicle counts alone.
- If offline play is a requirement, verify the current terms for Forza Horizon 5 separately; Motorfest’s Ubisoft listing explicitly requires a permanent connection.
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.
