There's no shortage of games to be had on Switch these days, and that includes the once-sparse lineup of racers and driving games. Still, it's tough to deny the lack of a sizable presence that is Forza Horizon, which many point to as being one of the biggest, most appealing racing epics to date.
Its absence is understandable as Microsoft's Gamepass on Switch remains a pipe dream, and the hardware demands of the game presumably exceed the capabilities of Nintendo's machine. However, fans of The Big N will be delighted to hear that there's an ever-growing lineup of racers that aren't just thrilling, but also bring at least some FH qualities in their own way.
Updated February 4, 2022 by Stephen LaGioia: With the revved-up release of Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox One and Series X/S, the lack of Game Pass support on Switch feels increasingly harshly felt among many. While the console is home to some great racers, fans remain seemingly left in the dust when it comes to a Forza Horizon equivalent.
But while the more humble console may be lacking when it comes to the sleek, grandiose Forza Horizon and similar games, there's a growing number of options with comparable qualities, which capture much of that same exhilarating essence. Thus, it seemed appropriate to revisit and fine-tune this list of Switch racing games like Forza Horizon.
15 Snowrunner
In true Forza fashion, Saber Interactive nails that solid balance between arcade-style action and simulation depth with this off-road romp. Plowing its way onto Switch in mid-2021, the game fills a needed void in the library with its dynamic, rewarding driving-centric gameplay.
Snowrunner makes the seemingly mundane task of cargo deliveries about as thrilling as possible with its slew of sandbox locales and over 60 behemoth trucks to play with. Added to this is an impressive array of customization options and co-op multiplayer for up to four players.
14 Hot Wheels Unleashed
The addition of the Hot Wheels theme by way of a Forza Horizon 3 expansion and FH4 Car Pack left many collectors and younger gamers alike craving a full-fledged title centered around the brand. Joining just a small list of (mostly obscure) releases is this 2021 racing game by Milestone.
Unleashed embraces Hot Wheels' charming slot car qualities with its miniature tracks set to household backdrops and a third-person view. While the small, toy-like approach is a far cry from the sleek visuals and refined realism of Horizon, this delightful racer similarly thrives with its adrenaline-fueled speeds and a range of cool, colorful cars.
13 Rocket League
When it comes to driving games that emphasize competitive showdowns, Rocket League should prove a draw for fans of Playground Games' hit, despite their stark differences in many avenues. Psyonix's vehicular soccer game has helped pave the way for a new style of multiplayer sporting romps, becoming a go-to for social gaming, online battles, and esport events.
And despite their differences, Rocket League adheres to that Forza-esque quality of speed, action, and dynamic gameplay in a competitive setting. The game is also comparable with its evergreen ecosystem of rotating events, new car releases, and even added game modes.
12 Road Redemption
While critiqued for being a bit rough around the edges, Horizon multiplayer fans may want to give this one a look for its unique vehicular combat gameplay — as well as its budget price. Described as a deeper, off-the-wall take on the motorcycle racer Road Rash, this EQ-Games romps blends racing and melee combat in an amusing way.
Further adding to the chaos is the surprisingly effective use of roguelike elements. These include randomly-generated maps, punishing gamplay, and permanent upgrades. Road Redemption's arcade-style zaniness and fun, thrilling face-offs are enough to outshine the technical blemishes.
11 Inertial Drift
This fast-paced retro racer proves a great fit on the Switch, with its blend of familiar gameplay and unique elements that include a deep story mode and solid twin-stick controls.
While the off-kilter controls take some getting used to, this learning curve is fairly easily navigated and overcome. This twin-stick method enables ample drifting which is satisfying and fun to pull off as players get more acquainted. Despite its simple, stylized graphics, Inertial Drift subtly injects depth with a multi-tiered system of cars that hold distinct traits and mechanics.
10 Horizon Chase Turbo
Despite sharing a word in their titles, this modern homage to NES racers isn't exactly comparable to the sleeker, more dynamic Forza Horizon. But like Playground Games' hit, Horizon Chase Turbo sufficiently scratches that frenzied arcade-style itch for racing fans. While this effort takes a very different route, both titles harken back to those adrenaline-fueled racing romps of the 90s.
Horizon Chase Turbo's charmingly simple art style can be deceptive as the game's loaded with deep content, and trials that can hang with flashy modern racers in terms of excitement and toughness. Players will zip through various colorful landscapes in a fleshed-out campaign, and can even hit the streets with up to three friends in a split-screen mode.
9 Grip: Combat Racing
With this 2018 game, Canadian studio Caged Element takes the concept of an arcade racer and flips it on its head—quite literally. Grip: Combat Racing brings ample thrills with its unique blend of futuristic racer, rally driver, and combat game. Players control double-sided automobiles that can flip on the fly, enabling driving on their top and bottom.
This sets the stage for chaotic showdowns and off-kilter level design, as drivers can zip across pathways while sideways or even upside down. Online multiplayer and split-screen amp up the replay value and keep the excitement revved up. Add awesome weapons and powerups to the mix, and the result is an exhilarating — and frankly overlooked — driving romp on Switch.
8 Hotshot Racing
Horizon Chase Turbo helped blaze a trail for the retro racing renaissance—and SUMO and Lucky Mountain Games were happy to follow in their path with 2020's Hotshot Racing. Fast, twitchy mechanics and delightful late-80s polygons are similarly front and center in this old-school racing nod.
With the said, this game also veers into its own lane with deeper raceways and fun events like 'Cops and Robbers' as well as 'Drive or Explode,' the latter of which brings vibes of the action film Speed. With its arcade-style insanity, competitive events, and an appreciation for drifting, Forza Horizon fans should find much to appreciate here despite some glaring differences.
7 V-Rally 4
With its fast-paced action—along with a diversity of cars, environments, and driving conditions, Kylotonn's V-Rally 4 captures at least some of the FH essence.
While its multiplayer brings ample excitement, its more tepid career mode may not blow the hair back of many compared to Playground Games' epic. Still, this racer offers solid, in-depth mechanics, fun street and dirt circuits, and awesome rally cars that fans should find appealing.
6 MudRunner - American Wilds
With Forza Horizon, Playground Games drives home the point that off-roading can be just as thrilling as street races — and sometimes even moreso. Studio Saber3D similarly taps into that drive to venture off the beaten path with this rocky ride.
MudRunner has players trucking it across open-world locales in all-terrain vehicles to knock out objectives and challenges. The free-and-loose nature of the game is very Forza Horizon-esque, as there's fun to be had at almost every turn. Driving around these vast sandboxes and plowing through obstacles can prove just as entertaining as completing missions.
5 Gear Club Unlimited 2
Linearity aside, there's loads of overlap when it comes to Playground Games' racing epic and Eden Games' Gear Club Unlimited 2. This robust sequel is comparable in its blend of in-depth sim racing and arcade speed, along with its vast palette of customizable cars. The game even offers the handy "rewind" mechanic, allowing for quick redos for short bouts.
Unlimited 2 presents different levels of daylight, seasons, and environmental conditions to keep things fresh, as well. With over 50 cars to play with, 250 tracks, and nearly 1,800 miles of road in total, there's plenty of diverse, stimulating content to sink one's teeth into.
4 Grid Autosport
Being the ninth game in the TOCA series, this Codemasters series has quietly built a nice track record over its decades-long history. The series finally makes its debut on Switch with this touring car and motorsport racer, and in convincing fashion.
This sequel dials back the complexity of some of its predecessors and harkens back to its roots while maintaining a modern level of detail and visual flair. Grid Autosport offers a solid foundation and rewarding mechanics that are easy to learn, but tough to master. It's these qualities — along with ample depth and content — that make it one of the best racers on Switch.
3 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
It goes without saying that Nintendo's hit kart racer is vastly different from the sleeker, more nuanced sensibilities of FH. Still, it's tough to leave this classic party game out of the fun when discussing notable racers on Switch. And there does exist some commonality—beyond the fact that Mario Kart 8 and FH both happen to be flagship racers for their respective consoles.
Drawing from its already robust predecessor on Wii U, this polished remaster brings even more entertaining content with sleeker visuals, added DLC, and an improved Battle Mode. But the star of this Mario show remains the chaotic local and online multiplayer that never gets old.
2 Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
EA's hit racing series has seen no shortage of new concepts and tweaks over the years—as a few developers have offered their own take on the formula. With this 2010 hit, Criterion has found that sweet spot of arcade and sim racing, offering a range of events that stress one direction or the other.
The studio's Burnout influence can certainly be felt here, as Hot Pursuit thrives most during the more frenzied bouts that reward combat and aggressive driving. These normally include scrambles of fleeing police forces—or chasing down rogue racers as the police force. Like FH, players can spend countless hours burning through various unique races and challenges; each exhilarating in their own way.
1 Burnout Paradise Remastered
Much like Forza Motorsport, the Burnout series saw a significant open-world overhaul that fans didn't quite realize they wanted. Dating back over a decade, Criterion's Burnout Paradise was partly ahead of its time with its expansive gameplay and (semi) sandbox elements. The polished remaster on Switch gives it a nice modern coat of paint and enhances the game's already deep, modern feel.
Burnout Paradise still adheres to the arcade and combat trappings that made the series so appealing, with events like Showtime that encourage carnage. But additionally, players can venture across a sprawling world map and partake in solo or online races, even choosing their own pathways to the finish line.