Playground Games largely led the way in pioneering a new subgenre with its epic open-world racer, Forza Horizon in 2012. Since then, they've managed to rev things up, decking out their already dynamic formula with their Xbox One 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 core. Thanks to the vast, vibrant environments, tons of diverse content, and near-photorealistic visuals, gamers could experience this thrilling racer in its most enhanced, realistic form ever. Despite the seemingly endless fun content Forza 4 offers though, there's bound to be a yearning for some similar racers and driving games. It's tough to match the rich, one-of-a-kind gameplay that FH4 offers, to be sure.

RELATED: The Best Racing Simulators (& The Best Arcade Racers)

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 experience in some fashion.

Updated August 30th, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: Forza Horizon hype has revved into high gear once again with the announcement of the even more gorgeous and expansive FH5 for Xbox series X/S, which will 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 have been won over by the sandbox racing formula and yearn for more FH-esque titles—we decided to tune up this piece and take it into overdrive with even more games similar to Forza Horizon 4.

18 Dirt 4

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

Those who fancy the exhilaration of FH4's speedy street and drag races are almost 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 depth than ever.

Among the new inclusions in Dirt 4 are a variety of awesome new cars, well-crafted rallycross circuits—and a new feature called "Your Stage." This addition amps up the already healthy replay value by producing procedurally generated rally stages based on player-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 2020, this game draws upon the sandbox foundations of that franchise while exploring some new terrain, granting an experience both familiar and unique.

Players are tasked with delivering cargo to different locations while traversing rough, off-road terrain. This is done in a variety of trucks that are generally well-equipped for the bumpy ride. The game also offers a similarly organic feel with a dynamic system of weather, vehicle damage, and deep customization as players progress through various missions.

16 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-world elements, there are moments where CD Projekt Red really does capture that Forza feel.

This comes in the form of the game's ample driving portions, which blend frantic arcade gameplay with the nuance and free-roaming found in sandbox romps. The developers have blurred the lines even further in early 2021, with a mod that improves the fairly shaky driving and car handling mechanics, giving a more refined open-world racing vibe. While it may lack that serene feel 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 city, Driver: San Francisco uses its absurd central mechanic to craft one of the most insane and freeing racers ever conceived.

While the central plot is nothing to write home about, the "Shift" system is a godsend that turns the game's open-world 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 it comes to sheer madness.

14 Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Midnight Club Los Angeles

Rockstar might be mostly known for its story-driven epics, but the studio used to have a racing franchise in its back pocket. Midnight Club was a staple of the console racing scene for close 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 40+ vehicles feeling unique. Rockstar's expertise in crafting immersive open-worlds is on full display here, as the game's Los Angeles is a sight to behold and experience.

13 Grid

Grid gameplay speeding across street from behind car

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

RELATED: Best Racing Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)

The Grid games lack Forza Horizon 4's explorative map, as the series utilizes an events-based structure that is split into different categories and disciplines. What Codemaster's franchise delivers is some of the most 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 Need for Speed spent the eighth console generation treading water, as newer entries struggled to live up to the property's reputation. Need for Speed Heat is far from the series' greatest achievement, but it represents a solid step in the right direction.

Palm City, which is inspired by Miami, is the star of the show 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 effect. The handling is unsurprisingly very responsive, which is to be expected of EA's license.

11 Test Drive Unlimited 2

Test Drive Unlimited 2 split image of the gameplay

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

Test Drive Unlimited 2 is not quite as satisfying to play as Forza Horizon 4, mainly due to its handling being a touch more frustrating to master. However, this ambitious project can be rewarding for those willing to invest the time.

10 RISE: 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 by—but this high-intensity romp has players covered.

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

9 Just Cause 4

Just Cause 4 Flying Vehicles with propellor in desert area

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

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

8 Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 4 driving past pitstop on raceway

This marks another more traditional racer; one that's more similar to Forza Horizon in its branding and themes than content.

Still, it 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, but Forza Motorsport 4 also offers that same sense of speed and solid mechanics that are accessible and deep. It also has traces of Horizon 4's semi-RPG system of xp, and comes with solid online options. Turn 10 Studios has cranked out many iterations of this renowned racing sim, but fans tend to gravitate towards this stellar fourth entry. Despite being on the Xbox 360, it also still holds up visually today.

7 Grand Theft Auto V

GTAV explosions and car turning on street with chopper above

It's hard to talk about open-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.

RELATED: Things You Can Only Do In GTA V (With Mods)

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

6 Burnout 3: Takedown

Burnout 3 driving towards intersection with on fire bar earning takedowns

The Burnout series can somewhat be described as a more chaotic and destructive version of Horizon. While players will be racking up streams of points for pulling off stunts, Burnout 3 encourages more than just flashy driving. Rather than evading cars and obstacles, the premise of this game actually revolves around causing damage (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 2

Project Cars turning on raceway cinematic

Like Horizon 4, 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 go toe-to-toe with Playground Games' latest project from a technical standpoint. Not only this, but the leap in quality from the more flawed Project Cars 1 is significant, to say the least.

Those looking for the deep, expansive gameplay of Horizon 4 in racing sim form need look no further than Slightly Mad Studios' project. There's the Horizon-esque array of cars and events, dynamic weather, and tightened driving mechanics. It looks simply gorgeous on PS4 and Xbox One, yet a high-end gaming PC can really allow this visual marvel to shine.

4 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 3rd entries in this franchise provide similar thrills and even greater visuals, this more humble originator makes for an enthralling ride through time. Despite being more limited by its 360 hardware, the slick visuals of the colorful Colorado landscapes and smooth animation still dazzle to this day.

RELATED: Xbox 360 Games That Have Aged Well (& Some That Haven't)

Not only does this open-world epic provide players with much to do flying solo, but it's been regarded by many fans as 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. Yet, what captivates a great number of fans is the game's constant stream of thrilling new online content. Those who enjoy this aspect of the game would do well to give this huge online-only 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 can 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 Underground 2

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

Released all the way back in 2004, this arcade racer from EA Black Box was a great leap compared to its predecessor and for the genre as a whole. It was among the first driving-centric games to implement a more free-flowing sandbox environment, and it pulls it off quite well.

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

1 Burnout Paradise

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

Impressively, Burnout Paradise predates the flashier Forza Horizon 4 by over a decade - but one wouldn't know it 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-course, and will have to hang onto the damage cars sustain up to a certain point.

Still, it's these more realistic elements that make BP more thrilling; a fact which fans were reminded of following the remaster released by Stellar Entertainment in 2018. With a smooth 60FPS and crisp 4k visual enhancements, this classic can be enjoyed in its best form yet.

READ MORE: Fora Horizon 4: Best Classic Muscle Cars, Ranked