Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 vs Gran Turismo 7 on PS55 min read

forza horizon 5 vs gran turismo 7

Forza Horizon 5 recently launched on PS5 in April 2025 and it shook the racing genre. Gran Turismo 7 had long ruled Sony’s platform as the definitive car game, but with this Xbox-born title entering the arena, the battle was inevitable. This must be the most heated racing face-off PlayStation fans have seen in years. The question is simple: Forza Horizon 5 vs Gran Turismo 7 on PS5, who wins?

Forza Horizon 5 vs Gran Turismo 7 – Key Differences

FeatureForza Horizon 5Gran Turismo 7
Gameplay StyleOpen-world, arcade-styleTrack-based, racing simulator
SettingFictional MexicoReal-world tracks worldwide
Car Count900+ cars400+ cars
Visual Modes4K / 60FPS / Ray Tracing on PS5 ProPerformance & Ray Tracing Modes
Controller FeedbackDualSense adaptive triggers supportedDualSense haptics and triggers
CustomizationExtensive, including user-created eventsFocus on tuning and realistic builds
Online MultiplayerCasual, chaotic events and co-opStructured, ranked Sport mode
ExpansionsHot Wheels, Rally AdventureLimited paid DLC
Target AudienceCasual racers, open-world fansMotorsport fans, sim racers
PSVR2 SupportNoYes

Structure vs Freedom

Gran Turismo 7 sticks to a purist formula. It’s about control, precision, and an obsession with real-world driving behavior. Every upgrade you apply matters. Every tire choice changes the way your car feels. This is a simulation first.

forza horizon 5 vs gran turismo 7 tracks

Forza Horizon 5 takes the opposite approach. It’s fast, flashy, and built for chaos. This isn’t about perfect lap times, it’s about blasting across an open-world version of Mexico with 900 cars, off-road events, and seasonal chaos. You aren’t stuck to tracks, you go where the road, or no road, takes you.

The must-have experience depends on your taste. If you like open-world design and wild freedom, Forza fits perfectly. If you value rigid structure and realism, GT7 delivers.

Visuals and PS5 Performance Differences

Gran Turismo 7 looks incredible on PS5. Its native rendering, ray tracing, and lighting tech push every car to photo-real levels. The PS5 Pro boosts visuals even further, especially with HDR and adaptive sync. Every track, from Tokyo Expressway to Nürburgring, is lovingly rendered with perfect environmental detail.

Forza Horizon 5, while originally made for Xbox, holds its own on Sony’s console. On PS5 Pro, players get ray-traced reflections and higher fidelity in both performance and quality modes. The vibrant world pops with dynamic weather, shifting biomes, and a living environment. You’ll feel the storms. You’ll spot sand kicking up during off-road sprints. The PS5 version is incredibly optimized, with very little compromise.

GT7 has the advantage in visual realism. Forza leans into vibrant style and massive scale. Both are impressive, but their strengths serve different purposes.

Content Volume and Replay Value – Forza Horizon 5 vs Gran Turismo 7

comparison

Gran Turismo 7 brings over 400 cars, dozens of real-world tracks, and a single-player campaign that doubles as an education in motorsports. You earn your way up the ladder and feel every inch of your journey. However, new content is slower, and major updates don’t drop as frequently.

Forza Horizon 5 is overflowing. You start with a few dozen cars and quickly find yourself owning hundreds. Events are non-stop. Playground Games packed in seasonal playlists, barn finds, car hunts, and two full expansions, Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure. Horizon Realms is also coming, offering new twists to the already chaotic sandbox.

The must-have title for content is clearly Forza Horizon 5. It never stops giving players something new to do. If you want to experience Horizon’s full sandbox without months of slow upgrades, Forza Horizon 5 Modded Accounts offer the perfect starting point. These accounts are loaded with rare cars, millions of Credits, and high-prestige levels. They equip you to immediately conquer seasonal events, festivals, and barn finds.

Controller Feel – DualSense Differences

GT7 makes solid use of the DualSense. You’ll feel traction loss, braking pressure, and gear shifts through adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. If you’re using a wheel, it feels closer to real-life driving.

Forza’s DualSense support is lighter but still impactful. Acceleration and braking vary in resistance, giving a solid driving feel. The difference is subtle, and while not as detailed as GT7, it’s still immersive enough to feel next-gen.

GT7 gets the edge here. For those chasing realism, the controller feedback adds meaningful depth.

Multiplayer and Community Play

car designs

Gran Turismo 7’s multiplayer is structured and competitive. The Sport mode focuses on fair racing, driver rating, and etiquette. It’s built for players who want ranked races and tight leaderboards.

Forza Horizon 5 offers freedom-focused social play. There’s co-op, seasonal events, car meets, and EventLab, allowing players to build custom races and tracks. It’s more casual, more chaotic, and a better fit for party-style racing with friends.

If you prefer polished, competitive play, go with GT7. If you want spontaneous fun, Forza is the better option.

Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

Forza Horizon 5 vs Gran Turismo 7 on PS5 is not a battle of better or worse, it’s a question of what kind of racer you are.

Pick Gran Turismo 7 if:

  • You want realistic handling and deep simulation.
  • You play with a racing wheel.
  • You care about track accuracy and tuning.

Pick Forza Horizon 5 if:

  • You want a huge, open world.
  • You prefer arcade-style driving.
  • You love exploring and collecting cars.

Some players will pick one. Others will pick both. 

But if you’re on PS5 and want the most fun per hour, Forza Horizon 5 is now a must-own racing experience.

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