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 isForza Horizon, which many point to as being one of the biggest, most appealing racing epics to date.
Its absence is understandableas Microsoft’s Game Passon 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 someFHqualities in their own way.
Updated June 13, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Specifications have been added for everySwitch game like Forza Horizonmentioned in this article. Furthermore, an open-world racer has been introduced, and it involves Lego.
The addition of theHot Wheelstheme by way of aForza Horizon 3expansion andFH4Car Pack left many collectors and younger gamers alike craving a full-fledged title centered around the brand. Joining just a smalllist of (mostly obscure) releasesis this 2021 racing game by Milestone.
UnleashedembracesHot 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 ofHorizon, this delightful racer similarly thrives with its adrenaline-fueled speeds and a range of cool, colorful cars.
9Rocket League
The Ultimate Competitive Driving Game
When it comes to driving games that emphasize competitive showdowns,Rocket Leagueshould 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 esports events.
Despite their differences,Rocket Leagueadheres to thatForza-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 evenadded game modes.
Despite sharing a word in their titles, this modern homage to NES racers isn’t exactly comparable to the sleeker, more dynamicForza Horizon. However, like Playground Games' hit,Horizon Chase Turbosufficiently scratches that frenzied arcade-style itch for racing fans. While this effort takes a very different route, both titles hearken 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.
Horizon Chase Turbohelped blaze a trail for the retro racing renaissance—and SUMO and Lucky Mountain Games were happy to follow in their path with 2020’sHotshot Racing. Fast, twitchy mechanics and delightful late-80s polygons are similarly front and center in this old-school racing nod.
With that 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 filmSpeed. With its arcade-style insanity, competitive events, and an appreciation for drifting,Forza Horizonfans should find much to appreciate here despite some glaring differences.
Linearity aside, there are 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 itsvast palette of customizable cars. The game even offers the handy “rewind” mechanic, allowing for quick redos for short bouts.
Unlimited 2presents 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.
Being the ninth game in theTOCAseries, 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 Autosportoffers 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.
It goes without saying that Nintendo’s hit kart racer is vastly different from the sleeker, more nuanced sensibilities ofFH. 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 thatMario Kart 8andFHboth 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 thisMarioshow remains the chaotic local and online multiplayer that never gets old.
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’sBurnoutinfluence can certainly be felt here, asHot Pursuitthrives most during the more frenzied bouts that reward combat and aggressive driving. These normally include scrambles of fleeing police forces—or chasing down rogue racersasthe police force. LikeFH, players can spend countless hours burning through various unique races and challenges; each exhilarating in their own way.
Much likeForza Motorsport, theBurnoutseries saw a significant open-world overhaul that fans didn’t quite realize they wanted. Dating back over a decade, Criterion’sBurnout Paradisewas 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 Paradisestill adheres to thearcade and combat trappings that made the series so appealing, with events like Showtime that encourage carnage. 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.
While not necessarily the best racing game on the Switch,Lego 2K Drivearguably comes the closest to replicatingForza Horizon’s formula, all the while incorporating enough license-based ideas to not feel like a copy of Playground’s franchise. Set in an open-world that is split into biomes and is quite visually impressive, the game controls well, although it is ultimately a kart racer rather than a more “realistic” arcade racer.
Even though the story is nothing to write home about,Lego 2K Driveis a fun option to throw on if someone just wants to drive around a pretty big map while occasionally taking part in events. The car lineup is decent, and there is also the option to build vehicles using bricks.
