Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5 are both great racing games with awesome graphics and a sense of realism. But which one is better in 2022?
Some people say Assetto Corsa is the best racing game ever made, while others prefer FH5.
It can be hard to decide which game is the best.
So, I decided to do a little comparison between the two games to see which one comes out on top!
How realistic is it to drive?
Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5 are two completely different racing software that has huge followings from racing enthusiasts around the world.
Despite being different from each other, both software have one similarity which is the realistic driving experience they can provide.
Assetto Corsa may be preferred by racing enthusiasts who want to simulate a real-life racing experience in a realistic racing environment. In this case, Assetto Corsa is the perfect software considering how all aspects of Assetto Corsa are optimized to recreate the most realistic driving experience.
On the other hand, Forza Horizon is more suitable for sim racers who want to get a little bit more imagination involved during the race.
While the races in Forza Horizon 5 may not be performed at a real-life venue, the driving itself still feels highly realistic when compared with some of the best racing software available.
Variety of cars and tracks
One of the reasons why Assetto Corsa has become one of the favorite racing software amongst racing enthusiasts is the wide variety of cars and race tracks.
When racing with Assetto Corsa, you can pick from more than 200 different racing cars that are mostly licensed from their official manufacturer, including cars from Lamborghini, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc.
Here’s where you can find some free mods to download.
With those cars you can race in 11 different tracks that come with multiple configurations.
Similar to its previous versions, Forza Horizon offers a unique platform where users can race on one large map instead of different venues.
In Forza Horizon 5, the map itself is inspired by the real-life version of Mexico. In this one huge map based on Mexico, you will be able to race with 500+ cars that have been replicated from real life racing series including GT3 and Protoypes.
Graphics quality
After years of racing in numerous racing software, we can safely conclude that both Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5 stands amongst some of the most elite racing software when it comes to graphic quality.
Specifically, both racing software has really phenomenal racing environment details, including external factors such as the weather changes during a race.
For instance, when you race in Assetto Corsa, the graphics are so detailed to a point where you can notice how the raindrops will change angle according to your car movement when you are racing under the rain.
Most importantly, Assetto Corsa never fails in providing specific details for both its car interior and exterior graphics.
As a racing software that appeals to a lot of gamers, it is a necessity for Forza Horizon 5 to have impeccable graphic quality, and they did such a great job in maintaining high graphic quality for all aspects of the software itself.
More importantly for sim racers, you will find that the car details in Forza Horizon 5 are fantastic both in appearance and movement when you are racing.
Car handling
Car handling in Assetto Corsa has always been realistic. In fact, this is one of the reasons why the software is very popular itself.
What we particularly like about Assetto Corsa is how their developer is able to provide a realistic car handling experience without making it too hard for beginners to adapt with.
For us, one of the best car handling details in Assetto Corsa has to be when you are drifting during the race.
Compared to Assetto Corsa, Forza Horizon 5 may not be as realistic in terms of car handling.
While some may look at it as a disadvantage, it is actually made to be easier for users of every level to race in. Regardless, the car handling in Forza Horizon 5 is still pretty realistic.
Compatibility (PC, Xbox, Playstation)
Assetto Corsa managed to set itself as one of the most popular racing software for its versatility and compatibility with multiple devices including PC, Xbox, and Playstation.
Similarly, Forza Horizon 5 is also available in both console and PC, but regarding console it’s exclusively available only for Xbox and not Playstation.
FOV (Field of view)
Field of view is an important aspect of sim racing that most modern racing software has managed to maximize, including Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5.
At first glance, there really is not much difference in the default setting FOV in both racing software.
For most racers, there really is nothing wrong with the default FOV in Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5.
If you ever feel like changing and adjusting the FOV, both Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5 enables you to conveniently do so in the settings menu of each software.
Have a look at our New Assetto Corsa FOV calculator.
Are tracks laser scanned?
Most of the tracks available in Assetto Corsa are e professional circuits raced by F1 and GT3 cars. Thus, almost all of these have been laser scanned to provide the most realistic racing experience for its users.
In fact that’s the same for all the best sim racing games including ACC and iRacing.
As for Forza Horizon 5, there is no need for laser scanning as it utilizes an imaginary map where users can race on.
For racing software like Forza Horizon 5, not being laser scanned will not affect your overall racing experience as the race tracks are made with fine details and high graphic quality.
Online multiplayer
Both Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5 supports online multiplayer mode where you can race with sim racers from around the world.
In Assetto Corsa, you will find a versatile online platform where you can participate in quick races with your friends or other racers online, but the most popular online mode in Assetto Corsa has to be the Assetto Corsa Online Racing League which you can participate in regardless of your skill level.
On the other hand, Forza Horizon 5 emphasizes more on its solo racing mode. However, you can still have a fun race with your friends using their online multiplayer platform.
Force Feedback (FFB)
After examining the force feedback in both racing softwares, we can safely conclude that Assetto Corsa and Forza Horizon 5 have done a great job in maintaining an accurate and realistic force feedback system.
In the end, you will not have any trouble when it comes to the force feedback in either racing software, just make sure that you are using a good quality steering wheel that is compatible with your device.
Prices and Downloads
Assetto Corsa:
|
Device |
Price |
Link |
|
Playstation |
$39.99 |
|
|
Xbox |
$24.00 |
|
|
PC (Steam) |
$19.99 |
Pc (Steam) Download |
Forza Horizon 5:
|
Device |
Price |
Link |
|
PC |
$59.99 |
|
|
Xbox |
$59.99 |
Xbox one |
So what’s better?
Well, it’s really difficult for us to decide who is the outright winner here as both racing games have their own pros and cons.
I personally prefer Assetto Corsa because it’s closer to my preferences and driving style but I know a lot of people want to play games like Forza Horizon 5 because it has a more casual and arcade feel.
In the end, you can’t go wrong with either racing games as they are both worth trying.
I hope this article has helped you a bit in deciding which racing game you would like to try out first.
In case you wanted to learn more about Assetto Corsa you can check our AC in depth review here.
You can also have a look at our other game comparison between Forza Horizon 5 and iRacing in case you were interested 🙂
See you on the track!
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