5 Reasons Why The Crew Motorfest is a Must-Have for PlayStation 5 Owners

Officially announced back in January (2023) when a short teaser video was released, the third installment of Ubisoft's The Crew franchise was released eight months later.

Set in a scaled-down version of the O?ahu island in Hawaii, Motorfest is an open-world arcade racing game that, if we're being honest, emulates the successful recipe made famous by the Forza Horizon franchise.

Some critics and gamers have called it a blatant Forza rip-off, which is not far from the truth. But, unlike the Xbox and Windows-only series developed by Turn 10 Studios, The Crew Motorfest is available on all popular platforms, including the PlayStation 5.

So, if you're both a car enthusiast and an avid gamer who only owns a PS5, here are five solid reasons why you should ignore the Forza Horizon comparisons and add Motorfest to your collection.

It's the only open-world racing game available on the PS5

The first, most obvious reason is its availability on the PS5. While Forza Horizon 5 may be better overall, the game can only be enjoyed by those who own an Xbox or a high-end gaming PC.

For us PS5 owners, the only good car game available before the introduction of The Crew Motorfest was Gran Turismo 7.

While the racing sim is a fundamentally different video game, it tends to get boring after a while, so an open-world arcade alternative is a welcomed addition.

It features much-improved handling mechanics and sim racing wheel support

As a hardcore GT7 player, I was reluctant to try Motorfest because I only play car games with a sim racing wheel, and the previous Crew 2 was awful to play with a wheel.

But, after watching a few YouTube videos praising the improved handling mechanics, mainly when played with a wheel, I decided to give it a shot, and I was pleasantly surprised.

If you're used to playing GT7 with the wheel, you'll surely notice a difference that needs a bit of getting used to.

That being said, Motorfest is not just playable with a steering wheel, but it feels less like an arcade game and more like a simulator when using one.

It offers support for three-pedal setups and H-pattern shifters, and the experience can be customized via a series of force feedback and vehicle assist settings.

It has an excellent replay value

Apart from the ability to roam the gorgeous island freely, Motorfest currently offers 15 so-called playlists that contain several races centered around a common theme in which you compete with pre-determined vehicles.

After completing these playlists, you unlock many exciting challenges that yield equally fun rewards.

But the main playlist races can also be replayed with the vehicles of your choice and custom settings, giving them a different feel.

Furthermore, there's a series of new PvE (Player vs. Environment) races and challenges every week in the Summit Contest game mode, while the Grand Race PvP (Player vs. Player game mode takes you on random island-circumventing races.

So, even though the Motorfest map is much smaller than that of The Crew 2, it's packed with many activities that will keep you glued to the controller (or steering wheel) long after you finish the main playlists.

It has a comprehensive and well-balanced list of vehicles

At launch, The Crew Motorfest features over 600 vehicles. Most of them are cars, but there are also plenty of motorcycles, planes, and boats to enjoy.

Though it's worth mentioning that the figure includes several versions (rally, race, drift, etc.) of the same car model, there's still a jaw-dropping variety of vehicles.

Fans of old-school rides can enjoy icons like the Dodge Charger R/T HEMI, Porsche 911 (901), or Ferrari F40, while those who like modern beasts can roam the Hawaiian roads with the Challenger Hellcat Redeye, the latest BMW M4, or the Revuelto - Lamborghini's newest hybrid flagship.

There are also many iconic race cars like the Porsche 917 K, SUVs, off-road rigs, and even monster trucks.

The immersive graphics will make you feel like you're in Hawaii

Often criticized in recent reviews, Motorfest's graphics are not on the same level as GT7, but that doesn't mean the game looks terrible.

On the contrary, when played on a capable HDR OLED TV, The Crew Motorfest's vehicles and environment look amazing.

While the game map is smaller than what was offered in The Crew 2, the scaled-down Hawaiian island is brimming with many fantastic paved and dirt roads, varied vegetation, nicely rendered buildings, and breathtaking landscapes.

Though it may not be revolutionary in terms of graphics, The Crew Motorfest is a gorgeous-looking game that will make you feel like you're actually driving your dream car on the streets of an exotic island.