GT Sport vs. Forza 7: Which One Should You Buy?

Gameplay

GT Sport vs. Forza 7: Which One Should You Buy?

October is a great month for motorsport fans as Microsoft and Sony’s exclusive racers go head-to-head. Of course, for those lucky players who are able to play both games, they may be wondering which one comes out on top as the overall better experience. To give you a helping hand in the decision-making process, we’re going to run through a number of aspects of the two titles to see which one reigns supreme by the end. So what better place to start than the overall gameplay?

Both GT Sport and Forza 7 retain the same quality level of racing gameplay that each of the series is known for. The roster of cars in each title feels varied and each vehicle feels uniquely different. Outside of the varied handling of the cars, however, each title brings a little extra something to the gameplay.

For GT Sport, its weight transfer makes cars feel realistic and a real nightmare in corners and during heavy braking. Forza 7, on the other hand, really put the focus on dynamic weather and how this affects not only the visuals, but the way in which cars handle, too. What you’re left with is two titles that really push the genre forward in terms of realistic racing experiences. In that regard, you’re not going to find that one title is vastly better than the other. Both have a ton of customization and tuning options for petrolheads to dive into, and the on-the-track gameplay is solid in both.

Gran Turismo Sport does have a few niggling issues, though. First, you’ll need to be online and have a consistent, quality connection in order to do just about anything in the game. Also, as we’ve seen from the series for quite some time now, collision effects are still feeling a little dated in comparison to the likes of Forza 7 and Project Cars 2. Though by no means dealbreakers, they’re enough to just give Forza 7 the edge in this round.

Visuals

GT Sport vs. Forza 7: Which One Should You Buy?

The Gran Turismo series for a long time was always at the forefront of cutting-edge visuals in the racing genre. Then Forza Motorsport came along and really upped the ante. Both GT Sport and Forza 7 are once again impeccably good-looking games. Each and every vehicle found in these games has an outstanding level of detail, and both games feature some fantastic lighting effects. And that’s just on the standard systems.

It’s when you play these on a 4K HDR display, however, that these games really shine. A crisper, smoother image all-around makes for some of the most immersive racing experiences you’ll have the pleasure of getting behind the wheel of. Unfortunately, with the Xbox One X not out until next month, fans will have to wait a little longer to witness the stellar 4K visuals of Forza 7, but if our time with the game on the Xbox One X at E3 is anything to go by, there’s no better title to showcase the console’s power.

For this round, we’re going to call it a tie.

Content

GT Sport vs. Forza 7: Which One Should You Buy?

It’s here where everything starts to get a little bit more interesting. Up until now, both titles have been pretty evenly matched, but it’s here where you’ll likely determine what game to buy. While the gameplay experience in each title is a fairly standard affair for both series, both the amount of content and the overall focus for the experience couldn’t be farther apart.

Forza 7 keeps its content in-line with what we’ve seen from the Motorsport series before. You’ll take part in a number of single-player events to make your way through different Championships, unlocking cars and expanding your garage as you go. On top of that, you’ll also find a smooth and straightforward multiplayer mode for those seeking to play against real-life racers in a variety of different events and vehicles.

GT Sport, on the other hand, definitely focuses more on the multiplayer side of things. Though there’s a single-player campaign of sorts on offer here, it’s very rarely just straight up racing. A lot of these, instead, focus on improving you as a racer, having you master just one corner, or completing a lap alone. It’s reminiscent of the Licenses system from the older titles and while that’s sure to put a smile on some fans’ faces (current company included), it’s not a substantial enough replacement for the GT Mode of past titles. If you’re into online multiplayer racing action, then GT Sport is definitely still worth checking out, but if you’re looking to keep your races between you and the AI, you may come away disappointed.

On top of that, there’s also the small issue of just how many cars and tracks there are in each title. Forza 7’s roster comes in at over 700 cars and 30 famous destinations with 200 ribbons. Its vehicles range from the car you’ve got up your driveway to the finest exotic supercars money can buy. In comparison, GT Sport offers far less at launch. You’ll only have 162 cars to focus on and, as the name of the game suggests, they’re more focused on the sports and performance echelons, rather than the average Sedan you see every day. Its 40 tracks will keep you occupied for long enough, but it still lags behind Forza 7’s offering. As such, we put the Xbox One racer ahead when it comes to content.

Platform

GT Sport vs. Forza 7: Which One Should You Buy?

When it all comes down to it, you’re only going to be able to pick up these games if you have the platforms to play them on. GT Sport is exclusive to the PS4, while Forza 7 is a Microsoft exclusive, meaning you can play it on both Xbox One and PC.

If you’ve got just one of these platforms, then the decision has already been made for you. Unless, of course, you’re thinking about picking up another system. On standard and 4K capable systems, both games look and play great, so there’s no reason to let any performance concerns sway your decision. The only slight edge GT Sport has over its opponent in this round is that it is PSVR compatible. As such, if you’re looking to take your immersive racing sim experience to the next level and already have the VR headset in your home, this might sway it ever so slightly for you.

Conclusion

GT Sport vs. Forza 7: Which One Should You Buy?

Based on these four areas alone, we’d give the edge ever so slightly to Forza 7 this time around. Don’t get us wrong, both of these games offer exceptional racing sim experiences, with stellar visuals and solid gameplay. But the amount of content and comprehensive single and multiplayer experiences on offer in Forza 7 just has the edge on what Polyphony Digital has managed with GT Sport.

Of course, that’s not to say you’re not going to enjoy what’s on offer in GT Sport. If you’d rather race with other players online than against the AI, GT Sport will more than satiate your need for speed.

Which racer do you prefer overall? Let us know down in the comments below.