When you start The Crew Motorfest for the first time, you immediately get the feeling of diving into a tropical car paradise. Sun, palm trees, fast rides – and a soundtrack that makes you want to hit the road right away. Ubisoft Ivory Tower really stepped things up after The Crew 2, this time taking everything to the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu. Sounds like Forza Horizon? Honestly: yeah, it does. But that’s not a bad thing. Because The Crew Motorfest manages to find its own identity somewhere between arcade action, community events, and genuine car passion.
I grabbed the game on PS5 and spent a few days trying everything – races, challenges, off-road tracks, and even a few luxury cars I could never afford in real life. Here’s my review.
Aloha, Racing Fans – Welcome to O‘ahu
Jumping into The Crew Motorfest feels like a little vacation. You arrive on O‘ahu, a Hawaiian island that truly shines when it comes to open-world design. Sunlight glistens on the asphalt, rain sweeps across the mountains, and when you’re blasting down the beach at 300 km/h, you kind of never want to come back to reality.
The world isn’t as massive as its predecessor’s, but it’s way more detailed. And that’s definitely a plus. While The Crew 2 often felt a bit empty and impersonal, Motorfest has small highlights everywhere – winding mountain roads, tight jungle paths, and even cities that feel alive.
The whole thing is wrapped in a festival atmosphere – a typical “celebrate the cars” setup we already know from games like Forza Horizon. There’s music, crowds, bright colors, and of course tons of vehicles. It’s not the most original idea, but it works. And honestly, the game doesn’t want to be realistic – it just wants to be fun.
Gameplay: Fun Comes First
First things first: The Crew Motorfest drives great. The handling sits somewhere between arcade and semi-simulation – perfect for players who just want to jump in without spending hours studying driving physics.
What I really liked is the vehicle variety. It’s not just cars – there are also bikes, boats, and even planes. The focus is clearly on cars this time, but if you like variety, you can still take off into the skies now and then.
The so-called “Playlists” are the heart of the game. Each playlist is basically a themed mini-campaign with its own flair. There’s “Made in Japan,” for example, full of tuning culture, neon lights, and drift races, or “American Muscle,” featuring roaring V8 engines. Each playlist has its own events, challenges, and little stories. This concept is super motivating because you’re not just winning races – you actually feel like you’re part of a scene.
The races themselves are fast, fun, and full of variety. Sometimes you’re racing on paved roads, sometimes through mud, and sometimes across city streets. And every vehicle feels different – the jump from a nimble sports car to a massive truck is instantly noticeable.
Tech and Graphics – A Vacation for the Eyes
Ubisoft really tweaked the engine. The graphics are a huge step up from The Crew 2. The vegetation looks denser, lighting is more natural, and the water reflections at sunset are seriously impressive. Especially on next-gen consoles, the game runs smoothly and looks fantastic doing it.
But to be fair, there are a few minor technical hiccups. Occasionally, textures pop in a bit late, or the sky looks a little washed out. Nothing major, but you can tell the game could use a bit more polish.
What I especially love is the day-night cycle and the weather effects. When you’re speeding through the city at night and the lights reflect on the wet asphalt – that just looks awesome. And when a tropical downpour suddenly hits, you immediately feel how the road surface changes. Little details like these make Motorfest feel truly alive.
Sound and Atmosphere
Sound-wise, The Crew Motorfest delivers exactly what you expect from an arcade racer: loud engines, heavy bass, and a soundtrack that keeps your adrenaline up. Especially the V8 models and supercars sound amazing – that deep growl is almost addictive.
The music itself covers a wide range of genres – from electronic to hip-hop. Not every track will be everyone’s cup of tea, but overall, it fits perfectly with the festival vibe.
The voice work and dialogue are decent too. Some lines sound a bit over the top, but hey – we’re on Hawaii at a car festival, not in a Shakespeare play.
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Progression and Motivation
One of the biggest differences compared to The Crew 2 is how you progress. Instead of grinding through endless random events, Motorfest focuses on themed progression. You unlock new playlists, cars, and challenges the more you play. It feels a lot more organic than the somewhat chaotic structure of its predecessor.
There is, however, one small downside: the in-game economy. Of course, you can earn in-game money to buy new cars, but as usual, there are also microtransactions. You can purchase vehicles and cosmetic items with real money. It’s optional, but sometimes it does feel like the grind was intentionally stretched a bit.
On the bright side, the car selection is massive. Whether you love classics, hypercars, or off-road beasts – there’s something for everyone. And with the customization options, you can easily spend hours fine-tuning your dream ride.
Online and Community
The Crew Motorfest is heavily built around online play. You can jump into races with friends anytime or just cruise around the island together. It actually works really well.
Ubisoft has also promised regular live events and seasonal content – similar to Forza Horizon. That should keep players motivated long-term. Whether that works out remains to be seen, but the launch was promising.
Another cool feature is that you can import your progress and cars from The Crew 2. That’s a nice bonus for anyone who already invested a lot of time in the previous game.
Criticism – Where It Still Wobbles
As fun as Motorfest is, it’s not without flaws.
A few races feel too repetitive in structure and layout, and some missions play it a little too safe. A bit more creativity would’ve gone a long way.
The AI is also a bit inconsistent. Sometimes it sticks to you like glue no matter how perfectly you drive – and sometimes it just crashes into a wall. That can take away some tension.
Then there’s the handling of certain vehicle types. While sports cars and muscle cars feel fantastic, some off-road vehicles can be a bit floaty. Especially in wet conditions, things can get pretty slippery.
The Crew Motorfest – Sun, Speed, and Fun
The Crew Motorfest isn’t a perfect racing game, but it’s a damn fun one. It brings back the joy of driving without overwhelming you with too much realism. The Hawaiian atmosphere, huge vehicle variety, and clever playlist system make it a real highlight for arcade racing fans.
If you love Forza Horizon, you’ll find plenty of familiar elements here – but Motorfest still has enough fresh ideas to stand on its own. It’s a game that lets you just switch off for a while. Hop in, hit the gas, and enjoy the sunshine.
My rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars
If you’re looking for a relaxed yet exciting racing experience, The Crew Motorfest is absolutely worth checking out. A tropical dream for car fans – with a few bumps, but a whole lot of heart. Did you enjoy my review? Feel free to leave me your feedback in the comments.
