Almost all Xbox and PC virtual drivers are familiar with the Forza video game saga, launched some fifteen years ago. This saga is split into two categories: one aimed at drivers looking for arcade/sim-arcade titles, and that’s Forza Horizon, and the other that wants to take on Sony’s giant (Gran Turismo) with Forza Motorsport and its sim-arcade/simulation titles.

Over time, the Forza saga on Xbox has become what Gran Turismo is on Playstation, with the exception that titles on Microsoft consoles reach a wider spectrum of racers. At Sony, the emphasis is on racing simulation, and has been since the very first Gran Turismo opus. At Microsoft, however, the philosophy is different, with both a title for fun and one for pros.

Although Forza Horizon is considered by many to be an arcade game, it’s optimized to work well with sim-racing setups, i.e. steering wheel, base and pedals. You can play it with an Xbox controller, but the immersion will be much better with a steering wheel, believe me.

In this article, I’m going to introduce you to the Xbox and/or PC-compatible steering wheels for Forza Horizon 5 that I consider to be the best.

The Fanatec Clubsport GT Forza Motorsport

Introducing an officially licensed Forza Motorsport wheel for Xbox and PC from Fanatec. Although this wheel is technically for Forza Horizon’s big brother, the racing simulation title, you can use it on your Xbox or PC.

Let’s start with the design. I think this steering wheel is very handsome, with its black finish, all-round leather and flat base. On the bottom of the steering wheel, you’ll find the Forza Motorsport logo in white, which I think is a bit too much. But it’s not too intrusive.

Controls include Xbox buttons and two paddles on a module at the rear of the wheel. This part is universal to the Fanatec range for the Xbox and PC platforms, so you’ll find it on different steering wheels. The buttons, like the paddles, are highly ergonomic and easy to reach. You’ll have no trouble at all using them in the middle of a race. And there’s also a tiny screen on the top of the faceplate that can be used to display gear ratios or speed (via FanLab software).

This steering wheel is a little expensive, with a starting price of €400. You’ll obviously need to use it with a Direct Drive base (a 5 or 8 nm CSL DD, for example) in order to race Forza Horizon. But the good news is that you can get this steering wheel as a bundle, with the CSL DD base I mentioned, but also the CSL Pedals, for just 680€. And at that price, this steering wheel is immediately very interesting.

The Moza Racing CS V2P

Let’s finish with an entry in the Moza Racing range: the CS V2P. This is a mid-range steering wheel costing €330, with a fully round 33 cm diameter and aluminum alloy structure.

There’s leather all around the steering wheel, very large aluminum paddles at the rear, 6 mechanical buttons, 2 encoders and 2 switches. Controls are a bit limited, I must admit, but they’ll do for Forza Horizon 5. Another point worth mentioning is that this steering wheel is not Xbox-compatible; it’s PC-only, as is virtually the entire Moza Racing range, with the exception of the R3 bundle.

The CS V2P’s ergonomics are very good, largely due to the fact that the wheel is round with a diameter of 33 cm. The controls are close to your hands, but the mechanical buttons may seem a little too hard for those who are not yet used to using them.

This steering wheel, like the Fanatec one I’ve just presented, must be paired with a Direct Drive base (an R5 or R9 is more than sufficient for Forza and any other sim-racing title) from Moza to form a complete setup, complete with pedalboard.

The Thrustmaster T248

This steering wheel, or rather bundle, from Thrustmaster appeared on the market with the release of Next Gen consoles a few years ago. Like the G923, it features a belt-driven base, a steering wheel and a pedal assembly.

The base uses two belts to transmit the motor’s power to your hands via the steering wheel, and it’s much better than Logitech’s offering. Already in terms of power, the T248 develops around 4 nm of torque, with effects that are much more measured and precise too.

The steering wheel is also flat-bottomed, but made entirely of plastic. All the R&D budget was invested in the base engine, and concessions had to be made on the rest of the peripherals. At the top of the faceplate, there’s a small screen displaying some information, but I don’t think you’ll find it very useful on Forza Horizon 5. As for the controls, we have the Xbox buttons spread over the sides of the steering wheel, with 2 paddles at the rear.

The T248 is very ergonomic, but the build quality is really lacking. Plastic dominates the whole bundle, and you get the feeling you’re using a low-quality product, or even a children’s toy. But the T248 makes up for it in price, with only €350 on the Thrustmaster website, and it can also be found for less than €300 at retailers.

The T248 also comes in two versions: one for Xbox/PC and one for Playstation/PC. There are other Xbox-compatible models from Thrustmaster, like the TX, but these are more expensive because they offer better performance. If you’re only setting up a sim-racing setup to play Forza Horizon 5, then there’s no need to consider anything other than a T248. If you’re planning to train to move on to sim-arcade or even simulation titles, then options like the TX will be of greater use to you in many respects, except for the bank account, of course.

The Logitech G923

The G923 is Logitech ‘s latest budget-friendly bundle for sim-racing on PC/Xbox or PS/PC. This bundle includes a gear-driven base that develops something like 2.8 nm of torque, a non-detachable aluminum and leather steering wheel, and a very basic pedalboard.

The overall design of this bundle is simple, but quite beautiful. The steering wheel uses aluminum for its structure, with leather around the rim. The flat-bottomed wheel is very ergonomic thanks to its reduced diameter (less than 30 cm). As for the base, its design is minimalist, but I think a success. It houses the gear-driven motor that transmits power to the steering wheel, and thus to your hands.

In terms of sensations, I’d say it’s more than enough for sim-racing on Forza Horizon 5. You’ll get a good rendering of the effects the car produces and undergoes, which is much better than using a joystick, by the way.

Now for the price. The G923 is available on Logitech’s website for something like €430, but you’ll find it around €300 on reseller sites on a fairly regular basis. Just bear in mind that there are two versions of the G923: one for Xbox and PC, and one for PS and PC. So be careful when you buy.

Which one to choose?

Choosing a steering wheel is like choosing a pair of jeans: you go for the one you’re comfortable with, in terms of feel, grip, ergonomics and also financially. And don’t forget the sim-racing title you intend to use the steering wheel for: you’re not going to choose a Fanatec ClubSport Porsche GT3 R, for example, just to play Forza Horizon 5. Sure, this steering wheel is perfect, but it’s overkill for this game.