Racing games have always been a popular genre in gaming. Whether that be older games such asOutrun,games that exploded the popularity of the racing genre such asNeed For Speed: Most Wanted, or newer entries such asThe Crew Motorfest,driving cars never ceased to be prevalent.
One of the newer series that has become almost synonymous with racing is theForza Horizonfranchise,often cited as the best in the genre. Originally launched in 2012, it is somewhat of a rare series,being an open-world sports franchise. However, with there now being fiveForza Horizongames, it can be worth knowing which ones the best are to play.
Since the first three games have been delisted, rankings will come from the Xbox website where they can still be viewed.
The latest entry in theForza Horizonseries, the fifth installment still possesses many fans, but one of the games had to come last. With impressive graphics and landscapes, it seems impossible for Playground Games to improve upon the visuals afterFH5. Set in Mexico, the map hosts all different regions, from deserts, rainforests, beaches, open fields, and even a volcano. There areplenty of fast carsas always, and is agreat game for those who enjoy rally races.
However, notable criticisms do arise, such as the difficulty of the drivatars being inconsistent, the time to progress sometimes being too long and/or short, and areas of the map being underutilized.FH5is still a game worth playing and is still being updated and improved upon so perhaps at the end of its lifecycle the experience might align more with its predecessors.
4Forza Horizon 1
Ranked As 4/5
The game that started theHorizonseries. Before this, only theForza Motorsportseries existed, but the firstHorizondemonstrated how popular open-world racing games could be, to the point whereForzahas now become known for theHorizonseries instead ofMotorsport.
Set in Colorado, the first game solidified the impressive landscapes thatForzaHorizonwould be known for, with locations that really fit the bill for one of America’s Mountain States. The graphics help with this as well, looking surprisingly impressive for an Xbox 360 game. Sound design is another bonus, with many of the vehicles sounding relatively like their real-life counterparts. A unique feature that only exists in the first game, the player will race against numerous rivals, somewhat similar toNeed For Speed: Most Wanted. However, the main strong point ofFH1is the atmosphere, with many fans citing it felt like a genuine festival filled with car enthusiasts.
The entry that many fans consider the last of the greatForza Horizons, the third installment is also a popular favorite choice among the player base, as well as often cited asone of the best open-world racing games of all time.
With a location that fits the atmosphere of the Horizon festival perfectly, Australia, the map deepens this with a diverse landscape featuring beaches, deserts, and rainforests, among others. The city also looks like a city, compared to others in the series that could pass as a glorified town. The map is bigger thanForza Horizon 2to compensate for the array of locations, with a key part of the progression relating to this via the expansion of the festival.
The first of theForza Horizongames to be launched on the Xbox One,Forza Horizon 2is often cited as many fans’ personal favorite of the series.
Set within the south of France and Italy, no locations make more sense,maybe aside from Japan. The map looks accurate to its real-like locations, with sunny weather and warm landscapes, featuring different urban areas, docks, and long continuous roads. However, the map is smaller compared to the later entries of the series. Wheelspins are also more fair versus later games, as no clothing can be won. This progression can help the already balanced design choice, with players having to build their way up from nothing.
Forza Horizon 4was the last in the series only available on the Xbox One and it made a grand finish for its time on the console. With an explosive intro, the game mostly keeps on the brakes with its hyperactive atmosphere.
Set in Britain, specifically one of theoccasional games set in Scotland. While the landscapes don’t offer the same diversity as others in the series, the introduction of seasons balances this criticism out. Races can change drastically between seasons, with even some different parts of the map being accessible, such as with the lake freezing over in winter. The map is big and allows for vast exploration, but sometimes the scenery can get a bit repetitive. The content also quickly dries up toward the end of the game, with the only new experiences being via DLC.
