Racing games have always been a popular genre in gaming. Whether that be older games such as Outrun, games that exploded the popularity of the racing genre such as Need For Speed: Most Wanted, or newer entries such as The Crew Motorfest, driving cars never ceased to be prevalent.
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One of the newer series that has become almost synonymous with racing is the Forza Horizon franchise, 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 five Forza Horizon games, 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.
5 Forza Horizon 5
Ranked As 3.4/5
Forza Horizon 5
- Released
- November 9, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
The latest entry in the Forza Horizon series, 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 after FH5. Set in Mexico, the map hosts all different regions, from deserts, rainforests, beaches, open fields, and even a volcano. There are plenty of fast cars as always, and is a great game for those who enjoy rally races.
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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. FH5 is 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.
4 Forza Horizon 1
Ranked As 4/5
- Released Date: October 23, 2012
- Developer: Playground Games
- Platform: Xbox 360
The game that started the Horizon series. Before this, only the Forza Motorsport series existed, but the first Horizon demonstrated how popular open-world racing games could be, to the point where Forza has now become known for the Horizon series instead of Motorsport.
Set in Colorado, the first game solidified the impressive landscapes that Forza Horizon would 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 to Need For Speed: Most Wanted. However, the main strong point of FH1 is the atmosphere, with many fans citing it felt like a genuine festival filled with car enthusiasts.
3 Forza Horizon 3
Ranked As 4.3/5
Forza Horizon 3
- Released
- September 27, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Genre(s)
- Racing
The entry that many fans consider the last of the great Forza Horizons, the third installment is also a popular favorite choice among the player base, as well as often cited as one 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 than Forza Horizon 2 to compensate for the array of locations, with a key part of the progression relating to this via the expansion of the festival.
2 Forza Horizon 2
Ranked As 4.5/5
Forza Horizon 2
- Released
- September 30, 2014
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
The first of the Forza Horizon games to be launched on the Xbox One, Forza Horizon 2 is often cited as many fans’ personal favorite of the series.
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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.
1 Forza Horizon 4
Ranked As 4.8/5
Forza Horizon 4
- Released
- September 28, 2018
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
Forza Horizon 4 was 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 the occasional 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.