When it comes to gaming franchises, Forza is one of the leading motorsport series in the business. The original Forza Motorsport drove onto our screens back in 2005 and has been going from strength to strength since. The Xbox franchise is well beyond double figures, with Forza games arriving on Microsoft consoles with varying degrees of success. Here we’ll rank all 12 of the Forza Motorsport and Horizon releases, as we wait for the arrival of the new Forza Motorsport.
12. Forza Motorsport 5
Unfortunately, the game that had the chance to show thepower of the Xbox Onewhen it was released was a bit of a damp squib. First impressions were impressive, as the graphics and soundscape hinted at it being the best Forza title to date. But once you started to delve into the game, the impressive new features were overshadowed by a lack of track and car variety that soon had players forgetting they’d bought it at all. That said, despite being bottom of this list, it’s stilla solid racing experience. (Xbox One, 2013)
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11. Forza Horizon
While the overall quality of the Horizon series has outstripped its Motorsport series rivals, the original Forza Horizon didn’t reach the heights of later games. It wasa fun racerthat offered something new, in this case,open-world explorationand non-track racing. But it’s never easy to be the first and the new elements were a little rough around the edges. But the handling had all the hallmarks of the main series, making it a solid title regardless. (Xbox 360, 2012)
10. Forza Motorsport
It feels a little harsh to put the original Xbox Forza game this low on the list, as it was a lot of fun and still holds up as a good racer today. This Xbox titlebrought sim-style racing to the consolewhilestill being approachablefor inexperienced players who just wanted to burn some rubber. It was taking on the all-conquering Gran Turismo series back then, so even getting a foothold was considered a success. Which it did, laying the groundwork for the titles below. (Xbox, 2005)
9. Forza Motorsport 2
Forza Motorsport 2 took the series to the next level, featuringrealistic handlingwhile utilizing the superior hardware of the Xbox 360 toupgrade the graphics across the board. It also featured hundreds of different drivable cars and more game modes, making it a racing game you just kept coming back to. (Xbox 360, 2007)
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8. Forza Motorsport 3
Without wanting to repeat ourselves, Forza Motorsport 3 took over from where Forza Motorsport 2 left off and improved things across the board. It is generally considered the game that reallylaunched the series into the stratosphere, rivaling all-comers on both console and PC as the best racing series on the block. The great racing was embellished withnew game modes(including team play), great online play, and an excellent soundtrack. (Xbox 360, 2009)
7. Forza Motorsport 6
Considering the lowly position of its predecessor on this list, Forza Motorsport 6 deserves praise for pulling the series up by its bootstraps andback into the big leagues. There could’ve been a modicum of panic, but developer Turn 10 did the right thing and went back to basics. It was areally satisfying driving experiencethat looked and sounded brilliant. More cars and better tracks got everyone back behind the wheel, despite the game adding little in the way of new features. (Xbox One, 2015)
6. Forza Horizon 2
Some consider Forza Horizon 2 to be a little bit of a disappointment, as the version on the 360 was pretty poor. But it did a good job ofshowcasingtheimproved performance and graphicsof the Xbox One, with theopen terrain looking amazingeven at full throttle. It didn’t do much to push the series forward otherwise but was worth playing purely to get behind the wheel of your dream supercar and hit the open road. (Xbox 360 and Xbox One, 2014)
5. Forza Motorsport 7
Where Forza Motorsport 6 had righted a slightly wobbly ship, Motorsport 7 set about chasing down its racing rivals at the front of the grid once more. It’s generally considered to be thepinnacle of Xbox One track racing sims, pushing the graphics and sheer depth of content to the limit. The career mode kept you coming back for more, while the introduction of weather gave it the innovative edge that its predecessor had lacked. (Xbox One, 2017)
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4. Forza Motorsport 4
While if choosing one today you’d have to go for Motorsport 7, Forza Motorsport 4 has to be at thetop of the Motorsport series pileif you take the time and hardware available into consideration. The fact it took three Xbox One games to get back to this peak from six years earlier tells you all you need to know about its genre-leading track and car variety,awesome driving feel, and general polish. (Xbox 360, 2011)
3. Forza Horizon 3
While coming in at number three on our list, you can pretty much throw a cap over the top three in terms of quality. If anything, Forza Horizon 3 can be seen as makingthe biggest leap forwardfor the series as it managed to produce the quality of the track-based Motorsport series in the much bigger, and more challenging sandbox real-world environment.Australiaalso proved a great setting to highlight a series of sun-drenched but varied environments. (Xbox One, Series X and PC, 2016)
2. Forza Horizon 4
A few years after the refreshingly open Australia experience, Forza Horizon 4 made gamer jaws drop withthe UK experience. It wouldn’t have been Britain without ridiculousweather, and it didn’t disappoint there. Different seasons really affect the driving experience, while thevaried British countrysidegave the developers even more chances to show off the Forza engine’s capabilities. Throw inDrivatarsand some fun events and they had a massive hit on their hands. (Xbox One and PC, 2018)
1. Forza Horizon 5
As tough acts to follow go, Forza Horizon 4 set the bar pretty high. But by 2021 the team had clearly had enough time to truly grasp the Series X’s potential and set about showing it off. It was roundly praised asone of the games of the year, with a huge, sumptuous map ofMexicoand a massive selection of gorgeous cars to drive — it was the pinnacle of sandbox driving. What’s impressive is that, even with all the gameplay options available, many consider it to bethe best at all of them. And that’s even before you add in theHot Wheelsexpansion. You owe it to yourself to give it a test drive. (Xbox One, Series X and PC, 2021)
Looking for more racing game guides? Check outAll Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels DLC Minor MissionsandForza Horizon 5 vs. Gran Turismo 7 – Which is better?here at Pro Game Guides!
