The 10 Best Forza Games (Ranked)

What are the best Forza games?

Debuting in 2005, the Forza series is known for its performance and handling that makes playing it feel incredibly realistic.

Currently divided between the Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon series, there is no shortage of great games to play in this franchise.

However, some Forza games have been more successful than others, and it’s these titles that we are looking at today!

The 10 Best Forza Games

To make this list, we have looked at every game in the Forza franchise and considered the gameplay mechanics, popularity, and sales data of each.

This has allowed us to find out which games in the franchise have stood out the most to fans as absolute must-plays.

So, buckle up and get ready for our list of the 10 best Forza games:

10. Forza Motorsport

Kicking off our list is easily one of the best original Xbox games, Forza Motorsport, which stands out as the first game in the series.

Published exclusively for the Xbox, Forza Motorsport features over 200 cars and numerous tracks, both fictional and based on real-life locations.

This racing simulator features both an arcade mode and a career mode, the first of which is meant for quick, fun races.

Meanwhile, career mode is meant for long-term play, and it features various racing disciplines that players can specialize in.

To make adapting to simulated driving easier, players can also use traction control and anti-lock breaks to make driving a bit easier.

All of the vehicles in this game can also be customized, both visually and via performance upgrades.

Forza Motorsport was made backward compatible with the Xbox 360, though it has never received any remasters or further ports.

However, it managed to receive the Gold sales reward from Xbox, selling over 100,000 copies just in North America.

9. Forza Horizon

The fifth installment in the franchise, Forza Horizon, is a spin-off from the Motorsport series, and it debuted in 2012.

Unlike previous games, Horizon takes place in an open world where players can drive around and explore as much as they like.

It also focuses on casual street racing, as opposed to professional racing like in Forza Motorsport.

The open world that players can explore is based on Colorado, and it features a number of different types of races.

These include drifting competitions, point-to-point races, and off-road rallies that can be played against AI drivers or other players.

Another feature that makes this game fun is the auto-show, where players can buy and sell the vehicles they’ve acquired.

This game kickstarted the Forza Horizon series and quickly became one of the most popular and influential games in history.

Influences from this game can still be felt in the newest releases, even if it falls behind in some technical aspects.

8. Forza Motorsport 5

Forza Motorsport 5 was released in 2013 for the Xbox One, and fans were quick to praise its visuals and AI.

In this installment, players get to compete in events all around the world using a variety of licensed cars.

It has a quick-play arcade mode and a longer career mode that allows players to collect cars and compete in various championships.

This game features over 200 cars from 50 different manufacturers and 17 racing circuits, some based on real-life tracks.

While Forza Motorsport was praised for its graphics and realism, it was also criticized for being repetitive during many races.

Additionally, it was lacking in content when compared to its predecessor, which some fans also felt was a letdown.

However, its aggressive AI and surprisingly realistic graphics still make it a huge step forward for the series.

In 2014, it became the fastest-selling game in Xbox history, with over a third of Xbox owners purchasing it.

Despite not being the most popular game in the series, Motorsport 5 isn’t without its fans, and it is still an all-around great game to play.

7. Forza Motorsport 2

Forza Motorsport 2 quickly became one of the best Xbox 360 games of all time when it was released in 2007.

A sequel to 2005’s Forza Motorsport, this game brings back arcade and career mode, along with online and split-screen multiplayer.

On Xbox Live, players can also buy cars using the game’s auction mechanic or gift the vehicles they have to other players.

There are 349 cars available in Forza Motorsport 2, including the cars from DLC, which can all be customized and upgraded.

Forza Motorsport 2 largely focuses on circuit racing, with improvements made to damage and physics effects.

Damage can be managed with two modes, cosmetic and simulation, the latter of which can cause cars to stop functioning after a certain point.

These modes can be switched between at any point in the game, so you never have to worry about breaking down if you don’t want to!

Upon release, this game received universal acclaim from critics, with many praising its handling and customization features.

It remains one of the best Forza games ever made, Motorsport 2 still holds up despite being over a decade old.

6. Forza Horizon 2

Developed for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, Forza Horizon 2 was released in 2014 as the seventh game in the franchise.

With an open-world environment, this game revolves around the fictional Horizon Festival set in Southern France and Northern Italy.

The map in this game is about three times larger than the one in Forza Horizon, and players can explore every corner of it.

Throughout this map there are a number of races and special events that must be completed in order to advance.

Events can take place at any time of day, something that makes for some pretty stunning visuals.

Additionally, Horizon 2 marks the first time a dynamic weather system was added, which has since become a staple of the series.

Another new feature added is bucket lists, groups of timed challenges that can be completed solo or in co-op mode.

Upon release, Forza Horizon 2 received many exceptional reviews, with many calling it the main reason to buy an Xbox.

5. Forza Motorsport 6

Released in 2015, a year after Forza Horizon 2, Motorsport 6 came racing onto the Xbox with a slew of new gameplay features.

Chief among them was the inclusion of rain and night racing, along with a new story mode called Stories of Motorsport.

Forza Motorsport 6 also nearly doubled the number of cars available from its predecessor, boasting an impressive 450 to choose from.

It also comes with 27 tracks, seven of which are completely new to the game, alongside all of the old favorites.

This alone helped make it one of the best Xbox One games, but this is only scratching the surface of what Motorsport 6 offers.

Additionally, this game has an emphasis on championships, each of which is divided into multiple races.  

Motorsport 6 was also the recipient of many expansion packs, including monthly car packs and an expansion based on The Fast and the Furious.

While this game has largely been abandoned for Motorsport 7, in 2017, it boasted an impressive base of 4.8 million active players.

Overall, its visual improvements, performance upgrades, and additional features all came together to make Forza Motorsport 6 an incredible game.

Best of all, it is now available for the Xbox Series X/S, so you can still play it on modern consoles, unlike many others in the franchise.

4. Forza Horizon 3

Forza Horizon 3 came just a year after Motorsport 6, in 2016, and it somehow managed to be even better.

The ninth installment in the franchise, Horizon 3, takes place in a fictionalized version of Australia, where the Horizon Festival is in full swing.

Like previous games in the series, Horizon 3 is open-world and boasts a map twice the size of the one seen in Forza Horizon 2.

As a driver, players must expand the festival throughout the country by completing races and challenges in order to earn fans.

When enough fans have been gained, players can then open up a new festival location with more events!

There are three racing modes to play in Horizon 3; Exhibition, Championship, and Rivals.

In Exhibition, players go through a single race at various locations, while in Championship, they go through multiple races throughout the world.

Likewise, Rivals pits players against an AI opponent with the goal of completing a track under a certain time limit while in first place.

All of these racing modes can be found dotted throughout the map, giving a lot of variety to the game.

What’s more, this game has been updated to 4k resolution for Xbox Series X/S users, increasing the already impressive graphics.

Needless to say, this game is gorgeously realistic, and it stands out as one of the best in the Forza franchise.

3. Forza Motorsport 7

The latest in the Forza Motorsport series, Motorsport 7, was released in 2017, and it is huge.

Featuring over 700 different cars and 32 tracks at launch, this game has a stunning amount of things to do.

This is also the first in the series to include a dynamic weather system, something that had previously only been seen in Horizon.

There are also customizable drivers and over 200 car configurations you can use to pimp your rides.

Forza Motorsport has everything to keep both casual and hardcore players satisfied, and you can easily spend hours just tinkering with configurations.

Its handling has been particularly praised, though some felt that it didn’t add enough new content to spice things up.

However, if you’re using one of the best Xbox Series X racing wheels, it certainly feels incredible to play through!

Better yet, it is the perfect game to play to warm up for Forza Motorsport (2023), the next-gen take on this amazing series.

2. Forza Horizon 4

Released in 2018, Forza Horizon 4 is the eleventh installment of the franchise, and it’s noted for its introduction of changing seasons.

Set in fictionalized areas of Great Britain, this game has a vast open world, a dynamic weather system, and online servers that support up to 72 players.

As for the changing seasons, when winter rolls around, players can drive over ice to reach previously inaccessible areas!

Following the tutorial section, seasons will change every real-time week, and a timer will alert players ahead of time.

Forza Horizon 4 also comes with over 750 licensed cars, which can be purchased or earned in various ways.

Players can also buy in-game houses that unlock new items and perks, including the ability to fast travel.

An enhanced version of Horizon 4 was also released for the Xbox Series X/S in 2020, giving it 4k resolutions at 60 fps.

Later the same year, a new game mode was also added that expanded the Blueprint Builder feature, allowing players more creative freedom to set up challenges.

Even after the release of Forza Horizon 5, this game remains popular with fans, some of whom prefer it to its successor!

1. Forza Horizon 5

Speaking of its successor, of course, Forza Horizon 5 takes our number one spot; it boasts the biggest launch ever for an Xbox Studios game!

Set in a fictionalized version of Mexico, Horizon 5 has one of the biggest maps in video game history, and it is 50% larger than the map in Horizon 4.

This open world also features an incredible number of different biomes, from lush forests to active volcanoes, ancient temples, and sandy beaches.

While just exploring this world is a treat, there are a number of races dotted all over the place, along with many challenges.

Forza Horizon 5 also introduces a new local weather system that means it can be storming on one side of the map, and you can see it on the other side!

This dynamic system keeps things interesting as you can end up driving into anything from a dust storm to a full-blown tropical storm.

All of these storms can impact driving conditions, making races a bit more complicated depending on the vehicle you’re in.

Additionally, a new AI assistant was added that can track the status of players and act as a GPS.

Fans have also enjoyed a huge number of updates, special events, and DLCs, including a Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansion.

There is also a ridiculous amount of customization and tuning options that really make you feel like a mechanic.

Even if you’ve never played a Forza game before, there is something to enjoy in this astonishingly gorgeous installment!

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of the 10 best Forza games as much as we’ve enjoyed playing all of them!

Forza is a racing series that always seems to be ahead of its time, pushing for as much realism as possible.

Each of these installments highlights how impressive this franchise is and how far it’s come since its humble beginnings!

Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best Forza games:

1. Forza Horizon 5
2. Forza Horizon 4
3. Forza Motorsport 7
4. Forza Horizon 3
5. Forza Motorsport 6
6. Forza Horizon 2
7. Forza Motorsport 2
8. Forza Motorsport 5
9. Forza Horizon
10. Forza Motorsport

Which Forza game is your favorite? Leave a comment below.