Forza Horizon

Giant Bomb ( )

Plenty of racing games have tried to split the difference between simulation and "arcade" racing in the past, but there aren't many that do it as well as Forza Horizon.

TrueAchievements ( )

Forza Horizon is an excellent racer that will please both new comers and Forza fans alike. The changes and additions that Playground Games have made to Turn 10's already winning formula help create a more varied, less sterile game that will keep gamers coming back for more. The open-world setting is beautifully created and whilst it’s relatively small, the varied enviroments, road surfaces and race types keep the action fresh and enjoyable, but the removal of tuning, and easier mechanics might anger the hardest of hardcore franchise fans. Whilst the game certainly borrows ideas from many other racing games, the way it combines them all together - with arguably the best game engine available, makes this the definitive open-world racer of this generation.

The Controller Online (9.5 out of 10)

Forza Horizon is party in the front, and business in the back. If you’re a fan of the Forza series and are looking for a different experience, but one that can still get serious when it has to then you’ll enjoy Forza Horizon. Conversely, if you like racing games but were intimidated by the Forza series then Forza Horizon is the place to start. Turn 10 turn up the fun without forgetting what got them here in the first place.

Cheat Happens (9 out of 10)

Forza Horizon feels like the racing series near and dear to so many fans of the genre with the rules stripped down. If Forza 4 was “pure car pornagraphy” as I once referred to it, Horizon is an unabashed love letter to car culture and the feeling you get with just the pedal down and nothing but open road in front of you. Those who spent hours tinkering with their ride may be a bit disappointed by the lack of options here, but that's no reason not to get back into the driver's seat.

XboxAchievements (90 out of 100)

A breath of fresh air for the series and one that should appeal to fans old and new, Forza Horizon may have toned down on the realism but the open world environment and host of quirky ideas more than make up for any discrepancies. This is a racing game that has plenty under the hood, and leaves you wanting one more shot at racing glory.

games xtreme (9 out of 10)

If you're not all that into the tuning scene, but you like a comfortable mix between arcade style race options and Forza handling, then right out of the gate, this game is for you. If you're a Forza purist like a good friend of mine you might not be sold on it. Playground Games under the careful supervision of Turn 10 have managed to straddle the line between the Need for Speed series of old, Test Drive Unlimited and Forza Motorsport and they've done it successfully enough with this game that it provides a solid entry point into an open world racer with pristine car handling and lots of fun.

Gameplay (Benelux) (90 out of 100)

Deze wondermooie open-wereld racer combineert het realisme van Forza met (rij)plezier en afwisseling zoals geen andere racer dat ooit eerder deed. Race-fans mogen dit in geen geval missen!

411mania.com (9 out of 10)

Forza Horizons is a great shot in the arm for the Forza franchise. While it takes out the super-simulation aspect of the racing, it adds in a great world to explore and race on, traffic to avoid, and a much better character progression that Forza 4 seemed to really miss. Despite a few small technical problems, notably the first half hour of the game, it’s still a stunning achievement for the series and for racing games as a whole.

Splitkick (9 out of 10)

Despite not being directly developed by Turn 10, Forza Horizon doesn’t feel at all like a “B-Team” game. They’ve managed to create one hell of a beautiful, open world racing game with tons to do and loads of cars. I’d be willing to bet that if you like racing games at all, you’ll love Forza Horizon.

4Players.de (88 out of 100)

Was für ein Einstand, den Playground Games in Zusammenarbeit mit Turn 10 abliefert: Mit Forza Horizon rast das junge Team aus England mit Vollgas an die Spitze der Open World-Rennspiele! Das virtuelle Colorado sieht atemberaubend aus und hält zig Wettbewerbe von PR-Stunts über illegale Straßenduelle bis hin zu spektakulären Schaurennen bereit. Die meisten Events sind allerdings in drei bis fünf Minuten abgehakt, erst gegen Ende der Karriere ist man länger unterwegs. Davon abgesehen macht es einfach Spaß, unabhängig von Positionskämpfen durch die Gegend zu cruisen, Neues zu entdecken und dabei dem fantastischen Lizenz-Soundtrack zu lauschen. Doch es ist in erster Linie die exzellente Fahrphysik, die mich begeistert: Sie mag nicht mehr so realistisch sein wie in Forza Motorsport, fühlt sich aber mit abgeschalteten Fahrhilfen und einem guten Force Feedback-Lenkrad immer noch authentisch genug an.

GamesCollection (8.5 out of 10)

Forza Horizon unisce un gameplay divertente e adrenalinico da tipico driving-game arcade alla qualità visiva e tecnica ormai leggendarie della serie di FM. Un mondo esplorabile bellissimo, ricco di gare, punti d’osservazione, eventi e sfide da scoprire e sbloccare...non ci si può annoiare! I fan della simulazione dura e pura si mettano l’anima in pace e continuino la loro esperienza estatica su Forza Motorsport 4: per tutti gli altri un gioco arcade con un motore fisico così accurato non ha concorrenti sul mercato perciò...non fatevelo scappare!

VentureBeat / Gamesbeat (83 out of 100)

While Forza Horizon can come across as demographic-mongering, interactive junk food, you’ll find a deeply engaging racing experience below its overly gaudy candy-paint top coat. This new installment in the series truly shines when it lets you live out your childhood fantasies, driving that car from the poster on your bedroom wall down a meandering motorway toward the sunset-soaked … well, horizon.

Jeux Vidéo Network (16 out of 20)

Avec son monde ouvert, son ambiance électrique et sa maniabilité qui s'adapte à tout type de conduite, Forza Horizon devrait trouver son public sans problème. Classique dans sa construction, il reste une valeur sûre, sans parler de ses modes multijoueurs en béton.

Jeuxvideo.com (16 out of 20)

Forza Horizon est plus qu'un pari ponctuel puisqu'avec des atouts totalement différents, il surclasse des titres comme Fuel ou Test Drive Unlimited 2. Sa plus grande réussite est sans doute de se destiner à n'importe quel amateur de jeu de course, qu'il soit néophyte ou confirmé, fan de la série Forza ou non. En totale liberté, le joueur prend plaisir à se mouvoir sur une map magnifique et particulièrement vivante au coeur de laquelle il trouve toujours un défi à sa hauteur. Le seul couac provient du multijoueur, incomplet bien que très amusant.

Games TM (8 out of 10)

Forza Horizon is the upstart son to the main Forza Motorsport series. It is brash, immature and petulant. It feels like the very stuff it's made of is market research. Of focus groups populated by teenage boys with attention deficits so severe they need giant, electric-pink fonts to whoosh and clank and screech about the screen while incoherent electronica wubs gally along. The problem for us critics is all that stylistic hot air becomes invisible when you're behind the wheel. Because Forza Horizon has its father's DNA, and to drive it is never anything less than pure joy.