We’ve been playing a lot of Forza Horizon 5 recently, and it dawned on us. The Forza Horizon series is on iteration number 5, with number 6 releasing just around the corner. Moreover, the newer titles in the series have been doing great. With Forza Horizon 5 being one of the best selling games since release on PS5. Why?
For years, the racing genre was locked in a cold war of simulation. It was Forza Motorsport vs. Gran Turismo. A battle of who had the most realistic tire deformation, the most accurate laser-scanned tracks, and the most clinical menus.
Then came Forza Horizon, and suddenly, the “serious” racers had a problem. Why is Horizon consistently lapping its more “mature” siblings?
Freedom Over Formality
In Gran Turismo 7 or the latest Forza Motorsport, you are a professional athlete.
You have a schedule, a qualifying lap, and a very specific set of rules. If you go off-track, you’re penalized. If you hit a wall, your race is likely over.
Horizon looks at a wall and says, “Hey, you get 1,000 ‘Wreckage’ points for that!”. The core of Horizon’s popularity is its sandbox philosophy.
You aren’t restricted to the grey ribbon of an asphalt track. Want to take a Ferrari F40 over a sand dune at 180mph? Go for it. The game celebrates your creativity rather than punishing your lack of discipline.
The “Festival” Aesthetic
Let’s be honest: Gran Turismo can feel like visiting a very expensive, very quiet car museum.
It’s beautiful, but you feel like you should be whispering.
Forza Horizon is a summer music festival that just happens to have 700 supercars. It’s loud, it’s vibrant, and it’s inclusive.
By framing the game around the Horizon Festival, Playground Games turned a “driving simulator” into a “lifestyle RPG.”
You aren’t just a driver; you’re the star of the show, earning “Accolades” and “Fans” just for being yourself.
Accessibility vs. Accuracy
There is a massive difference between physics and feel.
Forza Motorsport/Gran Turismo aim for 1:1 realism. This often requires a racing wheel setup (£££) to truly appreciate.
Horizon uses the “sim-cade” sweet spot. The cars have weight and distinct personalities, but they are tuned to feel amazing on a standard controller.
Horizon makes you feel like a driving god from the first corner. You don’t need to spend ten hours in “License Centre” tutorials just to learn how to apex a turn. You just pull the trigger and go.
The “Game Pass” Factor
We can’t talk about Horizon’s dominance without mentioning Xbox Game Pass.
By making titles like Forza Horizon 5 (and the upcoming Horizon 6) available on day one, Microsoft lowered the barrier to entry to zero. People who “don’t like racing games” tried it because it was there. They stayed because it was fun.
Gran Turismo remains a prestige product for the PlayStation faithful, and Motorsport is the haunt of the hardcore sim-racer.
But Horizon? Horizon is for everyone. It’s the digital equivalent of a Sunday drive with the windows down and the volume up.
Forza Horizon
With Japan beckoning, it’s a great time to be a fan of the Forza Horizon Series. But then, it always has been. Fun comes first, and that’s such a significant appeal in a genre that can take itself way too seriously.
You still get all the cars and customisation, but it’s looser, more rewarding, and honestly just a better experience.
What do you think? Is there another factor that we’ve missed? Do you prefer the more classic simulation racers?