Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor most players, Forza Horizon 5 is the best place to start: it has a substantial content base and is available on PS5, Xbox, and PC. Choose Forza Horizon 6 instead if you want the newest entry, its Japan setting, and can play on Xbox Series X|S or PC. The right pick depends on platform, setting, and whether you want the latest release—not on a definitive franchise-wide ranking.
Quick picks
| Game | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 | Most players, especially PS5 owners and newcomers | Set in Mexico, with a long-running content base and broad platform availability. Forza’s 2025 PS5 announcement described nearly 900 cars, more than 40 thematic updates, and two expansions at that time; those are dated figures, not a live count. Forza’s PS5 announcement |
| Forza Horizon 6 | Players who want the newest game and a Japan setting | Released May 19, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows, with Xbox Cloud and Steam also listed by Xbox Wire. The official material consulted here describes a PS5 version as planned for later in 2026; check its current availability before buying. Xbox’s Horizon 6 page |
| Forza Horizon 4 | Existing owners or players seeking a physical copy | Set in the UK. It was removed from digital stores and Game Pass on December 15, 2024, but existing owners can still download and play it, and physical copies continue to work, including online features. Forza’s delisting notice |
| Forza Horizon and Forza Horizon 2 | Players who already own them and want their single-player campaigns | Set in Colorado and Southern Europe, respectively. Their online services closed on August 22, 2023, and both games had already been delisted from the Microsoft Store. Single-player remains accessible to owners. Forza’s online-services notice |
Why Forza Horizon 5 is the best all-round choice
Horizon 5 is the safest recommendation when the question is simply which game to play. Its Mexico setting, broad platform release, and accumulated content make it an easy entry point without requiring access to an older game or waiting on a platform release. Forza said the PS5 edition has the same content as the Xbox and PC releases; previously released car packs and the Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure expansions were available for purchase. The publisher’s nearly 900-car, 40-plus-update and two-expansion figures were published with the 2025 PS5 announcement, so treat them as a snapshot rather than a current total. Read the PS5 announcement.
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Pick it if you want a mature entry
The game’s established content base suits newcomers who want plenty to do and returning players who want a polished, familiar Horizon structure. It is also the clearest choice for PS5 players among the current entries: Forza announced the PS5 version with content parity to Xbox and PC.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Choose Forza Horizon 6 for the newest release and Japan
Horizon 6 is the newest released entry, launched May 19, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows. Xbox Wire also lists Xbox Cloud and Steam. Its defining change is the setting: Japan, presented through rural and urban areas, with Tokyo described by Xbox as the largest city in a Horizon game. The developers characterize the map as a condensed interpretation of Japan, not a mile-for-mile recreation of its roads. Xbox’s game page and Xbox Wire’s developer interview provide the official details.
#1 Best Overall
- DISCOVER JAPAN — Explore Horizon’s largest map ever, set in Japan and packed with dramatic verticality, diverse biomes, and spectacular open‑road driving routes.
- CRUISE ICONIC LOCATIONS — Drive through Tokyo’s city streets, suburbs, docks, and industrial districts in the most expansive urban environment in Horizon history.
- DRIVE 550+ REAL‑WORLD CARS — Collect and customize over 550 licensed vehicles with body kits, Forza Aero, window liveries, and enhanced steering animations.
- BUILD YOUR ESTATE — Purchase beautiful homes across Japan and customize garages to showcase your growing car collection as you rise through the Horizon Festival.
- JOIN THE HORIZON COMMUNITY — Race, cruise, and compete with friends in Time Attack Circuits, Drag Meets, Car Meets, and Horizon multiplayer modes, including Spec Racing Championships.
Its fresh start is part of the appeal
In Horizon 6, you begin as a tourist hoping to join the festival, rather than as an established festival driver. Design Director Torben Ellert described the draw as “going to a place that you don’t know, a place that you’re eager to discover,” in the Xbox Wire interview.
Know what changes—and what does not
Horizon 6 keeps the series’ established open-world racing approach. PC Gamer’s review calls it polished and consistently fun while noting that it continues the familiar template. The reviewer also finds its biomes less varied and dramatic than Horizon 5’s Mexico and more reminiscent of Horizon 4’s UK. That is one outlet’s assessment, not an objective measure or a universal preference. Read PC Gamer’s review.
Rank #2
- Seasons change everything. For the first time in the racing and driving genre, experience dynamic seasons in a shared open-world. Explore beautiful scenery, collect over 450 cars, and become a Horizon Superstar in historic Britain. (Some cars provided by online update.
- Britain like you’ve never seen it. Discover lakes, valleys, castles, and breathtaking scenery all in spectacular native 4K and HDR on Xbox One X and Windows 10.
- Master driving in all seasons. Explore a changing world through dry, wet, muddy, snowy, and icy conditions.
- New content every week. Every week, a new season change brings new themed content, gameplay, challenges, and rewards.
- Go it alone or team up. Play solo or cooperatively. Join team multiplayer for casual fun or ranked teams to take on the best in the world. Xbox live gold (sold separately) required for online multiplayer on Xbox consoles.
Check the platform before you buy
Xbox’s product page lists Horizon 6 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows, while Xbox Wire lists Xbox Cloud and Steam. The official material cited here describes PS5 as planned for later in 2026, not as already available. Since that timing can change, confirm the live PS5 listing before making a platform-specific purchase decision.
When Forza Horizon 4 is still worth choosing
Horizon 4’s UK setting may be the reason to seek it out, but access is the deciding constraint. Forza delisted it from stores and Game Pass on December 15, 2024. If you already own it, the publisher says you can still download and play it. A physical copy bought after delisting also works, including online features. For a new digital buyer, it is no longer a straightforward option.
Rank #3
![Forza Horizon 5: Standard Edition – Xbox Series X|S – Xbox One & Windows [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51hE5wiUY6L._SL160_.jpg)
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - 4
Who should play the first two games?
The original Horizon takes place in Colorado; Horizon 2 visits Southern Europe. Both can be worthwhile for players who already own them and want to explore the series’ earlier settings and single-player campaigns. Their online services closed on August 22, 2023, and they are delisted from the Microsoft Store, so they are less practical recommendations for someone building a collection now. Turn 10 says owners can still access the single-player portions. See Forza’s online-services notice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the series ranks depends on what you value
There is no authoritative statistic that settles the best game across the whole series. Horizon 5 is the practical all-round recommendation; Horizon 6 is the current choice for players drawn to Japan and the latest release; older games make sense when their setting or ownership status matters more than easy access.
Rank #4
- Discover the breathtaking landscapes of Japan in Horizon's largest map yet, full of verticality, diverse biomes and spectacular driving experiences.
- Cruise the suburbs and iconic downtown Tokyo City streets, or race through the docks and industrial districts.
- Drive over 550 real-world cars and upgrade your favorites with body kits and Forza Aero, the ability to paint liveries on windows, and updated steering animations.
- Build your Estate and purchase gorgeous new homes featuring fully Customizable Garages.
- Join your friends at Time Attack Circuits and Drag Meets, show off your customized cars at Car Meets located around Japan, or compete in Horizon multiplayer modes featuring new Spec Racing Championships.*
External rankings are opinions tied to their own selection and date. GamesRadar’s living best-racing-games list places Horizon 5 at number one and Horizon 6 at number six among the games on that page; it does not establish a consensus ranking of every Horizon game. See GamesRadar’s ranking.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- THIS IS ACTION RACING: smash through fences and picnic tables or drift through civilian traffic at high speeds to gain fame, race against planes and helicopters in showcase challenges, and race at night with full 24hr light cycle for the first time in the Forza franchise.
- FREEDOM OF THE OPEN ROAD: race on some of the best driving roads in the world including pavement and dirt, explore reimagined Colorado with broad environmental diversity - red rocks, aspen reservoir, and small towns, and discover hidden challenges and collectables like barn finds.
- COMPETITION MEETS CULTURE: rivalries and leaderboards baked into the world, online playground games like "cat&mouse" or "tag", never made more sense, and set in an automotive music festival, find multiple radio stations curated by Rob da Bank (BBC One DJ and festival promoter).
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