I’m still playing Forza Horizon 3 a decade after release — here’s why I can’t get enough of its beautiful world
After a little taste of what’s next Forza Horizon 6 During a recent preview session, I was desperate for even more arcade racing action from the series.
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Originally released in 2016, this game came out when I was just 14, and I have lots of fond memories of it: first camping out at an in-store demo kiosk, then a few months later at home, sitting on the rug in front of the living room TV.
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Being quite young at the time and fairly new to racing games, I obviously didn’t progress very far and mostly remember wandering around its huge open world, marveling at its scale and the many depictions of real-world landmarks that littered the surrounding area.
Returning to the game a decade later, I have to say that it’s still my favorite way to experience the game. Sure, the driving mechanics themselves are excellent, incredibly accessible and delightfully arcadey while still offering plenty of complexity and depth for hardcore racers willing to turn off the assists, but so does every Forza Horizon.
Forza Horizon 3
Original release date: September 27, 2016
Released on: Xbox One, PC
Played on: Xbox Series X (via backwards compatibility)
These are the settings that make these games truly special, each exploring a different region of the world. Forza Horizon 4The warm take on Britain is always close to my heart as a UK native, and there’s nothing else like Colorado’s unique grimy tone in Forza Horizon 1, but Forza Horizon 3Australia is simply in a different league compared to the others.
The map encompasses most of southwest Australia, with a few areas moved around to condense it and make the layout a little more exciting than real life. The game begins in Byron Bay, a quaint coastal town with rows of small bungalows and huge, sprawling beaches that practically beg you to slow down and watch the sun go down whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The first few races take you north, through the rugged terrain of a lush rainforest filled with muddy tracks, exciting natural ramps and small puddles that are so satisfying to navigate in a beefy off-road buggy.
As more events unlock, you venture into the steamy outback with its bright red sand and scattered bushes providing a beautiful backdrop for even more exciting off-road racing. It’s divided by a few industrial sites, including the massive Redstone Airport and its colossal runway, ideal for impromptu drag races against online friends. And yes, even though the game was removed from the list, the the servers are still up and running at the moment, which was a very pleasant surprise.
There’s an incredible amount of environmental variety here that was sorely lacking in later games, but all of that pales in comparison to what I consider to be the true pinnacle of the universe. Forza Horizon 3Surfer’s Paradise map. A trendy suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland, dominated by towering skyscrapers and bustling streets.
The scale still seems impressive today, and with other games focusing almost exclusively on historic towns and villages, there really wasn’t anything like it in gaming. Forza Horizon series until the revelation of Forza Horizon 6 and his interpretation of Tokyo.
Bathed in sunlight, everything seems so modern and clean, like the rose-tinted memory of his childhood summer vacation. You can also see its largest buildings throughout the rest of the map, always beckoning you for more.
With its seemingly endless supply of races and unlocks, I really don’t think I’ll ever finish Forza Horizon 3. Honestly, I think that’s how I prefer it. I never want to leave this beautiful world behind me.
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