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Forza Horizon Vs. Forza Motorsports (A detailed comparison)

Forza Horizon Vs. Forza Motorsports (A detailed comparison)

Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports are two different video games. They are distinct from each other. Turn 10 Studios is behind Forza Motorsport, while Playground Games is behind Forza Horizon.

Professional racing is the focus of Forza Motorsport. It contains genuine and fictitious closed circuits where you can race using the library of racing disciplines and classes.

Forza Horizon is always situated in a made-up universe based on a real place. It has an open universe and events that take place in that environment.

You are free to roam and engage in any of the available events. I will discuss all the differences between Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsport, along with their release times, racing, and other noticeable variations. 

Let’s get started!

What is Forza Horizon?

Forza Horizon is an open-world racing video game developed by Playground Games in collaboration with Turn 10 Studios for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 video game console.

The game is the fifth installment in the Forza series, though it was a spin-off of the original Forza Motorsport title scheme at the time of its release.

Forza Horizon has inspired three sequels: Forza Horizon 2 in 2014, Forza Horizon 3 in 2016, and Forza Horizon 4 in 2018.

All in all, Forza Horizon is an open-world video game with a different development than that of Forza Motorsports.

What do you know about Forza Horizon?

Forza Horizon is a game that revolves around the fictitious Horizon Festival, a street racing event set in the state of Colorado. The game incorporates many different gameplay aspects from previous Forza Motorsport titles, like the large variety of cars, realistic physics, and high-definition graphics.

The aim is to progress through the game by obtaining wristbands via winning races, while also increasing their popularity level by driving fast, destroying property, and performing other stunts and antics.

It features the physics of Forza Motorsport 4, which has been optimized to work on the 65 terrain variants said to be present in the game. Players can drive off-road in select areas, while others, such as large cliffs, are limited by guardrails or other means.

The latest version is Forza Horizon 4. You can check out U4N if you like to collect cars, There is no fierce competition from the auction house, so you can easily get what you want.

We have more information about Forza Horizon and its latest versions.

How can you differentiate between Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports?

Forza Motorsports and Forza Horizon have a lot of differences, but car handling is a significant difference between Forza Motorsports and Forza Horizon. The handling in Forza Motorsport is more realistic than the accessible driving physics in Forza Horizon.

Forza Horizon caters to a more casual audience, so the emphasis is on having fun.

For example, in Forza Horizon, you can drive supercars off-road, perform massive jumps worthy of the Dukes of Hazzard, and smash through objects with no consequences.

These were some of the noticeable variations between the two.

What makes Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports different in terms of racing?

Undoubtedly, Forza Horizon offers a lot more variation in racing, as you’ll be dealing with the diverse surfaces and terrain that come with the open-world driving experience.

It’ll certainly come as no surprise that Forza Motorsport will give a lot more realistic racing experience when it comes to the gritty, serious racing component.

So, which game will best fit your tastes depends on whether you favor arcade racing mayhem and the feeling of learning to adapt to various cars and motorsport disciplines on real-world racetracks.

An image of the front view of the car with the blurred motor
There are many car racing videos, such as Forza Horizon

How does the release time of Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports differ from each other?

Forza Motorsport 1 was released in 2005, while Forza Horizon 1 was released in 2012.

What are the differences between the map locations of Forza 3 and Forza 4?

Forza 3 and Forza 4 have various map locations.

With Horizon 3 set in Australia and Horizon 4 set in the UK, there were always going to be some controversial arguments either way when deciding which one provides the better map and location for driving.

What are the differences between the graphics of Forza 3 and Forza 4?

if you opt to play either of these games on the Xbox One or future generation consoles, system requirements will be irrelevant.

However, from a PC gamer’s perspective, they’re vital to ensuring you get the best performance out of the game.

Although the graphics cannot be explained in the text, the video below will let you know about the graphics of both these series better.

This video shows a detailed comparison between Horizon 3 and 4. Have a look!

Who is the developer of Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports?

Turn 10 Studios is behind Forza Motorsport, while Playground Games is behind Forza Horizon.

What are the earnings differences between Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Horizon 4? (In-Game CR and Bonuses)

Whereas gamers were previously spoiled with Horizon 3, all you had to do was load up the game to be rewarded with an insane amount of cash, barn finds, and supercars.

Earning money in Forza Horizon 4 is a lot more difficult, and it takes time, knowledge, and experience. Many people lacked the patience, or perhaps the talent, for this.

Before you knew it, you were keeping up with the best in the races, and many were overjoyed to be given a shortcut to the big time, and you wouldn’t have to spend a dime of real-world money to do so.

Which series is better, Forza Motorsport or Forza Horizon?

Regarding physics, Forza Motorsport will appeal to more serious gamers and car enthusiasts. For now, Forza Horizon will suffice for those seeking pure entertainment.

We’re not saying Forza Horizon is for kids, but the younger generation is unquestionably the target audience.

What do you know about the Horizon series?

Forza Horizon, developed by British studio Playground Games, was released in 2012 as an open-world spin-off to Forza Motorsport centered on the Horizon music festival.

The first game, released on Xbox 360, allowed you to explore Colorado’s canyon roads. Forza Horizon 2, which was released in 2014, transports you to the coastal roads of Southern France and Northern Italy.

The Horizon festival was relocated to the Australian outback in Forza Horizon 3. Forza Horizon 4 is set in “beautiful, historic Britain,” which is close to home. There was even a recreation of Edinburgh’s town center.

Exploring Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5, the most recent game in the Horizon series, is set in Mexico. This is the most varied map in a Forza Horizon game, allowing you to wreck through a picturesque town, beaches, and jungles. You can even drive up a volcano to the highest point in any Forza Horizon game.

Forza Horizon has a more upbeat tone than Forza Motorsport. 

Its music festival and radio stations create a raucous party atmosphere, and there are also Top Gear-style Showcase events where you race against various vehicles ranging from trains to motorcycles.

Along with the main race events, maps in Horizon games contain hidden car barn finds, speed traps, and stunt jumps to discover.

An image showing two racing cars
Two cars drifting in a race battle with aerial smoke

Which one is best, Forza Horizon 5 or 4?

The table below summarizes all the differences between these series, and it will also help you understand which one is better, along with an individual comparison of characteristics.

CharacteristicsForza Horizon 5 or Forza Horizon 4
Map LocationForza Horizon 5
Car RosterForza Horizon 4
GameplayForza Horizon 5
VisualsForza Horizon 5
Overall WinnerForza Horizon 5
Who is the winner, Forza Horizon 5 or 4?

By looking at the comparison, you can see that Forza Horizon 5 wins among the majority of the traits. Therefore, it is considered the better version than Forza Horizon 4.

How does Forza Horizon 3 differ from Forza Motorsport 6?

The Forza Motorsport games are set on closed-circuit tarmac tracks that depict real-world locations (Le Mans, Daytona, etc.). Forza Horizon 3 is an open-world game where drivers can navigate city streets and go off-road. Forza Horizon 3’s world is set in a compressed version of Australia, highlighting the varied terrain as well as depicting well-known landmarks.

Motorsport and Horizon games use the same physics and lighting engine (ForzaTech), with Horizon’s handling being slightly more forgiving but not “arcade.”

Forza Horizon 6’s theme is a fictitious music festival where the player is the boss. It means you’ll be making major decisions impacting the festival. Everything from when and where to expand the festival sites to the music played, and the events that take place is entirely up to you.

Your goal is to gain as many fans as possible until your festival becomes the most popular worldwide.

A 3-D visualization of a car with colorful graphics
Generic sports car speeding on the road

What does the future hold for Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsport?

Playground Games has not stated whether or not a new Forza Horizon game is in the works. However, given the series’ success, we anticipate a sequel to Forza Horizon 5. 

Forza Horizon games are typically released every two years, so the next one could arrive in 2023.

However, we know that a new Forza Motorsport game is in the works for the Xbox Series X|S. 

The series reboot, simply titled Forza Motorsport, promises to be the most authentic Forza game yet, complete with a brand-new tire and suspension model. 

Forza Motorsport does not yet have a release date, but it is expected to arrive in 2022 to compete with Gran Turismo 7.

Thus, we can not predict the future. We can just assume it based on the facts.

Final Thoughts

  • Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsport are separate video game series. They were developed by different studios: Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios, respectively.
  • Forza Motorsport focuses on professional racing on closed circuits. In contrast, Forza Horizon offers an open-world experience with various events. It is in a fictional but realistic setting.
  • The handling in Forza Motorsport is more realistic, catering to serious racing enthusiasts. In contrast, Forza Horizon emphasizes fun and accessibility.
  • Forza Horizon has more diverse racing environments due to its open-world nature. In contrast, Forza Motorsport provides a realistic racing experience on tracks.
  • The release times of the two series differ, with Forza Motorsport 1 released in 2005 and Forza Horizon 1 in 2012.
  • Forza Horizon 5 is considered the better version of the two series. It offers improvements in various aspects.
  • Both series have a unique appeal. Forza Motorsport targets serious gamers and car enthusiasts. In contrast, Forza Horizon offers a more entertaining and open experience.
  • The future of these series is still being determined. New Forza Motorsport is developing. And potential Forza Horizon sequels are expected in the coming years.

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