Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Deep, compelling car game glamorizes illicit street racing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Forza Horizon
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say this game offers an engaging and enjoyable racing experience with excellent graphics and a solid storyline, although it contains mild violence and occasional swearing. While many reviewers believe it is suitable for older kids and preteens, concerns about some inappropriate content and the portrayal of illegal street racing have prompted mixed opinions about its overall appropriateness.
- engaging gameplay
- suitable for older kids
- mild violence
- occasional swearing
- inappropriate content considerations
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
The fifth game in Turn 10's acclaimed racing series, FORZA HORIZON steers the series in a new direction by marrying the franchise's authentic driving physics and realistic vehicles based on actual cars with the action-packed design of an open-world arcade racer. Players are part of a street racing festival set in the backcountry roads of Colorado, and spend much of their time freely roaming hundreds of miles of open road, challenging other racers on their way to official festival events. Players earn scores of cars as the game progresses, as well as credits used to upgrade vehicles and skill points for completing a wide array of challenges ranging from driving on two tires to narrowly avoiding head-on collisions. An online mode filled with standard races (circuit, point-to-point) and novel objectives (cat and mouse, king of the road) gives players plenty of ways to race against friends and other people from around the world.
Is It Any Good?
Forza Horizon is among the very best racing games of this generation. Equally appealing to players who crave a realistic driving simulation and those who enjoy the more game-like qualities of an arcade experience, it keeps players glued to the screen by offering up cars that feel great to drive and creating a terrific sense of progression. Its open roads offer unparalleled freedom to play and experiment with satisfyingly authentic cars -- something sim fans aren't used to. And arcade-racing fans can enjoy a sense of precision and realism to which they're unaccustomed without giving up the spectacle and thrill of action-packed street racing. It tries to be the best of both worlds and succeeds admirably. This is a great racing game to add to a library of the best video games.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about online safety. What precautions do you take when playing games with strangers over the Internet? How can you tell if they mean you harm? Have you considered playing online with voice communication disabled?
Families can also discuss responsible driving. Parents who have teens learning to drive may want to consider studies that suggest playing some racing games can lead to taking more driving risks in real life and share it with their children.
Game Details
- Platform : Xbox 360
- Subjects : Hobbies : collecting , Science : momentum , motion , physics
- Skills : Collaboration : teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Microsoft Studios
- Release date : October 23, 2012
- Genre : Racing
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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