Common Sense Media Review
By Paul Semel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun open-world racer is best driving game of 2016.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Forza Horizon 3
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 6 parent reviews
Based on 25 kid reviews
Kids say this game is a highly enjoyable open-world racing experience with stunning graphics, a vast selection of vehicles, and engaging challenges. Despite some concerns about mild language in the music and a few inappropriate visuals, most users appreciate its accessibility for younger players and the ability to freely explore Australia.
- fun open-world gameplay
- stunning graphics
- mild language concerns
- accessible for kids
- vast vehicle selection
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
FORZA HORIZON 3 is an open-world racing game that has you driving a wide variety of cars on the streets, beaches, and dirt roads of Australia. By winning races and completing challenges, you not only earn money, which you use to buy more cars, but you also open up the world to new events, making your racing festival that much bigger. Besides all the cars and courses, this game also boasts a number of ways to customize your racing experience, most notably the controls, which can range from realistic to forgiving, and many points in between. You can also change the conditions of the races and even enjoy them with three of your online friends in tow.
Is It Any Good?
Thanks to great controls, twisty tracks, and a wide variety of vehicles and places to drive them, this open-world street-racing game is this year's best virtual Sunday drive. Like previous games in this series, and the Forza Motorsport series it was spun off from, Forza Horizon 3 features adjustable and spot-on controls regardless of whether you're looking for something realistic, something more forgiving and arcade-like, or something in between. By setting the game in Australia, the developers have been able to include tracks that not only have you speeding through suburbs and cities but also on the beaches and through the rainforest as well. Even better, these tracks are nice and curvy, a good challenge to your racing skills. Besides a deep career mode that will have you driving in many kinds of events, this game also has an option to play those events with three of your Forza-loving online friends, including those playing on another system. It also boasts a ton of other events, including some Hollywood-style stunts, as well as a deep customization system that allows you to make your dream car, mechanically and aesthetically. Together, it all makes Forza Horizon 3 the best racing game of 2016.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about driving safety. Why should you never drive in real life like you do in this game? How is crashing in this game different from in real life?
Families can talk about online safety. How can you protect yourself from potential bullies and predators when playing online games? What would you do if you were uncomfortable with other players' conversation?
Game Details
- Platforms : Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Microsoft Game Studios
- Release date : September 27, 2016
- Genre : Racing
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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