Review SIGINT 4/5 · Jul 9, 2026
Another solid iteration of a dependable series
The Forza Horizon series at this point is not one that needs me to break down its core strengths, which are basically good enough to always make it automatically one of the fundamentally stronger games of any year it chooses to release in. I’ve still had ups and downs with the series though, mostly because after playing since the first …
The Forza Horizon series at this point is not one that needs me to break down its core strengths, which are basically good enough to always make it automatically one of the fundamentally stronger games of any year it chooses to release in. I’ve still had ups and downs with the series though, mostly because after playing since the first one I’ve just not always been ready to play with this same formula again when a new one comes out. In this entry more than any other, the music festival style “Horizon Festival” framing and the personality that comes along with it feel particularly like they’ve way outstayed their welcome and hold the games back a bit from fully sliding into the vibe of the global locales they visit.
But that locale this time is a really great one, a mini-recreation of parts of Japan that looks fantastic and perfectly fits the series’s combination of urban, highway, and off-road driving. I don’t think it would ever get old starting a race with an amazing view of Mt. Fuji or leaping over a hill to suddenly get a view of the Tokyo skyline, and the game knows this, doing a great job crafting its events around showing off its world in the best way possible. Especially after visiting Japan myself last year, I just really enjoy the look and feel this setting.
The endless-feeling flow from one event to the the next, the game’s apparent indifference in many cases about what you do or how well you do it, and more make it one of the ultimate chill games. I can’t help but wonder if they still could do more to rethink these into something newer that’s exciting, engaging, and fresh in a way that makes it feel like more than just another chill and polished thing to throw on. But I’m not really complaining much, since these definitely fill a role in the gaming industry and do it really well, so good for just picking something up and having some relaxed fun with very little in the way.