I'm still playing Forza Horizon 3 a decade after release here's why I can't get enough of its beautiful world

Date:
Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
For our From the Backlog series, I'm revisiting the brilliant open world of Forza Horizon 3.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter After a little taste of the upcoming Forza Horizon 6 in a recent preview session, I've been desperate for even more of the series' arcade racing action. From the Backlog Every gamer has a backlog and thats no different
for us at TechRadar Gaming. From the Backlog is a series about overdue first-plays, revisiting classics, returning to online experiences, or rediscovering and appreciating established favorites in new ways. Read the full series here . I've had my fill of 2021's Forza Horizon 5 dipping in and out of it over the last few years and, having sold my old physical copies of the rest of the series years ago and with none of them still available to purchase on digital storefronts, I hauled myself down to my local second hand game shop where I found an irresistibly cheap copy of Forza Horizon 3 . Originally released in 2016, this game dropped when I was just 14, and I have plenty of fond memories messing around in it first camping at an in-store demo kiosk, and then a few months later at home, sitting on the carpet in front of the living room TV. Article continues below You may like Forza Horizon 6's mini rendition of Tokyo is the most beautiful and detailed urban environment in the series so far Crimson Desert gets better every hour: it's Pearl Abyss best work Im finally playing Eastshade, and its turned me into a travelling painter who really cares about artistic composition Down under (Image credit: Xbox) Being pretty young at the time and quite new to racing games, I obviously didn't progress very far and mostly remember making my way around in its massive open world, awestruck by its sheer scale and the many representations of real-world landmarks littered around.

Going back to the game a decade later, I have to say that this is still my favorite way to experience the game. Of course, the driving mechanics themselves are excellent, being incredibly approachable and delightfully arcade-like yet still offering plenty of complexity and depth for the
die-hard racers willing to turn off assists, but the same is true of every Forza Horizon . Forza Horizon 3 (Image credit: Xbox) Original release date: September 27, 2016 Released on: Xbox One, PC Played on: Xbox Series X (via backward compatibility) It's the settings that really make these games special, with each exploring a different global region. Forza Horizon 4 's cozy rendition of Britain is still close to my heart as a UK native, and there's nothing else quite like the uniquely grimy tone of Colorado in Forza Horizon 1, but Forza Horizon 3 's Australia is simply in another league compared to the rest.

The map encompasses most of southwestern Australia, with a few areas moved around to condense it down and make the layout a bit more exciting than real life. The game begins down at Byron Bay, a picturesque coastal town with rows of little bungalows and massive, stretching beaches that practically beg you to slow down and watch the sun set every time the opportunity presents
itself. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The first few races take you north, up through the rugged terrain of a lush rainforest that's filled with muddy tracks, exciting natural ramps, and
little pools of water that are oh-so-satisfying to splash through in a beefy off-road buggy. As more events unlock, you find yourself venturing into the scorching hot outback with its bright red sand and scattered bushes providing a lovely backdrop for even more exciting off-road races. It's broken up by
the odd industrial site, including the massive Redstone Airport with its colossal runway ideal for impromptu drag races against friends online. And yes, although the game has been delisted, the servers are still up right now, which was a very pleasant surprise.

There's an incredible environmental variety here that's sorely missing in the later games, but all of it pales in comparison to what I consider the real pinnacle of Forza Horizon 3 's map: Surfer's Paradise. A trendy suburb in
Gold Coast, Queensland, that's dominated by massive skyscrapers and lively streets. What to read next The 25 best PC games to play right now Best Xbox racing wheels: next-level motoring from Logitech, Turtle Beach, and more Playing The Last of Us with friends made my favorite PlayStation game feel brand new again (Image credit: Xbox) The scale still feels impressive today, and with other games almost exclusively focusing on historical towns and villages, there really wasn't anything like it in the Forza Horizon series up until the reveal of Forza Horizon 6 and its rendition of Tokyo .

Bathed in bright sunlight, everything just feels so modern and clean like
the rose-tinted memory of a childhood summer holiday. You can see its biggest buildings from across the rest of the map too, always inviting you back for more.

With its seemingly limitless supply of races and unlocks, I genuinely don't think I'll ever finish Forza Horizon 3. Honestly, though, I think that's the way I prefer it. I never want to leave this beautiful world behind. The best racing wheels Our top picks for the best racing wheels overall

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/xbox/im-still-playing-forza-horizon-3-a-decad e-after-release-heres-why-i-cant-get-enough-of-its-beautiful-world


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