Forza Motorsport (2023)

Played On: PC via Game Pass

Also available on Xbox Series X/S

After 6 years, Turn 10 Studios is back with a new entry for the Forza Motorsport series. Though this is not the 8th game in continuation but a refresh of sorts, the studio ensures all are welcome to play, be it a long-time racing fan or a newbie to the series.

If I’m being honest, I love the Forza Horizon series for its over-the-top arcade-style gameplay. Those are too much fun for me. But the Motorsport series acts as this older brother who is just serious about being the ultimate racing sim experience (like the previous entries).

And does the new entry to the Motorsport series succeed in what it aims to be? Read on!

Gameplay

On the get-go, you can view an extensive collection of meticulously detailed cars, which are added to the game, allowing players to choose from a wide range of vehicles to race with. Each car feels unique and handles differently, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.

The tracks are beautifully designed and offer a great sense of realism. Whether racing through city streets or conquering challenging circuits, it is definitely enjoyable to race around these tracks.

Players can fine-tune their cars, adjusting everything from tire pressure to gear ratios, to optimize performance on different tracks. This level of customization allows players to tailor their racing experience to their liking. Turn 10 has, for sure, created the racing RPG this time 😄

Forza Motorsport’s career mode is made up of a series of tours. There would be around 5 races in each tour and you’ll be made to do a practice run so that you are used to the track and it is a good way to warm up as well. It's a fun segment though, where you would need to compete for the best time through the parts of the track and also upgrade your car along the way. In the end, you will be doing a race on the same track. And, as usual, the better you perform, the better rewards you get.

The multiplayer component is also well-executed, offering both competitive and cooperative gameplay options. Racing against other players online or teaming up with friends for cooperative challenges adds an extra layer of excitement and replayability to the game.

Graphics/Visuals

From its stunning graphics to its realistic physics, the game truly captures the essence of high-speed racing. This is something no one will deny. The game looks gorgeous!

Yes, of course, there is always a price to be paid in such situations. Read on to know more about the optimisations on PC 🥲

Other Bits

Now, I did find some drawbacks in the game. The AI opponents can sometimes feel inconsistent, with some races being too easy while others prove to be overly challenging. Additionally, the progression system could benefit from more variety and rewards to keep players motivated.

And my god the car leveling-up system. I know this has been added as a way to make you play the game for a longer period of time but to customize each car you would need to level it up at some particular levels.

Finally, the PC port. Goddamn, as much we are entering into this ‘next-gen’ gaming scenario, with developers showing off their beautifully created product, it runs terribly on PCs, no matter what your hardware is. This was one of the main reasons I didn’t buy this game in the first place (unlike FH5, for which I had bought the deluxe edition and it ran wonderfully on my rig). All of a sudden, it looks like the developers don’t even try optimizing the games before releasing. Is DLSS/FSR really a benefit or its just making everyone lazy? Well, this is something to be discussed another time.

But here, PC Game Pass is definitely a money saviour in such situations 😄

TSHC SCORE: 7.5/10

CONCLUSION:

Forza Motorsport is a solid racing game that delivers an enjoyable and realistic experience. With its stunning visuals, extensive car collection, and engaging gameplay, it is sure to satisfy racing enthusiasts. But due to its poor PC optimisation, it is hard to recommend as of now. If you have Game Pass, you can check it out!

For the ultimate racing sim gameplay, you can always prefer Assetto Corsa Competizione above everything else.

---

OpenCritic Rating: