Forza Horizon 4

I'll always have a massive soft spot for the down under delights of Forza Horizon 3, but open-world racing has never looked as good as it does in Forza Horizon 4. It combines a beautiful world that's really four hugely distinct maps in one with a constantly rewarding and self-renewing racing experience and I really can't tear myself away from it. Playground Games hasn't just upped the ante once again; it's blown the bloody doors off.

Playground Games continues to master the art of driving games that are both accessible and complex, and Horizon 4's meaningful changes keep the series lively and looking fantastic.

Another sumptuous, endlessly entertaining automotive playground, but its shift into 'shared-world' online gaming is only a partial success.

Unless you're looking for a hardcore sim, Forza Horizon is still the best racing series around.

It's sharper than previous games, more openly designed, bigger and more fun. One of Forza Horizon 4's strengths is that it tends toward freedom, letting us do just what we want, and liberating us from races and activities that we don't fancy. Most of all, this is a fun, even joyful experience, a thrilling racing fantasy.

Forza Horizon 4 isn't as bombastic as its predecessor, but still a challenging and all-encompassing online racer. And the more introverted moments of driving through autumnal or snow-dusted Britain are beautiful, especially as a showcase for Xbox One X.

Delivers a wealth of exciting content for both single-player and multiplayer avenues of play, and once again dazzles with its outstanding track designs

This full-throttle trip on iconic British roads is a tourist board's dream, with perfect weather and no nimbys to spoil the fun. Take time to enjoy the views

I'm extremely excited to see what the game will turn into once everyone else arrives.

Forza Horizon 4 is another fantastically fun Forza Horizon game even if it's tough to pinpoint Playground's grandest ambition. If it was to reinvent the series with seasons, that falls a bit flat and underwhelming. But, if it was to simply remove the constraints and make everything as open and free as possible, then Playground hit its target in the most impressive way. Regardless, Forza Horizon is still the king of open-world arcade racers, and it really doesn't look like that'll change anytime soon.