10 Best Open-World Games Of 2018
4. Forza Horizon 4
That Forza Horizon 4 is likely the final entry in Playground Games' spin-off series before Microsoft pulls the plug on Xbox One in favour of shiny new hardware is probably a good thing. As far as arcade racers go (Turn 10's Motorsport series appeals to a different crowd), no other studio, not even Playground itself, can possibly improve upon Horizon 4's quality before this console generation comes to a close.
The painstakingly researched and digitally replicated setting of Northern England and Scotland has proven - ironically, given the UK's largely boring landscape - to be Horizon's most gorgeous, varied map to date, a strong foundation complimented to no end by its terrific seasonal system. On paper, tying car preference and peak performance to weather and road conditions sounds like a needless addition, but in practice? Melting tarmac under the scorching summer sun in a supercar, only to trade that speed for muscle to power through winter snowdrifts is a fantastic gameplay loop that never feels artificial.
The ever-changing environment, coupled with seamless multiplayer and heaps of original side content instantly cements it, not just as a lucrative Xbox One exclusive, but a defining racer that won't be surpassed anytime soon.