The Best Xbox Game Every Year 2001 - 2024

20. 2005 - Forza Motorsport

forza motorsport 2005
Microsoft Game Studios

Since 1997, Gran Turismo had been the last word in racing sims. Many had tried and failed to topple PlayStation and Polyphony Digital's titan franchise but hadn't ever really come close to the same reaction or staying power. With every new iteration, Gran Turismo pushed the genre ahead to craft the most complete racing experience.

Forza Motorsport's developers directly set out to be the next competitor to the throne and, considering both its consistency and brand value in the decades since, it's fair to say they succeeded. 

What truly set Forza a step ahead of its contemporaries was car customisation. Greatly expanding what the Gran Turismo series had done before, players could now swap an engine out of one machine into another and experience relatively realistic results. More than this, the game allowed 100 layers of cosmetic customisation, giving racers a chance to decorate their many vehicles with very authored designs and take them online with Xbox Live.

Despite the Xbox 360 launching in late 2005, the most important Microsoft exclusive of the year, without question, is Forza Motorsport on the original Xbox. 

Contributor

Coming from a content creation background that now spans over two decades, Psy cut her teeth on personal video production and community radio. Originally joining the team as a writer and presenter, she added video editing duties to her responsibilities over time and became the longest-standing editor of the irreverent gaming show Tues Your Own Adventure. Psy has worked on many previews and reviews, long-form editorials (either her own, or supporting as an editor), as a frequent quizmaster and more. Praised for the two-pronged attack of her hard work ethic and light-hearted editing style, Psy is otherwise known as a font of retro video game knowledge which has caused her to rack up many quiz wins. Outside of WhatCulture, Psy runs First Aid Spray Podcast - a long-running channel that focuses on Resident Evil in all of it's forms. You can follow her on BlueSky at http://psywhite.bsky.social and Instagram at http://instagram.com/therealpsywhite