GameTimeline

Release & story order

Forza games in order

Use this page for Forza games in order—Turn 10’s two-lane racing brand, not every numbered Motorsport dump. Release lists US ship dates for the Horizon festival open-world chain (Horizon 1–5) plus two Motorsport milestones: Forza Motorsport 7 (2017) and the 2023 Forza Motorsport reboot. Story keeps Horizon as a numbered festival path and Motorsport as a separate sim-career lane (7 → 2023), because they share cars and Xbox DNA, not one continuous plot. Essentials covers Horizon 4→5 modern, full Horizon, or Motorsport-only. Early thin Motorsport numbered titles stay FAQ-optional. Racing neighbors: Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, and arcade vibes on Mario Kart.

Updated September 2026

Pick your path:

Horizon modern Full Horizon Motorsport lane Full release list Story order

Where to start

Pick Horizon modern for Horizon 4 into Horizon 5, Full Horizon for every festival entry on this page, or Motorsport lane for Motorsport 7 into the 2023 reboot. Essentials hides the other lane so you only check off the path you chose.

  • Newcomers on Game Pass → horizon-modern (4 → 5) for current open-world feel
  • Completionists who love festivals → full-horizon in Release order
  • Track-day sim fans → motorsport-lane only; skip Horizon until you want freeroam
  • Want both fantasies later → finish one Essentials lane first, then sample the other

Release order

When each curated Forza milestone shipped in the US—Forza Horizon (October 23, 2012) through Forza Horizon 5 (November 9, 2021), plus Forza Motorsport 7 (October 3, 2017) and Forza Motorsport (October 10, 2023). This page deliberately skips thin early Motorsport numbered dumps so the list stays decision-ready for 2026 players choosing a lane.

  • 2026 open-world default → Horizon 4 or 5; prefer 5 if you want the current festival map
  • Full Horizon binge → Release order Horizon 1 through 5
  • Sim-track lane → Motorsport 7 then the 2023 Forza Motorsport reboot
  • Skip early thin Motorsport numbered titles unless you are a completionist collector
Story order tips

Forza is two play fantasies, not one shared hero arc. Soft Horizon lane: festival open-world vibes from Horizon through Horizon 5—each festival resets hosts and maps while keeping the arcade-cruise identity. Separate Motorsport lane: Motorsport 7 into the 2023 reboot for track-day sim career energy. Do not sequence Horizon as a Motorsport sequel or vice versa.

  • Horizon lane stays festival-to-festival—play numbered order for soft continuity vibes
  • Motorsport 7 → 2023 reboot is a separate career lane, not a Horizon prequel
  • Cars and Xbox branding overlap; plot and maps do not form one shared story bible
  • On Story order, later entries may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

0/7 played

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Forza Horizon

    Forza Horizon

    Xbox 360RacingHorizonOpen world

    Forza Horizon (October 23, 2012, US) invents the festival open-world Forza—Colorado roads, arcade freeroam, and a party tone that splits the brand from track-day Motorsport. Soft start of the Horizon numbered lane players still binge in 2026.

    Overview
    Open-world festival racing with Forza handling DNA—cruise, discover, and race without a pure sim circuit career. Established the Horizon identity every numbered sequel still answers.
    In-game setting
    Opens the Horizon festival lane. Next soft step is Forza Horizon 2 in southern Europe; Motorsport titles remain a separate career fantasy, not prequels.
    Should you play it?
    Required on full-horizon. Optional if you only want Horizon 4/5 modern feel—you lose Colorado origin vibes, not required lore for later festivals.
    Release date
    US October 23, 2012 on Xbox 360. Later Horizon games are easier to buy digitally on current Xbox and PC Game Pass shelves.
  2. Forza Horizon 2

    Forza Horizon 2

    Xbox 360Xbox OneRacingHorizonOpen world

    Forza Horizon 2 (September 30, 2014, US) moves the festival to southern Europe with bigger open-world ambition and Xbox One polish—middle chapter of the Horizon numbered path between Colorado and Australia.

    Overview
    Expands festival freeroam scale and seasonal-event energy while keeping arcade-cruise Forza identity. Solidifies Horizon as the brand’s open-world product line beside Motorsport.
    In-game setting
    Soft Horizon chain after Horizon; next is Horizon 3 in Australia. Still not a Motorsport story bridge—separate lane on the Story tab.
    Should you play it?
    Include on full-horizon. Skip on horizon-modern if you are racing straight to 4→5—you miss Europe festival tone, not Horizon 5 plot prerequisites.
    Release date
    US September 30, 2014 on Xbox One (and a 360 version). Prefer Xbox One / PC successors if you want current storefront support.
  3. Forza Horizon 3

    Forza Horizon 3

    Xbox OnePCRacingHorizonOpen world

    Forza Horizon 3 (September 27, 2016, US) drops the festival in Australia with PC arrival and creator-friendly festival tools—peak mid-generation Horizon before Britain and Mexico became the modern defaults.

    Overview
    Australia map plus stronger PC presence made Horizon a cross-platform open-world racer, not Xbox-console-only tourism. Festival hosting fantasy deepens without turning into Motorsport career sim.
    In-game setting
    Horizon numbered middle after Horizon 2; next soft step is Horizon 4’s seasonal Britain. Motorsport remains off this lane.
    Should you play it?
    Required on full-horizon. Optional before Horizon 4/5 modern path—great if you want Australia vibes; skippable if Game Pass points you at 4 or 5 first.
    Release date
    US September 27, 2016 on Xbox One and Windows PC. Check Microsoft storefronts for digital availability versus later Horizon titles.
  4. Forza Motorsport 7

    Forza Motorsport 7

    Xbox OnePCRacingMotorsportSimcade

    Forza Motorsport 7 (October 3, 2017, US) is the curated late Xbox One Motorsport milestone on this page—track-day career, huge car list, and circuit focus before the 2023 reboot reset the sim line. Not a Horizon prequel.

    Overview
    Flagship circuit Forza of the Xbox One era—weather, liveries, and career structure aimed at track fantasy rather than festival freeroam. Last major numbered Motorsport many players still recognize before the reboot.
    In-game setting
    Opens the Motorsport Story lane toward the 2023 reboot. Do not sequence it between Horizon titles as plot—brand siblings only.
    Should you play it?
    Required on motorsport-lane. Skip on Horizon-only Essentials—you lose circuit career context, not Horizon 5 open-world access.
    Release date
    US October 3, 2017 on Xbox One and PC. Compare storefront listings with the 2023 reboot if you want the current Motorsport multiplayer stack.
  5. Forza Horizon 4

    Forza Horizon 4

    Xbox OneXbox Series X|SPCRacingHorizonOpen world

    Forza Horizon 4 (October 2, 2018, US) sets the festival in a living British countryside with rotating seasons—still a top 2026 recommendation and the first half of the horizon-modern Essentials path into Horizon 5.

    Overview
    Seasonal open world plus deep festival loop made Britain a landmark Horizon map. Arcade freeroam with Forza car culture, still distinct from Motorsport circuits.
    In-game setting
    Soft Horizon peak before Mexico’s Horizon 5. Story-tab stays on the festival lane; Motorsport 7 / 2023 reboot sit elsewhere.
    Should you play it?
    Required on horizon-modern and full-horizon. Best modern starter if 5 feels too new or you want seasons first; pair with 5 for the default 2026 binge.
    Release date
    US October 2, 2018 on Xbox One and PC; enhanced on Xbox Series. Frequently available via Xbox / PC Game Pass rotations—confirm current catalog.
  6. Forza Horizon 5

    Forza Horizon 5

    Xbox OneXbox Series X|SPCRacingHorizonOpen world

    Forza Horizon 5 (November 9, 2021, US) moves the festival to Mexico with a huge biomes map and current-gen polish—the usual 2026 open-world Forza endpoint and the second half of horizon-modern after Horizon 4.

    Overview
    Largest Horizon playground yet with diverse biomes and ongoing festival content cadence. Caps the numbered Horizon lane on this curated page without absorbing Motorsport’s circuit career fantasy.
    In-game setting
    Current Horizon endpoint after Horizon 4. Motorsport reboot is a parallel product, not Horizon 6 by another name.
    Should you play it?
    Default 2026 Horizon pick. Required on horizon-modern and full-horizon; skip only on pure motorsport-lane plans.
    Release date
    US November 9, 2021 on Xbox consoles and PC; strong Game Pass presence historically—verify your region’s catalog before buying.
  7. Forza Motorsport (2023)

    Forza Motorsport (2023)

    Xbox Series X|SPCRacingMotorsportReboot

    Forza Motorsport (October 10, 2023, US) reboots the track-day line for Xbox Series and PC—modern physics, multiplayer focus, and career circuits after Motorsport 7. Treat it as the Motorsport-lane endpoint, not a Horizon sequel.

    Overview
    Full Motorsport reboot rather than a quiet numbered sequel—updated simcade handling and live-service circuit cadence for current hardware. Keeps the brand’s two-product split clear beside Horizon 5.
    In-game setting
    Motorsport Story lane after Motorsport 7. Share cars/Xbox ecosystem with Horizon; do not expect festival map continuity from Mexico or Britain.
    Should you play it?
    Required on motorsport-lane. Skip on Horizon-only paths—you lose the modern circuit reboot, not open-world festival access.
    Release date
    US October 10, 2023 on Xbox Series X|S and PC. Check Game Pass and Edition bundles if you want the current Motorsport online stack.

FAQ

Motorsport vs Horizon, where to start in 2026, Game Pass, early Motorsport skips, and which Horizon to buy first.

Play order

Open-world default: Forza Horizon 4 then Horizon 5 (horizon-modern).

Current festival only: jump straight to Horizon 5.

Track-day lane: Motorsport 7 optional, then Forza Motorsport (2023).

Racing neighbors: Need for Speed and Gran Turismo.

Two lanes

Motorsport is the circuit / career simcade lane—tracks, liveries, and race weekends (Motorsport 7, then the 2023 reboot).

Horizon is the open-world festival arcade lane—freeroam maps and party events (Horizon 1–5).

Same Forza car culture and Xbox ecosystem; not one continuous story. Pick a lane in Essentials.

Game Pass & platforms

Horizon titles and the 2023 Motorsport reboot have frequently appeared on Xbox and PC Game Pass, but catalogs rotate. Check your region’s Game Pass list before buying Deluxe editions. Game Pass does not change Motorsport vs Horizon lane advice—still pick open-world or circuits first.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.