Ahead of Forza Horizon 5’s highly anticipated release, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have compiled a list of the top 10 all-time best selling racing video game franchises – revealing where Forza ranks.
Set to be released to the public on the 9th of November, it’s predicted to be one of Xbox’s biggest games of the year. The latest instalment will see players navigate a Mexican inspired landscape with what creators promise to be the most diverse terrain and biggest selection of cars yet.
In honour of the new release, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have also taken a drive down memory lane to reveal the best (and worst) Forza games and extension packs of all time according to fans!
And if you were looking to take your Forza experience to the next level, the UK car leasing company has listed the top 3 real-life road trips in Mexico, all inspired by Forza Horizon 5.
The top 10 best selling racing video game franchises and where Forza features
In a heavily dense market of racing video games, it is hard to stand out, but these are the 10 franchises that have found themselves in poll positions based on estimated sales*:
- Mario Kart (152 million)
- Need for Speed (150 million)
- Gran Turismo (85 million)
- Driver (19 million)
- Midnight Club (18.5 million)
- Forza (16 million)
- Burnout (15 million)
- Asphalt (10 million)
- Colin McRae Rally (10 million)
- EA Sports NASCAR series (9 million)
Despite being one of the most recognised franchises today, Forza ranks in sixth place. Since being launched in 2005 an estimated 16 million copies have been sold among it’s xbox exclusive audience.
The Mario Kart franchise takes the lead with a huge 152 million copies being sold. The franchise does have the advantage of being around for the longest on the list as it is nearly 30 years old. However, in terms of individual racing game sales, different versions of Mario Kart make up the majority of the top spots.
Need for speed ranks closely in second position with 150 million sales since the first being released in 1994 – just 2 years after Mario Kart. Gran Turismo rounds off the top 3 with an impressive estimated 85 million sales since 1997.
Ranked: The Forza games and extension packs – from best to worst:
| Rank | Game | Year | Average time to complete the main story | User rating |
| 1 | Forza Horizon 3 | 2016 | 17 hours | 87% |
| 2 | Forza Horizon 4 | 2018 | 12.5 hours | 85% |
| 3 | Forza Horizon | 2012 | 16 hours | 84% |
| 4 | Forza Horizon 2 | 2014 | 18.5 hours | 83% |
| 5 | Forza Motorsport 4 | 2011 | 29 hours | 82% |
| 6 | Forza Motorsport 6 | 2015 | 25 hours | 82% |
| 7 | Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island | 2018 | 7 hours | 82% |
| 8 | Forza Horizon 3: Blizzard Mountain | 2016 | 5 hours | 81% |
| 9 | Forza Horizon 2: Storm Island | 2014 | 4 hours | 80% |
| 10 | Forza Motorsport 3 | 2009 | 35 hours | 80% |
| 11 | Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels | 2017 | 4 hours | 80% |
| 12 | Forza Motorsport 2 | 2007 | 51 hours | 79% |
| 13 | Forza Motorsport 7 | 2017 | 28 hours | 79% |
| 14 | Forza Horizon 4: LEGO Speed Champions | 2019 | 8.5 hours | 79% |
| 15 | Forza Motorsport 5 | 2013 | 50 hours | 75% |
| 16 | Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious | 2015 | 2.5 hours | 72% |
| 17 | Forza Motorsport 6: Apex | 2016 | 3.5 hours | 71% |
| 18 | Forza Motorsport | 2005 | 67.5 hours | 69% |
| 19 | Forza Street | 2019 | 44 hours | 26% |
| 20 | Forza Motorsport 6 – Porsche Expansion | 2016 | n/a | n/a |
Overall, the open world Horizon series received higher ratings than the closed circuit Motorsport series – with all 4 Horizon releases taking the top 4 places.
Forza Horizon 3 comes in first place with an 87% user rating. Based in a fictional Australia inspired setting, this version allowed players to drive a Lamborghini Centenario through the outback and is a strong favourite among fans. Forza Horizon 4 ranks closely behind despite being the most recent release. The game, set in a British inspired landscape, achieved a 85% user rating partly due to it’s huge 450 car collection. The original Forza Horizon based in Colorado, takes the third position with a user rating of 84% despite being launched 9 years ago.
Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island was the highest rated extension pack with an impressive 82% user rating – this add-on allows players to collect hidden treasure in extreme terrain, lightning storms and perilous roads.
On the other end of the table, Forza Street was rated the lowest, scoring a mere 26%. Despite its main story taking the third longest to complete (44 hours), this iOS game was let down by its software capabilities and simplistic nature making it unable to compete with its Xbox console relations.
The 3 Real Life Forza Horizon 5 Road Trips
Despite being a virtual depiction of the Mexican landscape, Forza Horizon 5 does celebrate Mexico’s vibrant beauty and attractions. With this in mind, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts have compiled a list of the top 3 Mexican road trips inspired by the game.
Mexican Highway Coastal Route 15
Start: Heroica Nogales, Sonora
End: Mexico City
Miles: 1,469
This route is one of the most famous routes in Mexico. Starting at the Mexico-United States border you can experience some of the country’s best coastal views as you stop along the way. You can also explore some of the landscape seen in Forza Horizon 5 as you will pass through farmland, valleys, mountains and tropical forests as you make your way down south to Mexico city.
Guanajuato volcanic route to the East coast
Start: Guanajuato
End: Pyramid of the Magician
Miles: 1,042 miles
This 22/23 hour drive will take you across the center of the country, starting at the UNESCO World Heritage city Guanajuato, down to the active Popocatepetl Volcano, and then over to the Pyramid of the Magician. All of these iconic locations were rumored to be featured in Forza Horizon 5 and provide stunning views of Mexico. On this route you can also schedule driving past the iconic Pyramid of the Sun.
Baja California Route
Start: El Golfo de Santa Clara
End: Cabo San Lucas
Miles: 981
The drive down the Mexican peninsula is full of dry deserts and sand beaches. While you may not be taking part in off-road circuit races like in Forza Horizon 5, on this route you can travel down the famous one-lane highway witnessing the cactus filled barron landscape as you travel to the tip of the peninsula at Cabo San Lucas.
Credit https://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/car-leasing/deals.
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