Editors Choice: Richard's Xbox One game of the year for 2022

Forza Horizon 2

2014 saw a huge number of height drawer Xbox I games to choose from, and choosing the ones to really sit downwardly and play became ever tougher as the year went by. There'southward no doubt with the likes of Halo: Master Master Drove, Dragon Historic period: Inquisition, GTA V, Shadow of Mordor and Dusk Overdrive gracing our consoles, nosotros've been spoiled for selection.

Merely, none of those are my own, personal pick for my game of the year. For that we need to strap in and head to Southern Europe. That'due south right, Forza Horizon 2.

Perhaps more incredible is that the outset time I played Forza Horizon 2, I didn't like it. Not at all. At the Eurogamer Expo in London, I got a pre-release play and I didn't gel with information technology at all. Traditionally I enjoy the racing games similar Forza Motorsport, I get for the realism. Forza Horizon two felt too 'arcady' for my tastes.

But all that changed upon actually sitting down and playing it. Thankfully it'southward one of the titles that offers a free demo from the Xbox 1 shop, so if like me you're not sure, it'due south a good opportunity to try it out without opening your wallet.

Forza Horizon 2

It isn't a game without fault, but in that location aren't many of them. Perchance my only existent criticism is that the Drivatars y'all're playing against are likewise ambitious in the wrong places. Trading paint in a race situation is fine, merely when you're just driving around and getting shunted at high speed from nowhere, information technology's beyond abrasive. If the players they're based on drive similar this, then the game should really be smart enough to rein it in a little instead of spoiling the feel for others.

Merely when you get by that, what a game it is. In the same fashion that GTA Five boasts a large open world to explore, Forza Horizon 2 has the same. The game globe stretches beyond parts of southern France and Italy, with existent world locations such as Nice to put your skills to the test.

Graphically, Forza Horizon 2 is one of the best looking games you'll find. With dynamic lighting effects that alter from day to night – making the cars coruscate all the while – besides as a atmospheric condition engine that goes from glorious sunshine to torrential rain, the earth of the Horizon festival is more than immersive than any Forza game that came before it.

Forza Horizon 2

The single thespian, story driven challenges give you a real target beyond only buying cars and winning championships, and the side missions like the bucket list pause things up nicely and keep you lot busy wherever on the game map you are. And with Horizon 2 non reliant on a race rails, the different races really do test your skills and take you lot across the whole spectrum of terrain on offer. And who doesn't desire to beat a train or a place or, well, a hot air balloon, in a race?

Racing games are a tough nut to crack, considering it's too easy for them to become repetitive and ultimately dull. I plant that with Forza Motorsport 5, it'due south a superb game but in the end you lot spend most of your time doing the aforementioned things. With Horizon 2 there'south none of that. If you're bored of racing, simply go out and explore for a while and take on some of the side missions. The online mode will keep you entertained indefinitely, since it's all of the good bits about the game, played against existent people.

I tin can't wait to come across what comes next...

If you're a regular Forza Horizon two actor, be sure to seek out and join the Windows Primal (WPCe) car club!