Description
Forza Horizon 4 remains a superb open-world racing festival whose changing British seasons transform grip, routes, and scenery. It is no longer sold digitally, but existing owners retain a generous campaign, strong driving, and ongoing online access.
Forza Horizon 4 Review
Forza Horizon 4 builds an open-world festival across a condensed version of Britain. Roads connect Edinburgh streets, villages, farmland, forests, coast, and mountain routes. Hundreds of cars support road racing, dirt, cross-country, drifting, stunts, and informal exploration.
The weekly season system is its defining feature. Spring rain, summer roads, autumn mud, and winter snow alter grip and make familiar routes feel different. Seasonal championships and events once anchored the live schedule; even without buying the game today, existing owners retain a broad set of races and offline activities.
Handling bridges accessibility and simulation. Assists allow a new player to follow a racing line and recover from mistakes, while experienced drivers can disable them, tune cars, and manage traction more carefully. Rewind keeps experimentation welcoming without removing the value of a clean run.
Progression is deliberately open. Many cars arrive quickly, and different activity types advance in parallel. The abundance can make individual rewards feel less special, while menus, downloadable content references, and overlapping event systems are initially confusing.
Microsoft and Playground Games ended digital sales on December 15, 2024 because of licensing agreements. Official guidance states that owners can continue downloading and playing, including online features, and physical copies remain usable. Forza Horizon 4 therefore belongs on LumenPlays as a historical review, not as a currently purchasable recommendation.
For anyone who already owns it, its seasonal Britain remains distinct from the Mexican setting and larger scale of Forza Horizon 5.
Base Info
Official Sources
LumenPlays points players to official store and publisher pages where available. Use these links to review current pricing, availability, privacy details, and device requirements.
Screenshots
How to Play Forza Horizon 4
Follow the opening showcase until all four seasons and the main Horizon roster are introduced. Choose events that match the current car class and surface. Road tires struggle in winter or mud, so switch vehicles or install a suitable tune rather than forcing one setup everywhere.
Use braking assists and the suggested line while learning unfamiliar routes, then remove assistance gradually. Brake before a corner, release pressure while turning, and accelerate when the car is settled. Rewind is useful for studying one mistake, not only erasing every poor result.
Build cars to the top of a performance class without pushing them into a class where their tires, brakes, or chassis cannot cope. Downloaded tunes are convenient, but check whether they target road, rally, drift, or top speed. Keep several specialized cars instead of one universal build.
Explore bonus boards, danger signs, speed zones, and roads between races. Seasonal conditions can open or close practical routes. Existing owners should keep the game associated with the correct Microsoft or Steam account and retain purchase records.
New players should not buy questionable keys or accounts after delisting; physical availability and redemption validity vary.
Pros
- Seasons meaningfully transform the open world.
- Handling supports beginners and advanced tuning.
- Britain offers varied, memorable roads.
- Existing owners receive a very large activity catalogue.
Cons
- Digital purchase is no longer available.
- Abundant rewards reduce the value of individual cars.
- Menus and overlapping progression systems feel busy.
Beginner Tips
- Match tires and cars to the season.
- Brake before turning.
- Remove driving assists gradually.
- Keep separate road, dirt, and drift builds.
- Avoid unofficial account or key purchases after delisting.
FAQ
Can Forza Horizon 4 still be purchased digitally?
No. Official digital sales ended on December 15, 2024 because of partner and licensing agreements.
Can existing owners still play?
Yes. Forza states that owners can download and play normally, with online, offline, and multiplayer features remaining accessible.
Do seasons change car handling?
Yes. Rain, snow, ice, mud, temperature, and surface conditions alter grip and route choice.
Is Forza Horizon 4 replaced by Horizon 5?
Horizon 5 is the newer entry, but Horizon 4 has a separate British map and seasonal identity and remains playable for owners.