I'm still playing Forza Horizon 3 a decade after release — here's why I can't get enough of its beautiful world

After a little taste of the upcoming Forza Horizon 6 in a recent preview session, I’ve been desperate for even more of the series’ arcade racing action.

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Down under

(Image credit: Xbox)

Being pretty young at the time and quite new to racing games, I obviously didn’t progress very far and mostly remember making my way around in its massive open world, awestruck by its sheer scale and the many representations of real-world landmarks littered around.

Going back to the game a decade later, I have to say that this is still my favorite way to experience the game. Of course, the driving mechanics themselves are excellent, being incredibly approachable and delightfully arcade-like yet still offering plenty of complexity and depth for the die-hard racers willing to turn off assists, but the same is true of every Forza Horizon.

Forza Horizon 3

Original release date: September 27, 2016
Released on: Xbox One, PC
Played on: Xbox Series X (via backward compatibility)

It’s the settings that really make these games special, with each exploring a different global region. Forza Horizon 4‘s cozy rendition of Britain is still close to my heart as a UK native, and there’s nothing else quite like the uniquely grimy tone of Colorado in Forza Horizon 1, but Forza Horizon 3‘s Australia is simply in another league compared to the rest.

The map encompasses most of southwestern Australia, with a few areas moved around to condense it down and make the layout a bit more exciting than real life. The game begins down at Byron Bay, a picturesque coastal town with rows of little bungalows and massive, stretching beaches that practically beg you to slow down and watch the sun set every time the opportunity presents itself.

The first few races take you north, up through the rugged terrain of a lush rainforest that’s filled with muddy tracks, exciting natural ramps, and little pools of water that are oh-so-satisfying to splash through in a beefy off-road buggy.

As more events unlock, you find yourself venturing into the scorching hot outback with its bright red sand and scattered bushes providing a lovely backdrop for even more exciting off-road races. It’s broken up by the odd industrial site, including the massive Redstone Airport with its colossal runway ideal for impromptu drag races against friends online. And yes, although the game has been delisted, the servers are still up right now, which was a very pleasant surprise.

There’s an incredible environmental variety here that’s sorely missing in the later games, but all of it pales in comparison to what I consider the real pinnacle of Forza Horizon 3‘s map: Surfer’s Paradise. A trendy suburb in Gold Coast, Queensland, that’s dominated by massive skyscrapers and lively streets.

Forza Horizon 6 and its rendition of Tokyo.

Bathed in bright sunlight, everything just feels so modern and clean — like the rose-tinted memory of a childhood summer holiday. You can see its biggest buildings from across the rest of the map too, always inviting you back for more.

With its seemingly limitless supply of races and unlocks, I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever finish Forza Horizon 3. Honestly, though, I think that’s the way I prefer it. I never want to leave this beautiful world behind.