Few racing games in the last decade have managed to capture the pure joy of open-world driving quite like Forza Horizon 4. Set in a beautifully condensed version of Great Britain, this entry from Playground Games mixes stunning scenery, dynamic seasons, and an almost endless collection of cars into an experience that’s just as fun cruising along at your own pace as it is tearing through with friends.
But what really sets Forza Horizon 4 apart from merely great driving games is how it brings people together — not just in races, but across its open world.
A Shared World That Feels Alive
The first thing that hits you is how lively the open world feels. Whether you’re barreling through the Scottish Highlands or drifting through autumnal fields in England, there’s always something happening. In Horizon 4 you aren’t simply dropped into a static map — every player on the server is there with you in the same space. That means the road rarely feels empty, and even if you’re not actively playing with friends, you’ll often find yourself driving alongside other players you’ve never met.
The way movement and presence are handled is clever: other players remain intangible until you decide to team up, so you won’t be rammed off the road unless you want to be. This creates a smooth blend of solo and shared play that never feels intrusive.
Co-Op You Feel, Not Just See
At its heart, Forza Horizon 4 takes co-op seriously — and it’s best experienced that way. Up to six players can join events together online, and once you’re in a session with friends you can explore, race, and tackle challenges as a group. This isn’t limited to isolated race lobbies either — the world itself becomes a co-op playground.
Here’s how it shines in co-op:
Convoy Play
Forming a convoy with friends immediately changes the game. You share a session, you see each other’s progression, and you can queue up races together or just cruise the map. The simple act of driving together — bumping into each other, challenging one another to a drift score, or hunting down hidden barn finds — becomes memorable because your friends are right there with you.
Shared Challenges
Every hour or so, Forza Horizon 4 triggers Forzathon Live events, short cooperative challenges that send players to a marked point on the map to complete score-based objectives as a team. You might be drifting, hitting speed traps, or pulling off danger jumps — all adding up to a total that unlocks rewards for everyone involved. These moments are chaotic in the best way, turning what could be a solitary racing game into a spontaneous group activity.
Races With Friends
Of course, you and your buddies can jump into traditional races together at any time, either competing against each other or teaming up against the AI. Because the game’s physics and controls strike a great balance between arcade and simulation, these races feel smooth and rewarding whether you’re aiming for precise lap times or just having fun weaving through traffic.
How Co-Op Changes the Game
Playing Forza Horizon 4 solo is great — the world is rich and full of things to do — but co-op elevates it. Shared experiences make every race feel more meaningful, whether it’s celebrating a perfectly executed drift with a friend or talking smack over who got the better reward from a Forzathon Live event.
Here’s what stands out in co-op:
- Dynamic shared world: other players populate the map, making any session feel alive.
- Seamless team play: grouping with friends is easy and doesn’t require jumping through hoops.
- Collaborative events: Forzathon Live gives purpose to group activity beyond races.
- Flexible play: go for a structured race with friends or just free-roam together.
Small downsides exist — some players report occasional connectivity annoyances and grouping with friends isn’t always perfect — but these are minor speed bumps in what’s otherwise a smooth experience.
Final Verdict
Forza Horizon 4 is more than a beautiful racing game — it’s an open-world celebration of cars, seasons, and shared play. The co-op features don’t just exist — they elevate the game, turning every race, drift challenge, and shared cruise into a moment worth remembering.
Whether you’re chasing leaderboard times, hunting barn finds with a friend, or teaming up for chaotic Forzathon battles, this is a game that genuinely rewards you for playing together.
Score: 9.2 / 10 — A must-play for racing fans who enjoy co-op as much as open-road freedom.
