Forza Horizon 2 is the sequel to Forza Horizon , an arcade spin-off of the Forza Motorsport racing simulation games presented as an open world racing game. Transitioning to the next generation of Xbox, the two versions of the game largely share the same cars, assets, world and features, but were handled by different developers. Rather than upgrading or downgrading a version for the other platform, they each take a distinct direction based on the same concept and content.
Just like the original game the player participates in the Horizon Racing festival with light story elements. The first game's environment was based on Colorado, USA, and now the sequel draws inspiration from southern France and northern Italy, combined with off-road racing and small villages. By participating in events and championships cash is earned and the character levels up, gaining access to new cars and events, with 210 cars in total.
Cars can be customized through different parts, but also aesthetically through body kits, spoilers and a full livery editor. These customized car designs can be shared. The difficulty can be tweaked through general AI difficulty and assists such as traction control or the ideal racing line. Just like the original game there is an option to rewind a short part after a crash for instance. Online racing includes a road trip, free roam and private matches with various settings.
Graphically each version uses a different engine. The Xbox 360 version is based on the original Forza Horizon , while for the Xbox One Forza Motorsport 5 was used as a starting point. Differences are notable in draw distance, density of foliage, shadows, rendering and lighting.
The game offers a unique experience with various modes such as infected and king. It is possible to join clubs and there are car meets where players can show off their cars to each other. In addition there are leaderboards to compete.