I have to agree with this. I think Forza 4 without a doubt is the best game made period. We are missing auction house, car clubs and multi-hopper lobbies
Forza Motorsport 4 is inarguably the peak of the series, and it remains a wonder why Microsoft hasn’t simply modernised the template with up-to-date cars, graphics and multiplayer. In doing so, it could well have the single greatest racing game of all time on its hands.
The top 3 I agree with (3. FM2, 2. FM3, 1. FM4), though I think FM7 was done dirty a little. I’d at least put it ahead of Forza Motorsport 2005 at the number 5 spot. Or maybe even at number 4 with FM6 being at 5 instead. FM5 and FM23’s position on the list I also agree with
Wow wow wow …. Wow
I think FM7 could have been a notch or two higher than where it was, personally. And I would have put the Original FM at the Number one spot. Simply because, a) it was a decent game, b) it had high replay value, c) it was, in it’s day, better than gt4, and most of all d) it was the one that started it all.
Yes, 4 was the best. Why oh why didn’t they just update it for current gen instead of dump the latest steaming bottom sausage on us?
They could have updated/remastered any forza from 7 on down to 1 and been lightyears ahead of FM8.
facts
I wish I had started with 1 but my vote is for FM2 largely because of how active the community/forums were. I estimate that the forums were some 300X to 500X more active than they are now. Maybe even more.
Forum and community involvement went hand in hand with the Auction House, FM2 had an open, unrestricted AH and tuners and painters thrived, as the AH got more restricted tuning groups and painters died off as collaborations became harder and trading cars became impossible.
FM4 was certainly the most feature rich game and really should have been the model going forward. Oh what could have been if only FM4 had been the base game of the ‘live service’. All those features with more cars and tracks!
Of the Motorsport games I’ve played, 2 and 4 are at the top and 5 and 8 are at the bottom. And really it has far more to do with features than graphics or car/track lists. FM2 did not have a big list of cars and tracks but it had key gameplay features that made you want to play every day even if you weren’t a racer. Far more than any carpg could ever dream of.
I’ve only played 3, 7 and 8 but eight is my favorite. Better gfx and physics than three with more cars and harsher penalties. When it comes to seven i really hated the boxes and boosts. Also i think fm8 has a superior economy then both.
I do hope they’re able to add more qOL features into 8 though.
Driving on the track, FM8 is great.
Racing witha bunch of friends, it’s great fun.
It’s just that FM8 makes it harder to want to get on track or be able to find those friends than previous Forza’s.
I’ve played all Forzas, but most of them long after things have moved on. I think I only really started playing Forza starting 2014, with FH1, FM6, and FH3 to start out with.
Even though I never really got to experience what the 360 gen Forzas were like in their prime (Outside of FH1 which I thoroughly enjoyed), they still made solid games solo.
I can’t argue with that. All i can say is that i think the game is going in right direction. Every update improves it for me.
However i can feel for the frustrations of many things. Lack of tracks, lack of singleplayer freedom/content, frustrations with #of tunes and paint editor bugs. A plethora of QOL features that would greatly enhance the game are definitely missing.
At the end of the day the multiplayer is what i mostly play, and its always a blast with great battles and racing. Update 8 especially has made it the best MP racing experience I’ve ever played. I simply cannot relate to people that claim to get dive bombed constantly or get severe unjust penalties every single race.
Coming out of forum hibernation just to say it’s weird seeing my own content posted on here, and I’m glad nobody is slating me for my rankings… 
Can’t say I’m enjoying FM’8’ if I’m honest but it’s slowly getting on the right path. I would’ve stuck it dead last if not for the last couple of updates. Top three were the easiest decisions to make, felt harsh dropping FM7 so low but something has to be there…
Best part of the article
Pitched as being ‘built from the ground up’ in its five-year development, it soon became apparent the title was using a lot of recycled content and without much care put into it.
Bring back FM4
Only ever played multiplayer (p class in prototypes) and have roughly 10,000 hours across the following:
Haven’t bought 8 yet as I keep reading p class has been ruined online by troll f1 cars nerfing the Pi
I never played fm5 and fm6.
FM3 good game, but looking back, it doesn’t feel good to be between 2 and 4.
Forza Motorsport. In my case I still remember a lot training my drivarar and watching it run, the last chicane of the alps and Fujimi Kaido.
FM2 by age I suppose, a lot online, groups of friends and new friends.
FM7 that weird control… the A.I. It is particular in each game but here… The rest didn’t start, but it ended up being very good.
FM4 the social part was very good, but how it was played, how the circuits felt in sound, in the controller and through the eyes.
Forza Motorsport 23, pending qualification.
I like the approach to updates during this generation, but there is still a lack of content, we get environments that we have seen before, kalyami adds many points and, in my opinion, it compensates for the points that hakone does not add (I don’t like any turn) I prefer Prague from fm7.
We have to wait more, it plays very very well and looks like never before.
Yep this ain’t the Turn10 we used to know, my personal list is
Forza Motorsport 4 - quite arguably the best racing game ever made, had something for everyone who enjoyed cars. Excellent career structure, awesome atmosphere and such a great community!
Forza Motorsport 3 - Right there with FM4 in enjoyment with just a smaller package. Arguably the best career in the series.
Forza Motorsport 2 - The one that made me buy my first Xbox (360). This game was honestly challenging in a good way and layed a great foundation for what came next. Will always have a special place.
Forza Motorsport 6 - The absolute best launch of the 3 that launched on the Xbox One, this game felt like a massive step back to what made older Forza games great. It’s more open career and some amazing racing with one of my best friends puts this one here.
Forza Motorsport 7 - yep this game ended life arguably better than FM6 in many ways (cars, tracks, and online racing) for sure. However forced Homologation and extreme cheating AI ruined career for me personally. My buddy never forgave this game for the way it launched too.
Forza Motorsport 5 - Pretty graphics and tracks with a total reset of everything, FM6 and FM7 did everything better and still couldn’t catch the classics in pure racing fun.
OG Forza Motorsport - Ok so this is cheating since I’ve never actually played the game but I’ll tell you just from watching gameplay I know I’d like it better than the hot garbage below this.
Forza Motorsport 2023 - a lesson in how to absolutely destroy a fan base, give them hope for a great game saying it will be built “with community feedback” starting in 2019 and then release the most bare bones garbage. Stale is an actual understatement when describing the “career” mode. Multiplayer gives players no freedom and features from previous games are MIA.
I never thought I’d say this as a hardcore gamer, Forza addict, and car guy but I think this game will be the end of my FM career entirely. The whole community got duped thinking it would be anything close to the top of this list. They did a great job in failing to meet any expectations 
hope y’all enjoyed the list, depending on the next few updates this may turn into my memorial of times past lol. Probably give them till 1 year anniversary to make massive changes in which I have made suggestions in the hub. If none of them come to pass I’ll be out.
had some great games over the years and great memories
I have to agree with just about everything you said although i would maybe, just maybe put FM3 before 4 for no other reason than it was the FM i started on and the game that got me hooked on FM.
The online community on both games really were brilliant for the most part.
Forza 4 for the win 