Forza Street

Pros

• Free to play
• Officially licensed vehicles
• Multiple game modes

Cons

• Rebranding
• Loot boxes

Forza Street is the first free-to-play game in the iconic Forza franchise.

Forza is an Italian word that means power in English. It is also the name of Microsoft’s iconic video game series that was first released in 2005 and now includes 12 titles. The brand has always been about driving real-world vehicles on real-world tracks and in real-world environments. Where it sits between simulation and arcade is a matter of some debate. Forza Motorsport titles certainly lean more toward simulation. Forza Horizon titles lean more toward arcade, and Forza Street is like that as well.

Prior to Forza Street, Forza games were consoles games and eventually PC games. This is the first time that Forza has moved into the mobile space. Forza Street is technically a PC game too, and it does take advantage of the greater PC power for higher resolutions and the like. But it is still a mobile game at heart. It is also a rebranding of Miami Street, which surprised many people post-release.

What this means in terms of gameplay is that there is no actual racing—at least not how Forza fans think of it. You never actually steer or even brake. You simply hold a button to accelerate. Timing at launch is important as is timing—letting go—during turns to maintain speeds. There is also nitrous oxide.

This was not a simple rebrand at least. The developers completely rebuilt the story into something at least moderately interesting. The narrative is also endless, and stories are added each week to continue fleshing it out, adding new twists and so forth. In addition to stories, Microsoft adds new challenges and events each week, and there are seasonal and themed events. The game also features one-minute races, which are perfect for playing on the go and which still allow you to win prizes.

Forza Street is a lot like other games in the Forza series in that you have a garage that you will expand as you earn more money. All of the vehicles are real-world vehicles that are officially licensed. They can be all be won as prizes initially. The car you begin with is rather mundane, but you’ll soon be driving much more exciting options. Rare vehicles include the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupé and the Ford RS200 Evolution, and Epic vehicles include the Porsche 918 Spyder and the Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II.

As you would expect from a Forza game, Forza also allows for a great deal of customization. You can paint your car in practically any color imaginable. There are a wide range of visual customizations available. These include OEM and official aftermarket but also fantasy options. The game also uses the concept of performance index, which should be familiar to Forza fans. PI indicates performance. Cars have stock PI, but it can also be improved by purchasing performance upgrades.

In most Forza games, you earn money for completing races and other activities. You then use that money to purchase vehicles and customizations. Recent iterations in the series of added a wheelspin mechanic, but this does not stop you from buying the stock versions of most vehicles. This game is much more mobile-oriented in that the prizes you receive are loot boxes. Want a particular car or part? Better hope you get it in a loot box. Did we mention that you can also purchase these boxes with real cash?

The question becomes do the microtransactions undermine the game, and the answer is that it depends. If you are a solo player who plays from time to time, the game can be quite enjoyable in spurts. If you are a competitive player, this game absolutely ventures into pay-to-win territory, and you should be prepared to spend some of your hard-earned money to compete.

Pros

• Free to play
• Officially licensed vehicles
• Multiple game modes

Cons

• Rebranding
• Loot boxes