There's something rather novel about playing a racing game as a woman. We don't mean in real-life. We're talking about the virtual representation of ourselves that's sitting behind the wheels of the over 350 cars available in Forza Horizon 3 .

is a masterclass in open-world racing and bigger and better than its excellent predecessor across the board. It looks fantastic, the car selection and customisation is second to none, and the size and variety of the sprawling Australian outback is magnificent.

Spin-off franchises - equivalent, say, to the way in which Cheers spawned Frasier - are very rare in the games industry, and for such a franchise to outshine its parent title is all but unprecedented.

Looks fabulous; bigger; more diverse world and more cars; co-operative campaign mode; a few fun new activities; more customisable than ever; over-the-top Showcases

Not radically different from its predecessors; especially if you aren't much of a tinkerer; cheekily tries to get you to subscribe to Groove Music

Forza Horizon 2 was one of the greatest driving games of all time, combining the tight, physical and tactile control scheme from Forza Motorsport 5 with a fantastic open world which was as varied as it was beautiful. It was filled to the brim with the pure joy of driving.

There are more racing games around nowadays than you could shake a reasonably large stick at. Developers have to do something pretty special to stand out in a market so crammed full of competition.

Barreling through a lush Australian forest, the sun is beating down through the canopy as light dapples on the bonnet of my Fiat 124 Sport Spider. It's not the fastest car, but its elegant shape and convertible roof are a perfect match for the mood I'm in.

By rights, Forza Horizon should be the poor cousin of Microsoft's driving games, having been spun off from the company's flagship Forza Motorsport franchise. However, where the parent game takes itself very seriously (and feels antiseptic and squeaky-clean as a result), Horizon has never been shy of...

Playground Games' series has never been a more triumphant standard-bearer for racing games as pure, escapist entertainment.

As mentioned before, I didn't think that Microsoft and Playground could better Forza Horizon 2, but they have in every single department. The choice of setting the game in the Australian outback was a stroke of genius and with the ability to play your own music, enjoy the campaign with friends...

Turn 10 Studios & Playground Games are back with the latest addition to the Forza Horizon franchise. Forza Horizon 3 truly is the perfect sequel. It takes everything we enjoy about the Forza Horizon franchise and adds just enough to keep it fresh.

Gorgeous visuals; Plenty of difficulty adjustments; Huge open-world; Massive roster of cars

Missing the Volkswagen brand; Minor visual issue with vehicle lights; No split-screen multiplayer