Deal | "Forza Horizon from 2005": Simcade racer drops below $2 for first time ever in Steam Summer Sale

Classic racing games often follow a simple formula: select a track, complete the race, return to the menu and repeat. The Forza Horizon series broke away from that structure by letting players explore an open world and choose which races, challenges or activities to tackle next instead of jumping between isolated events. However, this approach wasn't entirely new. More than a decade before the first Forza Horizon, German developer Synetic was already experimenting with open driving areas, oncoming traffic and racetracks that offered considerably more freedom than many of its contemporaries. It's no surprise that one Steam user described World Racing 2 as essentially "Forza Horizon from 2005."

The gameplay sits somewhere between simulation and arcade racing. The cars feel grippy but still reward precise braking, controlled drifts and clean racing lines. In addition to traditional circuit races, players can take on off-road events, drive through oncoming traffic, explore open road sections and freely roam the game's environments. Those who grow tired of AI opponents can also compete in local split-screen or play online with a friend via Steam Remote Play Together. The Steam re-release in December 2022 also introduced several technical improvements, which we covered in our previous article about the game.

World Racing 2 has been well received by the Steam community, with 85% of more than 300 user reviews rated positive. Players particularly praise its demanding simcade driving model, generous amount of content and the technical improvements of the re-release. Many also highlight the damage model, which still holds up surprisingly well despite the game's age. Criticism mainly targets the occasionally unfair AI, noticeable rubber-banding and controls that can feel clunky, especially when using a gamepad or mouse and keyboard. Another downside is the loss of the original vehicle licenses. While the cars themselves remain in the game, they now feature altered names and logos.

First-ever 80% discount on Steam

World Racing 2 normally sells for around $10 on Steam. As part of the Steam Summer Sale, however, the cult racer is available for just $1.99 until July 9 thanks to an 80% discount. According to SteamDB, the previous best offer was 75% off at the end of May, making the current promotion the game's lowest price to date. Steam Deck compatibility is currently listed as "Unknown."

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.