Wed. 23 Apr 2025
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🎮 Games
Date: 23-apr-2025
Forza Horizon 1 In-Game ScreenShot | Image Courtesy of Playground Games
Since its release in 2012, Forza Horizon 1 has held a special place in the hearts of racing fans—not just for its gameplay, but for its expansive open-world map. Set in a fictional version of Colorado, the game’s environment drew heavily from real locations across the Centennial State, offering players a stylized but remarkably familiar landscape to race through.
Rather than replicate a single city like Denver or Colorado Springs, the developers at Playground Games took a broader approach. They designed a composite world, stitching together elements from multiple Colorado regions to reflect the state’s natural diversity.
According to interviews from the development team, the landscape design was informed by real-world topographic data, drone imagery, and road layouts inspired by Colorado’s iconic scenic byways. The result is a map that feels realistic without directly copying any one place.
From scenic mountain switchbacks to wide-open interstates cutting across plains, players have long praised the game’s setting for its sense of place. Many even recognized familiar backdrops, comparing them to actual road trips across the state.
Although the game does not explicitly model real Colorado towns, several in-game areas bear strong visual similarities to regions such as:
While it’s not a 1:1 replica of any specific Colorado city, Forza Horizon 1’s map captures the essence of the state’s varied geography with impressive accuracy. It stands as a digital tribute to Colorado’s dramatic beauty—from mountain ranges to desert rock formations—making it more than just a backdrop, but a key character in the racing experience.
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