{
  "id": 15430264,
  "title": "Forza Horizon Is No Longer the King of Video Game Road Trips",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/forza-horizon-is-no-longer-the-king-of-video-game-road-trips",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-18T14:30:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Polygon",
    "slug": "polygon",
    "url": "https://www.polygon.com/american-truck-simulator-road-trip-forza-horizon/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Forza Horizon games are popular racing titles, but they also offer virtual video game tourism. These games are set in real-world locations, allowing players to explore various spots, such as the Mediterranean coast, Scottish highlands, Outback, and Tokyo city. The author cherishes road trips, both in real life and video games, so much so that they have created a guide to the best scenic drives in every Forza Horizon game. However, the virtual road trip experience in Forza Horizon lacks a sense of journeying from place to place due to condensed maps and theme-park-like beauty. The author compares this to the Test Drive Unlimited games, which offer 1:1 recreations of islands like Oahu and Ibiza, providing a better sense of long-haul adventure. The author's favorite simulation games for road trips are Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, which boast vast continent-spanning maps and a more realistic experience. Recently, American Truck Simulator released a DLC called Road Trip, which adds cars and tourism features, bringing it closer to being the ultimate road trip game. The DLC includes various cars, such as Ford F-150, Bronco, Mustang Fastback, and Crown Victoria, as well as Tourist Boards in several states, offering itineraries of local attractions. Driving through these locations with a sense of purpose, like earning cash for a car or visiting new places, enhances the immersive experience. The game's realism extends to day/night cycles, weather effects, and even a trucking empire feature, allowing players to build their own business. The author is thrilled with Road Trip's addition, as it brings American Truck Simulator closer to achieving the perfect road trip game, albeit with minor flaws like less enjoyable driving of cars and an emphasis on trucking routes.",
  "summary": "SCS Software's American Truck Simulator: Road Trip DLC adds cars and tourist destinations in a game-changing update",
  "key_points": [
    "Forza Horizon lacks sense of journeying between places",
    "Test Drive Unlimited offers 1:1 island recreations",
    "American Truck Simulator's Road Trip DLC adds tourism features"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}