Forza Motorsport

Imagine a game in which you customize and race a wide range of cars in an amazingly realistic driving simulation…now stop imagining Gran Turismo 4. Microsoft Game Studio's answer to Sony's automotive masterpiece is simple—add online play and program cars that take realistic damage. Dented fenders and grease-monkey laboring genuinely alter automotive performance, so you'll need to get under the hood if you hope to win any races online. Each victory earns money to upgrade your ride and convert real cars—60 manufacturers are featured—into tricked-out speedsters. And for those of you arts and crafts enthusiasts, check out the paint job and decal editor that's nearly as complicated as Photoshop. The reward? Trading your gussied-up ride with other players on Xbox Live, only to find months later that you just got your ass burned by your own wheels.