Microsoft's Forza Motorsport franchise is one of the best virtual racers around, and for the last couple of years hasn't even been limited to just the console. Forza Motorsport is one of those racing games that's accessible to all, with casual players and more serious sim racers getting enjoyment from it. If you really want to take your experience to the next level, you have to be comfortable, and you can be in Playseat's ultimate Forza-fan chair, the Evolution.
Best Overall: Playseat Evolution Forza Motorsport edition
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What better place to park your bottom for some top-level Forza action than in the official Forza Motorsport racing chair? This is just a Playseat Evolution, and there are many designs, including other racing games and even Red Bull, but if you're a Forza fan it doesn't get any better than this.
The chair is modeled on the sort of thing you might find in actual racing cars, with an integrated pedal platform, steering wheel stand, and support for adjusting both recline and height. For longer racing sessions, comfort is key, and getting hunkered own in a Playseat Evolution is about the best way to do it. It's also compatible with a wide range of first and third-party accessories to make your racing experience your own.
It's incredibly well made, with a full steel frame that's powder-coated to both look good and offer some durability. When fully set up it does require a fair amount of space, but it also packs away quite compact. The back folds down and the wheel/pedal frame retracts, allowing you to store it when not in use or to move it around with ease. It's a little pricey, but it's the ultimate Forza fan's chair.
Best Budget Racing Chair: Playseat Challenge
If you're looking for something to up your racing game but want to keep the spending a little tighter, then Playseat also has the Challenge. It's about half the price of the Evolution while still allowing you to set up your own little racing rig with a wheel and pedals.
The seat itself is trimmed in alcantara, which on a hot day, in particular, is much nicer than leather-effect materials to sit on. The frame is steel, powder-coated, and durable. It's also easy to fold away. As there's no platform for the pedals —simply a small frame you strap them to — the whole thing folds up in such a way that it can fit inside a cupboard or under a bed. The only real downside is it's a bit tricky to get in and out of.
Yet, in regards to using it to experience your racing games, it's every bit as effective as a more expensive chair. The driving position is a little lower, which some may find tough to adjust to, but it's comfortable and supports just about any current racing wheel. There's even a healthy community of Challenge owners that have come up with some ingenious modifications that in turn have led to third-party accessories for attaching gear shifts and even a cup holder!
Best for kids: X Rocker 5128301
Younger racers will be right at home in this chair from X Rocker, not only because it's designed perfectly for kids, but because it has built-in speakers. And when you're racing in Forza, the noise is a big part of the experience!
It also makes wearing a headset less important, since the built-in speakers provide some serious immersion. If you're also using a racing wheel, whether connected to a stand or your desk, your little ones will have a great setup.
The X Rocker is comfortable, well made, and besides the built-in audio hardware, also has Bluetooth to wirelessly connect your phone to stream music. If you'd rather have some sweet tunes than sweet engine notes, no problem.
Best for Controller Players: KLIM Esports Gaming Chair
While it comes from a brand you may not be familiar with, this is actually one of the best gaming chairs you can get right now. If you're playing Forza with a controller rather than a wheel, a good desk chair is what you want. I've been using this one personally for some time as my everyday gaming chair, and I feel great recommending it.
For starters, the way its packed into the box ready for assembly is unmatched. A lot of it is pre-assembled and getting one of these set up for some high-level gaming is quicker than just about any other gaming chair you could find.
It's also well made, comes with a five-year guarantee to back it up, and is made from quality materials throughout. You get both a lumbar cushion and a neck pillow for added support and comfort, and combined with the recline and fully adjustable armrests, you can get this set up perfectly for you. Once you sit down the hardest part is wanting to get back up again! It's perfect for longer gaming sessions, particularly those long races on Forza, keeping you upright and comfortable the whole time.
Bottom line
If you're a serious Forza fan looking to get the most from your virtual racing you'll be grabbing your wheel and strapping into the Playseat Evolution Forza Motorsport edition. To look at it alone is probably enough to make you want it, but it's definitely not all show and no go. It's comfortable, well made, and will put you in the perfect position to hit the tarmac and pound out some laps.
Playseat is a brand known for its gaming chairs and that reputation spill sover to the Evolution. It comes in a lot of different designs, so if you're not married to Forza, you can get it without the official Forza markings.
