9 /10 22

Forza Horizon 5 stands as one of the most acclaimed racing games of this generation, earning a near-perfect Metacritic score of 92/100 and over 20 million players worldwide. Developed by Playground Games and released in November 2021, this fifth mainline entry expands the franchise with Mexico’s diverse biomes—from volcanic caldera peaks to vibrant tropical jungles. The game delivers a seamless blend of accessibility and depth, introducing features like EventLab for custom race creation, ray tracing support on cars, and dynamic weather systems that change across eleven unique biomes.

Players will discover innovative mechanical improvements over its predecessor, including granular synthesis audio recording of 320 real engine samples and photogrammetry-based environments captured from real-world Mexico. This review explores what makes Forza Horizon 5 essential for racing enthusiasts and casual players alike, examining its gameplay systems, technical performance across platforms, multiplayer capabilities, and post-launch support that has kept the community engaged for years.

How to Play Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 combines open-world exploration with structured racing events in a massive 50% larger map than its predecessor. The game starts with an accessible learning curve that gradually introduces advanced mechanics. Players can toggle difficulty assists, customize handling behavior, and participate in activities ranging from traditional circuit races to drift challenges and off-road competitions.

1. Controls – The game supports both standard and wheel controllers with full force feedback. Xbox controllers come with vibration, while PlayStation 5’s DualSense features haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Learning curve is gentle with accessible tutorials and rewind features.
2. Progression – Earn experience through races, stunts, and accolades to unlock new vehicles, cosmetics, and map discoveries. Festival Playlist rotates weekly with seasonal challenges offering exclusive rewards. Players level up through diverse activities from speed traps to barn finds.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Core gameplay loops involve racing events (standard, eliminator, team-based modes), exploration for collectibles, and customization of 800+ licensed vehicles. Physics are tuned between arcade accessibility and simulation accuracy, allowing casual players and hardcore racers to enjoy equally.
4. Tips – Unlock houses across the map for fast-travel shortcuts and wheelspins containing free cars. Complete accolades for skill recognition and rewards. Use EventLab to practice specific techniques, and don’t skip the visual spectacle of seasonal weather changes across different biomes.

Who Should Play Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 caters to an exceptionally broad audience. Its difficulty customization allows anyone to play comfortably, while its depth rewards players investing 100+ hours in car tuning and competitive racing. The game respects player choice through optional assists and rewind functions, making mistakes learning opportunities rather than frustrations.

• Casual Racers – Players seeking stress-free exploration in stunning environments. You’ll enjoy cruising through Mexico’s diverse landscapes, collecting cars, and completing relaxed challenge chains without pressure.
• Simulation Enthusiasts – Those wanting realistic physics and deep tuning systems. The game balances arcade fun with legitimate mechanical depth; turn off assists and tune suspension/tires to match your driving style.
• Content Creators – EventLab enables endless custom race creation. Build themed events, design relay races, and share with millions through shareable blueprints and prefabs from other creators.
• Skip if – You prefer story-driven campaigns with narrative depth. Forza Horizon 5 prioritizes open-world freedom over plot; the thin story serves as a backdrop rather than focal point.

Forza Horizon 5 Platform Performance

Forza Horizon 5 demonstrates technical excellence across all platforms. Xbox Series X delivers native 4K at stable 60FPS with optional higher refresh rates. PC offers maximum visual fidelity with uncapped framerates and full ray tracing. PlayStation 5 now matches Xbox performance closely following its April 2025 release with upscaled 4K and adaptive controller features.

Forza Horizon 5 System Requirements

PC players need surprisingly modest baseline hardware to experience Forza Horizon 5, though optimal visuals demand modern components. The 110GB storage footprint requires solid-state drive installation for responsive loading. Windows 10 64-bit is mandatory; streaming to Game Pass also requires broadband internet connection for authentication.

Similar Games to Forza Horizon 5

Racing fans have alternatives, but none match Forza Horizon 5’s combination of polish, content depth, and community support. Other open-world racers offer different philosophies—more simulation focus, different visual styles, or platform exclusivity. However, Forza’s four-year content support establishes the genre standard.

• Gran Turismo 7 – PlayStation-exclusive with stronger simulation focus and genuine racing lineage. Lacks open-world exploration and has smaller vehicle roster, but appeals to motorsport traditionalists.
• The Crew Motorfest – Multiplatform alternative set in Hawaii with more accessible arcade physics. Features motorcycles, boats, and helicopters; boasts greater vehicular variety but weaker physics and lower critical reception (75 Metacritic vs 92).
• Need for Speed Unbound – Street racing aesthetic focusing on competition and customization. Forgoes open-world polish in favor of urban settings and narrative emphasis; significantly smaller player base and reduced post-launch support.
• Burnout Paradise Remastered – Classic open-world racer reimagined with current-gen graphics. Simpler mechanics and less content than Horizon but retains genuine charm and cult following among franchise loyalists.

Forza Horizon 5 vs Competitors

Forza Horizon 5 dominates the open-world racing segment through superior physics, content volume, and ongoing developer commitment. Gran Turismo 7 competes in pure simulation space, while The Crew Motorfest serves players seeking cross-platform accessibility and arcade simplicity. Financial investment varies significantly across competitors.

Forza Horizon 5 Story and World

Mexico serves as Forza Horizon 5’s protagonist. The game abandons traditional narrative structure for environmental storytelling—a volcano dominates the northern landscape, tropical jungles sprawl with biodiversity, desert dunes stretch endlessly, and colorful cities pulse with energy. Eleven distinct biomes shift with dynamic seasonal weather every week, keeping the world visually fresh.

The Horizon Festival frames progression as a celebration of automotive passion rather than competitive stakes. Characters exist but fade quickly; the scenery and vehicle culture captivate instead. The tone balances competitive intensity with casual exploration, appealing to both speedrunners and sightseers. Expansion stories—Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure—layer thematic variety without sacrificing world coherence.

Forza Horizon 5 Multiplayer and Online

Forza Horizon 5’s online infrastructure supports seamless cross-platform play between Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5, creating a unified player base exceeding 20 million participants. Multiplayer modes range from competitive eliminator battle royales to cooperative convoy cruises, ensuring players find their preferred playstyle without forced social pressure.

• Horizon Open – Dynamic multiplayer races with matchmaking across skill levels. Earn skill ranks through participation; cross-play enabled automatically unless disabled.
• Eliminator – Most popular multiplayer mode; 72-player battle royale where players start in identical vehicles and challenge rivals to upgrade. Last driver standing wins.
• Convoys – Cooperative cruising with friends or matched randoms. Free-roam exploration without competitive pressure; build friendships through shared road trips.
• Cross-Play – Fully supported across Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, PlayStation 5, and cloud gaming. Cross-save not available, but cloud leaderboards and friends lists sync automatically.

Forza Horizon 5 DLC and Expansions

Playground Games has delivered substantial post-launch content through two major expansions and four years of monthly updates. New vehicles arrive consistently; seasonal events rotate weekly; and limited-time collaborations (Fast & Furious, Barbie) keep engagement cycles dynamic. The two paid expansions—Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure—expand gameplay mechanics significantly beyond base content, while free updates maintain long-tail player engagement.

• Hot Wheels Expansion ($19.99) – Gravity-defying tracks with 131 miles of orange rails across three biomes. Includes 10 exclusive vehicles and unique physics interactions (magnetic tracks, water flumes, ice roads). Takes 7-10 hours to complete.
• Rally Adventure Expansion ($19.99) – Off-road emphasis with 38 miles of varied terrain and Sierra Nueva biome. Features trophy trucks, buggies, and gravel racing. Includes career storyline; 5-7 hours completion time.
• Premium Add-Ons Bundle – Includes both expansions plus car pass ($39.99 value); Season Pass grants early access to new content and cosmetics.
• Free Updates – Monthly series updates deliver new cars (averaging 6-8 per month), cosmetics, accolades, and event scheduling rotations. Playground commits to continued support through 2026.

Forza Horizon 5 Community and Support

Forza Horizon 5’s community thrives across official and grassroots channels. Playground Games maintains active communication through support channels and monthly patch notes. User-generated content through EventLab has generated thousands of custom races shared globally. Reddit, Discord servers, and fan websites coordinate organized racing events, tuning discussions, and competitive competitions.

• Official Forums – Forums.forza.net hosts developer updates, patch notes, and community spotlights. Direct feedback channels exist for bug reporting and feature suggestions.
• Reddit/Discord – r/ForzaHorizon (87k+ members) and official Discord (142k+ members) coordinate community events, organize racing leagues, and share user creations. Multiple Discord servers specialize in team wars and organized competitions.
• EventLab Support – EventLab 2.0 enables custom race sharing with prefab components from community creators. Share codes facilitate discovery; downloads are tracked and rewarded with in-game currency.
• Updates – Patches release every 4 weeks with bug fixes, feature improvements, and balance adjustments. Roadmap visibility extends 2-3 months forward; major features receive advance notice.