Forza Horizon 5 is a celebration of cars. Set in a vibrant version of Mexico, it lets you drive hundreds of vehicles across deserts, jungles, cities, beaches and volcanoes. With races, stunts, festivals and online events, it is one of the most enjoyable racing games ever made.
We spent dozens of hours racing, exploring and collecting cars. Here is our review.
The Horizon Festival
As in previous Horizon games, you arrive at the Horizon Festival, a massive celebration of cars and music. You progress by completing races, stunts and challenges, unlocking new festival sites and events. The story is light, but it gives structure to your adventure.
A beautiful Mexico
The map is one of the game’s highlights. You can race through dense jungles, drive up a volcano, explore colourful towns, speed along beaches and drift through canyons. Dynamic seasons change the world weekly, adding variety like rainy seasons or dry conditions. It is one of the best-looking racing games available.
Cars
Forza Horizon 5 includes hundreds of cars, from everyday hatchbacks to supercars, classic muscle cars and off-road trucks. You can tune and customise them extensively, from performance upgrades to paint designs. Car enthusiasts will spend hours in the garage.
Accessible driving
The driving model balances realism and fun. Assists like braking help, steering assist and rewind make it accessible for beginners. Experienced players can turn off assists for a more demanding experience. This flexibility makes it suitable for everyone.
Events and activities
Events include road races, dirt races, cross-country races, street races and drag races. There are also speed traps, danger signs for jumps, drift zones and treasure hunts. Expeditions take you on adventures across the map, and stories focus on special themes.
Online play
Horizon Life connects you with other players in a shared world. Horizon Arcade events gather players for quick challenges, and The Eliminator is a battle royale-style mode where the last driver wins. Ranked and casual online races are available, and community events change weekly.
EventLab
EventLab lets players create custom events and game modes, from races to mini-games. Community creations add endless content, and some are surprisingly creative.
Rewards
Forza Horizon 5 gives rewards constantly. Wheelspins award cars, cosmetics and credits, and you will quickly collect more cars than you can drive. Some players love this generosity, while others feel it reduces the excitement of earning special cars.
Expansions
Paid expansions add new maps and content, including a Hot Wheels expansion with giant orange tracks and a rally-focused expansion. They are optional but offer fresh experiences.
Platforms
Originally an Xbox and PC game, Forza Horizon 5 is also available on PS5. It is also part of game subscription services on Xbox and PC, making it easy to try.
Performance
The game runs well on a wide range of PCs and consoles. Performance modes allow smooth frame rates, while quality modes highlight visual detail.
Tips for new players
- Start with assists and turn them off gradually
- Try different car types for different events
- Use the rewind feature to learn tricky corners
- Join Horizon Arcade events for quick rewards
- Explore the map for hidden barn finds
Who is it for?
Forza Horizon 5 is for car lovers, casual racers and anyone who enjoys open-world exploration. Its accessibility makes it great for families and beginners.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a steering wheel? No. It plays great on a controller.
Is it available on PS5? Yes.
Is there split-screen? No, multiplayer is online only.
Why it is so enjoyable
Forza Horizon 5 removes the frustrations of many racing games. You do not need to grind for hours to unlock cars or master realistic driving to enjoy yourself. You can simply drive, explore and have fun. At the same time, there is plenty of depth for those who want to tune cars and race competitively.
Music
The radio stations cover many genres, from electronic to rock, hip-hop and classical. Driving through Mexico with your favourite station playing adds to the festival atmosphere.
Photo mode and car culture
Forza Horizon 5 has an excellent photo mode, and many players spend as much time photographing their cars as racing them. The community shares liveries, tuning setups and photos, which creates a lively car culture inside the game. For car fans in Malaysia who love modifying cars in real life, the customisation tools are a great way to build dream machines without breaking the bank.
Our experience
We spent a lot of time just cruising with friends, stopping to take photos at sunset and jumping into random races. Few games make simply driving around feel this rewarding.
Playing with friends
Joining friends in a convoy lets you drive together around the map, start events as a group and race each other. Cruising through Mexico with friends, stopping to take photos and challenging each other to impromptu races is one of the most relaxing ways to play. Online Adventure modes add structured competition for players who want something more serious.
Accessibility options
Forza Horizon 5 includes many accessibility features, such as subtitles, colour options and even sign language interpreters for cutscenes. These thoughtful options make the game enjoyable for more players and show the developers’ attention to detail.
Is it worth buying today?
Absolutely. Even years after release, the game remains active with community events and is regularly discounted. If you have access to a game subscription service that includes it, it is an easy recommendation to try immediately.
Best cars for beginners
Start with balanced, all-wheel-drive cars that are easy to control, then move to powerful rear-wheel-drive machines once you feel confident.
Who should skip it?
Hardcore simulation fans who want strict realism may prefer dedicated sim racers, though Horizon remains great fun for them too.
Verdict
Forza Horizon 5 is an outstanding racing game. Its gorgeous Mexican setting, massive car collection, accessible driving and endless events make it a joy to play. The constant rewards can feel overwhelming, but that is a small complaint for one of the best racing experiences available.
