So, I’m just out of a passenger jet, landing right into the festival vibes in an AMG One, and suddenly, the crowd goes wild with cheers and fireworks like a movie scene. Then, the officials there are like, “Pick any racing car you want.” And I’m like, “Okay, Corvette Stingray Coupe, let’s hit the road.” So off I go, getting into the first race of my career. You’d think I’d start small, right? Maybe in some old compact, dreaming about the day I’d finally get behind the wheel of a sleek sports car. But no, here I am, tearing through the streets of Mexico in a beast with 500 horsepower. But then again, why not? It’s kind of the point. Other racing games might make you work your way up, but Forza Horizon 5 throws you right into the deep end. And honestly, I’m not complaining.
It’s safe to say that Forza Horizon 5 has once again elevated the standard for open-world racing in several distinct manners. The largest, highest, and most diversified map of Mexico ever created for a Horizon game. As the Horizon Festival evolves, some more activities tailored to present Horizon 5 at its finest are being added to the calendar. An upgraded set of tools makes it possible to create unique events that are barely distinguishable from those designed by the creators.
My favorite vehicle in Forza Horizon 5 is a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, affectionately referred to as a “Vocha” among Mexican natives. There had been an extensive series of tasks, all trying to mess with the otherwise unimpressive car’s potential if it was given the proper respect and attention. Forza Horizon 5’s highly intimate story quests allowed one of the game’s protagonists to relive her grandfather’s racing exploits in this same car, so it became a treasured vehicle just for that. When it comes to Playground Games’ Horizon series, this one installment sums it up well.
Forza Horizon 5 is a massive racing game, but to have a sense of how huge it is, we need to step back and look over Forza Horizon 4, it exploded into a popular racing game in 2018. In addition to the excellent open-world racing, Horizon Games squeezed in actual climates, an update of sharable multiplayer. However, it was just the beginning; the playground went on to pack in further activities over the next 3 years. Weekly basis, specific updates were added to the Festival Playlist. It was an innovative and efficient approach to introducing the battle royale concept into a racing game, Horizon’s The Eliminator.
Hall of Famer
There’s a lot to like about Playground Games’ take on Mexico in Forza Horizon 5, which has a big-time of things with its own refined counterpart centered in Great Britain. Having the largest and most broad area in the franchise thus far, you have a wide range of options for what to do. Some terrific essential features round out the package, giving it a fresh lease on life while enhancing what makes the game such special. The Horizon festival has arrived within that new Mexican environment, and your main goal is to assemble outposts in various zones and gain acclaim points to activate events.
As you build outposts, you’ll be able to open a certain racing type or activity, including several series stalwarts like Cross-Country, Road Racing, Street Racing, and Dirt Racing. By finishing all of the key events and gaining sufficient accolade points, you will be eligible to join Mexico’s Hall of Fame. The accolade mechanism provides a pleasant feeling of advancement and success. When you’ve just unlocked each of the outposts and key events, there are still many tasks and obstacles to complete.
However, in needed to begin the process of building an outpost, you should first finish one of several latest Forza Horizon 5 adventures. With each excursion, you’re taken on an unforgettable journey through the various areas of Mexico, much like the volcano-filled crater at the mountain’s peak. To wrap up the journey, there are some interesting alternative tasks, such as establishing an earthquake meter or finding a jumpsuit by bashing into a treasure box – complete all of them by heading out on your winning play. Restarting some of the adventures was so much joy that I can not stop doing that again.
Astounding Mexico
Playground delivered the ultimate vibe with Horizon 5 in Mexico, and it’s a total game-changer. After enjoying the gorgeous UK for three years in Horizon 4, this new setting is a breath of fresh air—totally different and super exciting. While Horizon 3 gave us the colorful Aussie environments, this one is on a completely new level—bigger and way more epic.
You find yourself in lively Mexico City including two different regions: Guanajuato, packed with energy, and a beach town nestled between the ocean and mangrove vibes. The countryside is filled with fields and breezy grasses swaying in the wind, plus there’s an insane canyon that looks like it’s straight out of a blockbuster movie. In the middle of it all, you can find a desert area with tall cacti and scrappy bushes, and the massive Gran Caldera volcano. A large soccer field plays its role to add more to this terrain.
It’s Time to Boost the Stakes
One of the best things about the Forza series has always been the chance to create your own driver character. In previous titles, it felt a bit limited, but now there’s a ton more options. You still have the classic default characters, but you can customize your look, from your hairstyle and color to all sorts of funky outfits and even different identities. Forza Horizon 5 amps up the fun with many new features that let you personalize your experience even further. It’s what you get when a series has been around for so long and doesn’t have much competition—it can focus on what it loves.
I’m very impressed by how smooth and precise the controls are throughout the game—whether you’re racing, cruising, or progressing through the story. With all the gameplay tweaks, Playground Games puts you in control in more ways than one. It’s an awesome time to be behind the wheel. I can’t imagine just how exciting it can be to drive. As you move across Mexico towards the sounds of your favorite radio station, you see the change between each pair of rims, and it’s a thrill to visit major occasions while listening to your favorite music.
The Biomes of Forza Horizon 5
Like every other game in the Horizon series, this one isn’t exactly a documentary—it’s more a vibrant, exaggerated take on Mexico. And honestly, it’s amazing. The map is huge, the biggest we’ve seen in the franchise, and the Gran Caldera Volcano is the perfect spot to appreciate how big it is. Even if you’re skeptical about Horizon Games’ claims, take a trip up there and see yourself how it blows away the Blizzard Mountain from Horizon 3 and the Fortune Island from Horizon 4. The game shows off some of the best driving routes yet, including the epic double-track mountain course that’s a dream for anyone into drifting. It’s one of my favorite games because it truly makes you feel small in this expansive, stunning world.
With more than 500 automobiles in the garage, Forza Horizon’s expansive racing competitors are dwarfed by this massive collection. Although there aren’t many new cars in Horizon 5, Playground has done something by including new fresh rim possibilities and graphic upgrades that breathe life into vehicles something you’ve witnessed a good amount of before, especially for many of us who have been following the game for a long time. There have been some improvements to the livery editor, however, you still can’t put decorations on the glass, which is a disappointment.
Forza Horizon 5 is a visual feast, with its fantastic cars and appealing landscapes. On the Xbox Series X, there is an option to play it in either 4K at 30 FPS or switch it up to 4K at 60 FPS for a smoother ride. If I had to highlight one standout feature, I’d say it’s the way the fog and dirt look, especially how light interacts with all these tiny particles in the air. It’s seriously impressive! The progression system has also seen some nice changes, letting players focus on the activities they love while adding new event types that show the diverse and beautiful terrain across Mexico’s best tracks. Even if your past experiences with Forza Horizon weren’t great, you’ve got to check out Forza Horizon 5—it’s hands down one of the top racing games out there.