Microsoft Forza Horizon 5 - Information Thread, update: "Rally Adventure" expansion to release on 29 March 2023

[stepee]

I believe reviews on this are in 2 days, I’m guessing 92!

[AbsolutSurgen]

Purchased the premium edition with Microsoft Rewards, and game is pre-loaded.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

Review embargo ends tomorrow.

[HardAct]

I just LOVE these games. Real, hell no and better for it. I have my I racing and Dirt 2.0 for that. These games are mindless fun and just a great time. One thing that has me over the moon excited for this years version is the Right hand drive lane! YES I know it seems silly, and well I can race in any lane I want but it's kinda a HUGE deal for me. I love knowing the cars coming around the bend will be in the left lane, where they should be. This is going to be a great title to hold me over for a long while I'm sure of it!

[best3444]

9 hours ago, Rachel said:

Can not wait for this I have loved all the Forza Horizons so far omg Friday is gonna be FUN.

 

What Xbox do you own? 

[AbsolutSurgen]

So it’s apparently very good. 

[Brian]

[Keyser_Soze]

Bosman called it

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

Game Information

Game Title: Forza Horizon 5

Platforms:

• PC (Nov 9, 2021)
• Xbox One (Nov 9, 2021)
• Xbox Series X/S (Nov 9, 2021)
  

Developer: Playground Games
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
    
Review Aggregator: 

OpenCritic - 92 average - 100% recommended

Critic Reviews

Areajugones - Spanish - 10 / 10

‎Forza Horizon 5 achieves what many sagas try, but sadly they fall by the wayside and it is nothing less than surpassing themselves with each new installment. The work of Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios is sensational offering Microsoft fans one of the best car games of all time.‎

But Why Tho? - 10 / 10

Overall, Forza Horizon 5 somehow raised an insurmountable bar to new heights. Playground Games continued to show off their prowess with game development and their striving to make a game that is fun for every type of player in every aspect of gameplay. Regardless of if you’re a racing fan or not, if you have Game Pass, Forza Horizon 5 needs to be the next game you play. You never know, it could be the jumping-off point into a new genre that you never knew you’d click with.

Enternity.gr - Greek - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is simply one of the top arcade racing games ever released!

GameSkinny - 10 / 10 stars

Forza Horizon 5 is ultimately more of the same, but that's hardly a bad thing when it does the same thing so darn well.

Gamerheadquarters - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the continued perfection of open world racing, delivering a more narrative focused experience while aiming to greatly expand the scope of this pristine franchise.

GamesRadar+ - 5 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 is a stunning and beautifully crafted entry in the series that's full of memorable races, creativity, and fantastic additions

GamingBolt - 10 / 10

Playground Games has been honing this open world racing formula for close to a decade at this point, making meaningful improvements with each iteration- and with Forza Horizon 5, once again, the series has touched new heights. As impossible it may seem in the moment that it will be surpassed, however, if history has taught us anything, it’s that this is a series that never stops improving.

Generación Xbox - Spanish - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 match a perfect score with an absolutely perfect game. If you love driving, don't even think about anything else. Play it. Playground Games nailed it.

God is a Geek - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is a visual spectacle and a masterpiece, providing plenty to do and tons of fun to be had around ever corner.

IGN - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the result of a racing studio at the peak of its craft and the best open-world racing game available.

Impulsegamer - 5 / 5

Forza Horizon 5 is indeed the FAST & FURIOUSLY good and if you're looking for a true next-gen racer, it's finally arrived!

MondoXbox - Italian - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is a true masterpiece. The new Mexican setting brings in wonderful landscapes, alongside a majestic implementation of the whole graphic compartment. And the contents offered are no less, with a mountain of modes suitable for both those who prefer the single player experience and those who love co-op or competitive ones. A sumptuous work and a true statement of love to the racing games genre in general.

PC Invasion - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is a masterclass example of how to do an open-world racing game, bar none. Thanks to its deeply rich map, wealth of content, and fantastic visuals, it's the best racing experience I've had yet.

PPE.pl - Polish - 10 / 10

"Forza Horizon 5 is a hit" – at this point I could end my summary, but it is worth emphasizing that Playground Games offers brilliant races that delight. This is a production that confirms that years of systematic work have not been in vain.

Pure Dead Gaming - 10 / 10

It’s a difficult one, because other than the superb setting and proper top-tier graphics it could be argued that there hasn’t been a massive amount of innovation since our jaunt to the United Kingdom in 2018. But the simple fact is, that the formula Playground Games have crafted is near perfect. I said in our Forza Horizon 4 review that it was the greatest racing game ever made. Well, the best just got better.

Saving Content - 5 / 5 stars

Mexico is an incredible location for the fictional Horizon Festival, and really refreshing. Whether it’s the thrill of the race, tools for encouraging creativity, or uninhibited exploration, there’s something for everyone to do and participate in this evolving open-world. While the core formula is unchanged over the years and it’s a lot more of the same – the same is really good. This is a multiplayer game where you can choose to engage with all or none of its systems at any time. Forza Horizon 5 is an outstanding achievement of gameplay and visuals, and is an exquisite open-world racer for the next-generation.

Seasoned Gaming - 10 / 10

At this point in time, this is the pinnacle, and it’s clearly the culmination of years of work and iteration. I say with absolute confidence: Forza Horizon 5 is the most complete racing game ever made.

Stevivor - 10 / 10

Overall, this is a Forza Horizon game in every sense of the word, and shows off the best of what Horizon can be. It’s fun, only structured if you want it to be, and seems to exist purely to make sure you have a good time.

TheGamer - 5 / 5 stars

Collectively, Forza Horizon 5 does everything right, and in doing so makes Playground Games’ latest entry into the Forza franchise an absolute must-play for any racing enthusiast or casual racing fan.

TrueAchievements - 10 / 10

Beautiful, vast, creative, varied, and exciting, Forza Horizon 5 is an incredible game that will have you hooning around Mexico for months. There's an amazing sense of variety to everything about this game, and the smart Accolades system should have many achievement hunters hooked as they explore the full extent of what this remarkable racer has to offer. Fantastic handling, interesting events, and a wonderful history-spanning selection of cars makes for an amazing experience — arguably the best game in the series to date, and inarguably the best game in the series to DOOT. See you in Mexico, amigos...

VGC - 5 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 is the best game in the series and the best Xbox Series X/S game to date. Its flawless racing and wealth of activities are backed up by a gorgeous setting and a fantastic new progression system which encourages players to focus on the features they enjoy most. Utterly essential.

WayTooManyGames - 10 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the ultimate car enthusiast’s power fantasy. It’s a game that just wants you to go bananas and appreciate the beauty behind motoring, by offering every single tool, event, car model and online functionality available.

Windows Central - 5 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 is the culmination of all of Playground Games' efforts to perfect its craft, and the result is the best open-world racing game you can play. It combines the most beloved parts of Forza Horizon 3 and 4 into one ultimate racer.

Gamersky - Chinese - 9.8 / 10

Here, speed and limit are the same, wildness and freedom coexist, all the time people adrenaline soar.

PowerUp! - 9.8 / 10

You may never stop playing Forza Horizon 5. And you won't want to.

Rectify Gaming - 9.8 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the best game in the franchise, and it also might be the perfect arcade racing game.

SomosXbox - Spanish - 9.8 / 10

‎Forza Horizon 5 is the leap to the next generation of Xbox. Playground Games has been able to improve an almost unbeatable experience, with exquisite localization and gameplay, which manage to offer a level of immersion rarely seen before in the open world driving genre.‎

Hobby Consolas - Spanish - 97 / 100

‎Forza Horizon 5 is the best open-world driving game in history and one of the best in the global speed genre. Playground Games has been overcome again with a varied 'crossover' in which each kilometer traveled is worth its weight in fun and spectacularity.‎

XboxEra - 9.6 / 10

This game is nearly perfect for me and there is no getting around that. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does make it smoother and faster than ever. It is not only one of the best games to release this year, it is a true showcase of just what a “next-gen” title can be.

Everyeye.it - Italian - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the pinnacle of the Playground Games series and is the new king of open-world courses.

Explosion Network - 9.5 / 10

Even as a game that feels more iterative, and less like a next-generational step, Forza Horizon 5 is still the best racing game you can play and the first must-play Xbox Series X|S game to be released since the launch of the console.

Game Informer - 9.5 / 10

With fine-tuned gameplay, an undeniably gorgeous world brimming with fun activities, and some fun content creation tools, Forza Horizon 5 elevates the series' already-sterling reputation

Game Revolution - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the best Forza yet and, not only that, but it also makes a strong case for being the best racing game period. A joyous combo of arcade racing and simulation-level depth, all wrapped up in a beautiful bow thanks to its diverse, expansive Mexico setting, this is an unmissable iteration in what is arguably gaming’s most consistently fantastic series.

Gamerweb.pl - Polish - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is simply a great game that with its panache and quality of workmanship easily embarrasses the competition. This is an unquestionable "must-have" for every Xbox owner, and by the way a solid argument to buy one.

Gaming Nexus - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is built to deliver hour after hour of glossy, beautiful fun. Hit the race mechanics as deeply as you like. Zip around the amazingly beautiful map in a Corvette for no reason at all. Find secrets. Build out your car collection. Get rich. Have a good time the way you want. Go anywhere, do anything, just don't skip this stellar game.

IGN - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 has been able to take advantage of the ideas and strengths of its previous parts, and build on it to provide us with an experience that I consider to be the best yet among racing games.

LevelUp - Spanish - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 It's the racing game for everyone, which turns outsiders of the racing genre and turn them into followers of the speed, and for those who are already fans, it offers an almost endless variety of activities and challenges. Also very remarkable is the representation of Mexico, which offers vibrant landscapes full of incredible details that only those who live in Mexico will recognize. It is an indispensable game and highly recommended.

Press Start - 9.5 / 10

Though it's iterative in a lot of ways, Forza Horizon 5 is a near-faultless open-world racing experience that's so sure of itself and its offerings that it goes the extra mile to sprinkle in the kinds of fan service that people go wild for.

SECTOR.sk - Slovak - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is probably the best arcade racing game ever made.

SomHráč.sk - Czech - 95 / 100

Forza Horizon 5 is huge, full of content, beautiful, plays like a dream and is the best entry in the Forza Horizon series yet.

The Games Machine - Italian - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 turns "more of the same" into a mark of true excellence, furtherly polishing and improving on a winning formula and making it exponentially more spectacular on a technical level and more enveloping on an environmental level, and mixing it all with its distinctive driving model, a unique mix of a simulative superstructure with an arcade heart beating beneath the hood.

TrueGaming - Arabic - 9.5 / 10

With its stunning graphics, huge content and great ideas, forza horizon 5 is the most fun car game ever.

Washington Post - 95 / 100

Forza Horizon 5 [is] the first killer, can’t-miss game for the current generation Xbox Series X and S consoles as well as Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service. It’s a game that I think anyone can immediately find appealing.

Wccftech - 9.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is yet another step up for the series and arguably the best racing game ever made. Offering a host of content across a fantastic representation of Mexico, its varied terrain and scenery, there's so much to explore and race. A massive roster of cars will perform all of these, each feeling different from the others, with a variety of upgrade and tuning options almost matching those of simulation titles. While there are a few minor niggles here and there, they are nearly so small as to be hardly worth mentioning. All in all, it's impossible not to recommend this for anybody, regardless of them being a fan of racing games or not, as this is that good.

Atomix - Spanish - 93 / 100

‎Following to the letter its own formula in terms of gameplay, controls, structure and open world design, Forza Horizon 5 becomes the new pinnacle of the franchise for the special way it transports us to the beautiful Mexican landscapes, taking advantage of all the power of the Xbox Series X to become one of the first games of this new generation that undoubtedly feel like a new generation. Some roughness at the level and interface and progression slow it down from true perfection, but its virtues overshadow those defects and of course, make it one of the best games of this 2021.‎

IGN Italy - Italian - 9.3 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the "best of" all the series entry. Playground Games found the key to present the ginormous amount of content in a smooth way in one of the best open world ever made. Mexico is a magical, fascinating and adventurous place to drive in, and the glorious graphics of the game give us the real next gen experience we were looking for.

INVEN - Korean - 9.3 / 10

There is no significant change. But Forza Horizon 5 once again proved why the Forza series is the best open world racing game.

KeenGamer - 9.2 / 10

The Horizon festival arrives at the land of taco, tequila and amazing car culture. Horizon Mexico brings the most dramatic experience to date and you take control of it. Among the diverse set of cars, you pick your favourites and get yourself ready for a Horizon journey like never before.

Merlin'in Kazanı - Turkish - 92 / 100

Forza Horizon 5, the latest masterpiece of the Playground team, manages to be a flawless production in almost every sense.

Spaziogames - Italian - 9.2 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is an incredibile step forward for the series: with a plethora of brand new missions and challenges, and brilliant ideas to represent a colourful nation through eleven diverse biomes, Playground Games reaches new heights od shows the real face of the new generation of consoles.

Xbox Achievements - 92 / 100

From racing through the cobbled streets of Guanajuato to flying off the side of La Gran Caldera, Forza Horizon 5 is a slice of sheer racing brilliance. Again.

COGconnected - 91 / 100

At its core, Forza Horizon 5 is about having fun behind the wheel. It’s technically excellent and plays brilliantly, but it never takes itself too seriously. I mean, I jumped a pinata float off a mountain at one point. That balance makes the Horizon series the most grin-inducing racing games out there, and arguably one of the largest feathers in Xbox Game Studios’ cap.

Video Chums - 9.1 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 introduces a larger, more varied map with even more weather effects and interesting challenges. The same enjoyable gameplay hasn't lost its momentum and there's enough to do that will keep you hooked for hours on end.

3DNews - Russian - 9 / 10

A great improvement over last entry in the series. As usual, it's hard not to immerse yourself in Forza Horizon for days, weeks or even months.

Attack of the Fanboy - 4.5 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 is ultimately a game in the franchise that continues to evolve in a more and more enjoyable direction, even if there is a core to the game that feels very familiar.

AusGamers - 9 / 10

Ultimately, the Forza Horizon series has always been about positivity, and an unabashed love for the singular thing that is driving. Infectiously so, which makes Forza Horizon 5 the most polished entry, in terms of overall structure and presentation, to date.

Cerealkillerz - German - 9 / 10

How you can read out of our review, there is not much to criticize and lots to marvel at, in Forza Horizon 5. The menu is still a bit confusing but better as in the last game. In the PC Version you have to install the game on a SSD to get away from horrendous loading times but if you enjoyed the last games of the series or arcade racing in general you'll love this one.

Filmweb - Polish - 9 / 10 stars

What started on the Xbox 360 as an inconspicuous arcade side story has evolved over the years into one of the most important and best racing series in the market. Meanwhile, "Horizon 5" left the competition far behind and improved the crown of the king of arcade racing won three years ago. You won't find better and good-looking racing game right now on this or previous console generation.

GRYOnline.pl - Polish - 9 / 10

You can whine about the lack of revolution, but when everything works perfectly fine, maybe there is no reason to change it. Forza Horizon 5 is definitely the best racing game out there and has no competition. This is, by far, the biggest car adventure you can have on your screen.

Gadgets 360 - 9 / 10

Playground Games can offer up an iterative experience and rake in the money, because Forza Horizon 5 is in a world of its own. It's wonderful, but it's also sad.

Game Rant - 4.5 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it is a wonderful technical showcase for the Xbox Series X nonetheless.

GameByte - 9 / 10

Overall, I’m extremely happy with how Forza Horizon 5 has turned out. The variety in activities as well as care and attention put into its mechanics and world makes Mexico such a delight to explore. It’s most certainly the best game in the series, and could well be the best game on Xbox right now.

GameMAG - Russian - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is probably the best arcade racing game of recent times, and one of the most prominent releases from this year. Even if cars is not your thing, there is plenty to love in this new Microsoft exclusive.

GameOnAUS - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t veer too far from the tried and tested open-world racing formula of the series, only now we get to explore the biggest land expanse in the franchise utilising the power of Xbox Series X/S.

GameSpew - 9 / 10

There may not be much new in Forza Horizon 5 beyond its location, but that doesn’t stop it from being yet another action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled open world racing extravaganza. This is the biggest and best entry in the Forza Horizon series yet; it’s just lacking that spark of originality that has made each entry prior a clear step up from the one before it. But for the huge majority of players, that really won’t be an issue.

GameSpot - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 continues the upward trend of the franchise, providing an open-world racing experience that stands unrivaled.

GameWatcher - 9 / 10

It's no surprise that Forza Horizon puts itself right into the mix with 2021's Game of the Year contenders. Playground Games has been getting it right for a decade now. This is the definitive experience in the series so far, one that excels both on PC and the Xbox Series X. Minimal issues, such as server connectivity, fail to spoil the party that is just crammed with happiness and adventure.

Gameblog - French - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 represents the quintessence of the series. It remains well entrenched on the foundations of Horizon, guarding annoying aspects for some (including the overplayed tone of all the voiceovers), but only raises everything that has already made the salt of the four opuses that preceded it. Beautiful to bring down the bumpers, refined to fart a hose, it is a very beautiful baby. It's (very) well on its way to being a system seller in the Xbox ecosystem and I wouldn't be surprised if bundles arrive very quickly for the end of the year.

Gamepur - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t stray away from the successful roads that have been paved in past years. The fifth title of the Forza Horizon series offers an incredible amount of depth, and its gameplay finds the right balance between simulation and just pure fun.

GamingTrend - 90 / 100

A lot of Forza Horizon 5 feels similar to Forza Horizon 4 in a way previous Horizon games haven't felt with their prequels, but Adventures bring unique storytelling and slight edutainment to the Horizon formula and if more Horizon's are in the future, particularly ones not in Europe and America, it's not a bad foundation to build on. Driving feels as good as it ever has and Playground Games absolutely succeeded in interpreting the beauty of Mexico. The seasonal model returns and it does a better job of incentivizing people to group up, but it's still not quite enough to entice people to do activities like Forza Arcade.

Glitched Africa - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is a familiar playground. If you have played any of the past games you’ll feel right at home here. The general gameplay doesn’t do much to set itself apart from other Horizon games but I don’t think it needs to. The recipe works and right now, there’s really no other game out there that can compete with this. It is the best racer on the market and with no one coming for that crown, Playground Games don’t need to do anything to change that.

Hardcore Gamer - 4.5 / 5

Forza Horizon 5 is undoubtedly a visual showcase and technical benchmark for PC and Xbox Series X owners.

IGN Spain - Spanish - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 once again demonstrates Playground's mastery with an Xbox and PC exclusive that sets a new technological standard in the genre.

Kakuchopurei - 90 / 100

I won’t lie: Forza Horizon 5 is just reiterating what made parts 3 and 4 great. But at the end of the day, good sequels just keep the core game intact while adding way more to draw both driving veterans and newbies alike. With a gorgeous new setting and racing scenario, a ton of places to race and trash, and refined controls for both joypad and driving wheel users alongside accessibility options aplenty, Playground nails it once again and with more feeling.

Metro GameCentral - 9 / 10

The best in the series so far, that embraces the open world approach in a way previous entries never quite did – while also being an endlessly enjoyable and highly varied arcade racer.

PC Gamer - 90 / 100

Playground's singular series gets a lush new setting, but otherwise remains committed to tuning an already winning formula. But even a marginal improvement on the best racing series around is worth celebrating.

PCGamesN - 9 / 10

Familiar, excellent, and polished to a degree that hardly seems possible. If you love taking vintage Porsches for joyrides through environments that'd have a poet bawling then you're going to be very happy here.

PCMag - 4.5 / 5 stars

With Forza Horizon 5, the racing series makes its first stop in Mexico. It delivers breathtaking vistas, fast action, and the hook: the new EventLab mode that lets the community create cool, custom challenges.

Paste Magazine - 9 / 10

Even when you pull it all together with Horizon Arcade missions like hitting piñatas just work so well. It's clear that a lot of love went into Forza Horizon 5. You can see it in the car selection. You can see it in the environmental design. You can hear it in the playlists. This game thrives on a culture of love that is baked into every gameplay element. In every way, Forza Horizon 5 is a love letter to Mexicans, and it's one I'm thrilled that I opened.

Post Arcade (National Post) - 9 / 10

Whether you're a racing rookie or a seasoned gearhead, Playground Games' latest open world zoomer is a jaw-dropping, thrill-a-minute riot

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 9 / 10

The series continues to deliver a unique and different racing experience that you can't find anywhere else. Whether you were a rookie or an experienced driver you will find a lot to like and enjoy in Forza Horizon 5.

Screen Rant - 4.5 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best entries in the series to date, thanks to its massive and beautiful open world, which is full of exciting races.

Shacknews - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is big, loud, and bold. If you found little value in the series before now, this new version will do nothing to change your mind. For the rest of us, the best Xbox game of 2021 is here (at least for another month - there’s still an elephant wearing Spartan armor in the room). The concept of the pack-in game is pretty much dead in 2021, but if it weren’t, Microsoft should be tripping over itself to make the Series X Forza Bundle a reality. We live in the era of Game Pass now, so plenty of folks have the ability to visit Mexico at discount rates. I desperately implore you to take the trip.

TechRaptor - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is the greatest the open-world racing series has to offer.

TheSixthAxis - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 continues the series' legacy, usurping Forza Horizon 4 as the new pinnacle of open-world racing and as a graphical showcase for the new generation of Xbox console.

Twinfinite - 4.5 / 5

Forza Horizon 5 is a superb racing game. Despite these slight niggles it still manages to put a beaming smile on my face every time I go hurtling off a danger sign, masterfully overtake the leader of a race to snatch the victory, or perfect a drift. It’s easily one of the best-looking games on the Xbox Series X, and its extensive roster of cars and events will ensure it’s engine keeps quietly ticking over for months on end. With an abundance of multiplayer options and seasonal content frequently released to offer more rewards for your podium finishes, it’s the biggest and best Forza Horizon game you can play right now. Racing and Forza fans alike start your engines. It’s time for a whole new Horizon festival that you simply can’t miss out on.

Worth Playing - 9 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 absolutely lives up to the pedigree established by its predecessors. By using almost everything that worked in FH4, the game would've been a strong contender even if all it did was change its locale. The few changes in FH5 work heavily in its favor and contribute positively to the idea that the game is difficult to put down because it's fun and there's so much to do. For those who have played previous entries in the series, jump on this one immediately. For series newcomers, FH5 is a perfect place to start.

GamePro - German - 89 / 100

Forza Horizon remains the king of arcade racing games, which captivates to the Xbox thanks to a lot of driving fun, great optics, but also a lot of the well-known.

CGMagazine - 8.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 truly has it all for a racing title, depth of gameplay, customization, good online presence, fun activities… and the list goes on. With the inclusion of Horizon 5 hitting GamePass day one, I consider this a must play for all gamers, racing fans or not.

Destructoid - 8.5 / 10

It would be foolish of me to say that Forza Horizon 5 is the best game in the series given my very limited knowledge of its history. However, I can say with confidence this is the most fun I’ve had with a racing game that doesn’t involve a plumber and a princess. There is just so much to do and so much to see that I can easily lose hours of my day exploring all it has to offer. And with continued support from the developers and community, I’ll have no reason to stop playing anytime soon.

Gamers Heroes - 85 / 100

Forza Horizon 5 is still an incredible racing game, one only overshadowed by the brilliance of its predecessor. Those with a lot of time behind the wheel in Forza Horizon 4 may feel this is one step forward for two steps back, but there's still a ton of fun to be had in this high-octane adventure.

WellPlayed - 8.5 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 has carried the tradition of consuming my time inside a genre that normally doesn't interest me. Playground Games has displayed technical wizardry with this game and while it doesn’t change the formula to any significant extent, the experience found within Forza Horizon 5 is killer.

New Game Network - 83 / 100

Forza Horizon 5 offers plenty to do and see in Mexico, though much of it is becoming rather familiar. The latest entry doesn't have as much impact or innovation as each of its predecessors did, but it remains the most enjoyable and customizable arcade racer around.

Digital Trends - 4 / 5 stars

Forza Horizon 5 doubles down on the series' winning formula to give players another hit racing game superpowered by next-gen tech.

EGM - 8 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 delivers everything that made the last game enjoyable on a map that's more fun to drive with a lot more visual diversity. While the changes and additions are largely incremental-especially when it comes to the core game experience-what's here is good enough to warrant a recommendation for fans of the series or racing enthusiasts who've been meaning to try it out.

GamesBeat - 4 / 5 stars

When it comes to past Forza Horizon games, I tend to bounce off them rather quickly. But I’ve been sticking around with this one. Yes, it is just that darn pretty. Its beauty encourages me to spend a longer time in Mexico, during which I eventually become a better Forza racer (even if I feel like the game could be doing more to help me learn).

Guardian - 4 / 5 stars

Take a supercar for a beach challenge or drive into the Mexican jungle in this racing game that's exactly as fun as its last version

Inverse - 8 / 10

It can’t match Forza Horizon 4 in terms of innovations, but Forza Horizon 5 introduces a more varied open-world structure in one of the most visually stunning experiences of this new console generation — perhaps ever.

Pure Xbox - 8 / 10

Forza Horizon 5 is an amazing game, don’t get us wrong – if you’re a newcomer to the series you’ll likely have a blast, assuming you like car games. Returning fans though can expect a similar experience to past entries. For some, that’s where driver fatigue may very well set in. After five games, at this point, you could argue the series is no longer doing enough to protect its crown as the top open-world racer. It’s the same process of going to a festival, unlocking cars, racing a lot, levelling up and repeating the whole cycle. And the new additions - such as the EventLab - are more reliant on community efforts. It is mostly a flawless experience, but the lack of evolution is how other franchises like Need for Speed fell behind in the first place.

VideoGamer - 8 / 10

It may well be more of the same, but Mexico beckons, ravishing the eye and devouring up the miles.

ZTGD - 8 / 10

At the end of the day Forza Horizon 5 is like a delicious cake that is being delivered when I already had a ton of leftover cake from the previous party. It is good and I will enjoy it, but I think it is overpacked and in need of some dynamic changes going forward. I want to feel like the series is evolving instead of just getting prettier with new locales. Even with that said, this is easily the best racing game of the year and it simply looks gorgeous. There is little to fault outside of a lack of evolution and I am sure when all is said and done I will likely invest another 50-60 hours in the game.

ACG - Buy

"One of the best racers, and easily the best open-world racer made. Beauty, content, and fun-factor combine to make this a classic."

Ars Technica - Unscored

FH5 is an easy recommendation as part of a paid Xbox Game Pass subscription, and it's a great excuse to flex your newest gaming hardware purchase. But if you're already happy with Forza Horizon 4 or were bored by that one, take your sweet time sitting behind this game's wheel.

Chicas Gamers - Spanish - Unscored

Forza Horizon 5 is the flagship of the Xbox catalogue thanks to the technical excellency and the playability enhancements done over Forza Horizon 4. Playground Games and Turn 10 have improved what it was nearly perfect on the latest installment of the series. This is one of the titles that you must have if you have a Xbox Series X.

Console Creatures - Recommended

Forza Horizon 5 is the biggest and best game in the series, moving players to the stunning landscapes of Mexico with limitless fun and adventures.

Echo Boomer - Portuguese - Unscored

With new exotic destiny, a new energetic playlist and new roads untravelled, Forza Horizon 5 is the ultimate fantasy for car lovers.

Eurogamer - Recommended

Playground Games delivers yet another gorgeous and enveloping pocket holiday, smartly restructured but reassuringly unchanged.

Player2.net.au - A or higher

Forza Horizon 5, despite its focus on cars, is a game for everyone, not just those inclined to go fast on four wheels. Forza Horizon 5, more than anything, wants you to play it your way, making it perhaps the most welcoming game on any system.

Polygon - Polygon Recommends

Even now, though, I can feel myself tightening up in my shoulders and chest thinking about everything in Forza Horizon 5, and the difference between everything I have — with a V sound — and everything I have — F sound — to do. It’s the difference between opportunities and obligations. The only area in which Forza Horizon 5 stumbles is when it gives me so much of the former that they become the latter.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Unscored

Not the best racing game ever made, but a contender for best driving game. While perhaps overly familiar, everything here is very slick, refreshingly wholesome and easy-going.

Skill Up - Unscored

Video Review - Quote not available

The Escapist - Unscored

Video Review - Quote not available

Unboxholics - Greek - Worth your time

Forza Horizon 5 manages to make a great experience... even better, taking us to a beautiful, exotic location that perfectly highlights all the virtues of the series. I highly recommend the game to everyone, even if you don't like racing games, just to admire its phenomenal graphics.

Vamers - Essential

Forza Horizon 5 shines as an Xbox exclusive and clearly showcases how much Playground Games cares for this franchise. From the utterly eye-wateringly good presentation, through to how it allows players to have as much fun as humanly possible (whether simulation snob or arcade racing champ); the game offers so much to see, do and enjoy. The region of Mexico is a wonderful new addition to the growing list of franchise settings, and is arguably one of the largest, yet most intricate, maps in the series. The game is exciting, gorgeous and offers seemingly endless hours of entertainment for gamers who enjoy racing titles. It is simply superb in all respects, and is truly an exceptional title!

[best3444]

@stepee you called it with the average score of 92 for reviews. I'm very happy that this turned out amazing. God I wish I owned an xsx. 

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

 

[AbsolutSurgen]

Reading some of the 8/10 reviews make me even more excited about the game.

Too much to do -- that sounds awesome I put 300 hours into the last game

Overwhelming choice -- that sounds awesome, being able to do what I do, whenever I want, is why FH4 was so great

 

Giving me FH4 [the best game ever made], with an all new map, and new places to progress is all I really need.

[Keyser_Soze]

 

[stepee]

I’m confused by the release date, if I have Gamepass Ultimate, do I get to play tomorrow?

[Mr.Vic20]

13 minutes ago, stepee said:

I’m confused by the release date, if I have Gamepass Ultimate, do I get to play tomorrow?

Yes sir! 

[stepee]

8 minutes ago, Mr.Vic20 said:

Yes sir! 

 

FUCK YES

[Dodger]

Oh shit we can play it tomorrow? I better get to downloading it then. 

[best3444]

I'm not going to play this but if I had an xsx I'd take a gander lol. Glad you racing fans are getting a terrific next gen racing game.

[Amazatron]

Gamepass is so insanely good for Age of Empires IV and this alone.

[Commissar SFLUFAN]

Updated the reviews post with the newest ones from OpenCritic.

[rc0101]

48 minutes ago, Amazatron said:

Gamepass is so insanely good for Age of Empires IV and this alone.

But Gamepass has no games that anyone wants to play!/s 

[stepee]

24 minutes ago, rc0101 said:

But Gamepass has no games that anyone wants to play!/s 

 

The only way someone could think that is if they have a ps now subscription and think its the same thing.

[Guest]

I stacked 3 years of GP Ultimate for about $160 and haven’t spent any money on Xbox games since, all the while having a consistent steam of games to play. And importantly, many of which I otherwise wouldn’t have tried. It’s only going to get better as MS’ studios really start dropping a lot of content consistently 

[TheLeon]

I guess this is the month where I find out if I have a real data cap. Downloaded a bunch of random Game Pass stuff the other day, now 102 gigs for this fucker. 

 

I only have the appetite for like one racing game every couple of years. I played a lot of Horizon 3, but not much of 4. Can’t remember why. I’m looking forward to this. 

[Dodger]

Yeah I don’t think you get early access if you’re just playing on games pass. I have ultimate and it’s passed midnight on the east coast and won’t let me play. Oh well I can wait til Tuesday.

[Keyser_Soze]

5 minutes ago, Dodger said:

Yeah I don’t think you get early access if you’re just playing on games pass. I have ultimate and it’s passed midnight on the east coast and won’t let me play. Oh well I can wait til Tuesday.

 

The Xbox app says Coming November 9

[Keyser_Soze]

Quote

Forza Horizon 5 early access has begun! On Xbox and Windows, Premium Edition Early Access rollout is region dependent. Upon 12:01 a.m. local time in your country, the game will be available to play. On Steam, this unlock happens globally at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Nov. 5.

 

Xbox Game Pass subscribers also benefit from early access with the purchase of the Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-ons Bundle from the Microsoft Store. Priced at $49.99, Xbox Game Pass members also get a 10% discount on this bundle.

 

 

[rc0101]

Played for a little over an hour and its pretty amazing! 

[Mr.Vic20]

@stepee I was wrong! Apparently the standard edition of Forza, which is of course the Gamepass version, does not drop until the 9th. Boo. Which I might have surmised had I questioned the meaning of this thread's updated title at any point...  

[Keyser_Soze]

1 hour ago, Mr.Vic20 said:

Which I might have surmised had I questioned the meaning of this thread's updated title at any point...  

 

The release date in the title has remained the same, the updated title is only for Wade's Opencritic pimping.

[Mr.Vic20]

Well there you have it, apparently reading is hard! 

[stepee]

7 hours ago, Mr.Vic20 said:

@stepee I was wrong! Apparently the standard edition of Forza, which is of course the Gamepass version, does not drop until the 9th. Boo. Which I might have surmised had I questioned the meaning of this thread's updated title at any point...  

 

lol yeah I started getting suspicious and checked last night at 9 and it seemed like a no go, though it’s very very poorly communicated and just a dumb idea!

[AbsolutSurgen]

Played for about half an hour at lunch. Looking forward to some quality time this evening. 

[AbsolutSurgen]

Just discovered that MS has finally improved the store app for multiple users.  I still had to login as myself in the store on my son's account -- but I didn't need to completely reinstall the game.  (With Forza Horizon 4, it had to be installed twice, so used double the HD space.)

 

So, it's half-way there!  I don't know why Steam is smart enough to keep track of what's installed on the computer, but the MS store isn't.  But, progress is progress.

[Spork3245]

1 hour ago, AbsolutSurgen said:

Just discovered that MS has finally improved the store app for multiple users.  I still had to login as myself in the store on my son's account -- but I didn't need to completely reinstall the game.  (With Forza Horizon 4, it had to be installed twice, so used double the HD space.)

 

So, it's half-way there!  I don't know why Steam is smart enough to keep track of what's installed on the computer, but the MS store isn't.  But, progress is progress.

 

Benchmark please (or are you not playing PC?)