Forza Horizon 5

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 76,356 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Forza Horizon 5 Game Cover
Forza Horizon 5 is the pinnacle of Playground Games' open world racing series, and in turn, one of the best racers you'll ever play.
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Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 76,356 reviews
graphics4,139 positive mentions
stability971 negative mentions
  • graphics6,150 mentions

    The graphics in Forza Horizon 5 have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and attention to detail, with many players noting the breathtaking visuals of the Mexican landscapes and intricately designed cars. While the game showcases impressive graphical fidelity, some users have reported performance issues and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful graphics, which significantly enhance the immersive racing experience.

    • “The graphics are stunning, especially if you have an RTX card.”
    • “The graphics are a feast for the eyes, every detail lovingly rendered, from the glint of sunlight on your car's bonnet to the delicate dust that clings to your tyres after a spirited sprint through the wilderness.”
    • “With its breathtaking graphics, diverse gameplay, and immersive open world, it offers an unparalleled racing adventure.”
    • “The graphics are a huge upgrade compared to fh4 which already looked great.”
    • “The graphics are so realistic and the game is well optimized.”
    • “The graphics are identical and the gameplay is better on fh3.”
  • story2,838 mentions

    The story aspect of Forza Horizon 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and filled with cringe-worthy dialogue. While some appreciate the attempt at a narrative that ties into the racing experience, others feel it detracts from the gameplay, with unskippable cutscenes and forced character interactions. Overall, the game is primarily enjoyed for its racing mechanics and stunning graphics rather than its story, which many consider to be a minor or even annoying element.

    • “Incredible and sublime game, a fun and interesting story.”
    • “The horizon adventure mode adds a sense of progression, with story missions that provide a fun, if slightly cheesy, narrative.”
    • “The horizon story missions provide a captivating narrative to accompany your racing exploits, adding depth to the overall experience.”
    • “There is literally no story and most dialogue is cringe-worthy.”
    • “The story is terrible and genuinely just an obstructive chore.”
    • “The story is boring, the map is boring, it only has a few fun places to drive.”
  • gameplay2,505 mentions

    The gameplay of Forza Horizon 5 has received a mix of praise and criticism from players. Many highlight its smooth driving mechanics, stunning visuals, and engaging open-world exploration, making it accessible for both casual and hardcore racing fans. However, some players feel that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with limited progression and a lack of significant innovations compared to its predecessor, Forza Horizon 4. Additionally, technical issues such as crashes and server problems have been noted, impacting the overall experience for some users.

    • “Forza Horizon 5 is a breathtaking celebration of open-world racing, delivering an unparalleled combination of thrilling gameplay, stunning visuals, and a richly immersive experience.”
    • “The driving mechanics strike a perfect balance between realism and fun, while the variety of events and creative challenges keep gameplay fresh.”
    • “With its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and endless customization options, it stands out as a must-play for both racing enthusiasts and casual gamers.”
    • “Overall a trash game unoptimized and lacks gameplay.”
    • “The core gameplay loop feels recycled, offering little beyond what we've already seen.”
    • “The gameplay is nothing special so don't lose your money or time with this shitty Microsoft product.”
  • music1,225 mentions

    The music in Forza Horizon 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the diverse soundtrack that includes various genres, but others criticizing it for being repetitive and lacking memorable tracks. While some enjoy the energetic atmosphere created by the music during races and cruising, others feel that the soundtrack is a downgrade from previous installments, particularly Forza Horizon 4. Additionally, the censorship of certain songs has frustrated players, leading many to prefer using their own playlists instead.

    • “The soundtrack is a perfect blend of energetic and atmospheric tracks that complement the high-octane action.”
    • “The in-game radio stations offer a diverse selection of music, ensuring there’s something for everyone.”
    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention, featuring a diverse and energetic mix of music that perfectly complements the game's exhilarating pace.”
    • “The music is absolutely horrible in this game except for a couple.”
    • “The soundtrack is overwhelmingly disappointing unless you're into mainstream music.”
    • “The music in this game is utterly terrible.”
  • optimization1,218 mentions

    The optimization of Forza Horizon 5 has received mixed reviews from players. While many commend its impressive graphics and smooth performance on high-end systems, numerous users report significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and performance degradation over extended play sessions, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, while the game shows potential with good optimization for some setups, persistent bugs and performance inconsistencies detract from the experience for many players.

    • “The game is impressively optimized, with an incredible level of detail.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, performance is generally great with modern hardware.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, it's beautiful no matter when I look and I can create need for speed livery for my cars.”
    • “It's extremely poorly optimized and just not that fun to play anymore.”
    • “The game is not optimized.”
    • “The performance issues and stability problems are inexcusable and the devs should be ashamed of their work.”
  • stability1,055 mentions

    The stability of Forza Horizon 5 has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users have noted improvements over time, the game still suffers from graphical glitches, long loading times, and connectivity problems that can make it frustrating to play. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with many recommending potential buyers to wait for further patches and optimizations before diving in.

    • “The game runs great, however me and my brother are trying to play together.”
    • “Game runs great even on my minimum spec PC.”
    • “Overall I've had a pretty bug-free experience for the most part, aside from that first one I mentioned, which happens consistently.”
    • “The game is so buggy it's often unplayable without a restart; sometimes just the game...sometimes your whole PC.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess. It crashes on startup, even after an ungodly amount of troubleshooting and many updates later it still crashes on startup.”
    • “The game is incredibly buggy. I have spent more time troubleshooting (without success) than playing the game over the past few weeks.”
  • grinding496 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized, with many players expressing that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort to unlock cars and complete challenges, often feeling tedious and repetitive. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, others feel it detracts from the overall fun, leading to a sentiment that a "second life" is needed to fully engage with the game's content. The in-game economy and reliance on microtransactions further exacerbate the grindy experience, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's not grindy; you often have a chance to win a car when you level up, or as a random gift from the players.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “The grinding part of this game is ruined along with a lack of a story or campaign.”
    • “The game felt like it got grindy way too quick, and I lost interest.”
    • “The main problem for me though wasn't so much the constant crashing, but rather the fact that the game became incredibly boring, lifeless and just about grinding cars in the horizon festival list right after I completed all of the main races, which for me, personally, wasn't the most enjoyable thing.”
  • humor237 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining, particularly in the context of chaotic racing and amusing glitches. However, some critiques highlight that attempts at humor can fall flat, with cringe-worthy dialogue and unfunny character interactions detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the game offers plenty of lighthearted moments and comedic elements, opinions vary on the effectiveness of its humor.

    • “It's been a long time since a game made me laugh - this is a lot of fun.”
    • “The fifth installment in Forza's open-world fantasy car-festival series, blending realistic/semi-realistic car sim gameplay with a hilariously unrealistic car festival premise.”
    • “Playing with friends is chaotic, hilarious, and absolutely fun!”
    • “After being dropped around the map, the main story characters start to make jokes that are supposed to be funny, but I couldn't really figure out if they were jokes or not because they were unfunny as hell.”
    • “Unfunny characters can be ignored; if you don't like the story, just rush it and so on.”
    • “Boring, to be honest... not funny after 50 hours.”
  • monetization189 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over the prevalence of unskippable ads, microtransactions, and costly DLCs that feel exploitative. Many reviewers describe the game as a "cash grab," highlighting that despite the initial purchase price, players are continually pressured to spend more on additional content and cosmetic items. While some acknowledge that progression is possible without spending extra, the overall sentiment is that the aggressive monetization detracts from the gaming experience.

    • “The in-game economy and microtransactions: the game's in-game economy, while generous with rewards, also includes microtransactions for purchasing additional cosmetics and content.”
    • “While these purchases are optional and don’t affect gameplay balance, some players may find the presence of microtransactions somewhat off-putting, particularly in a full-priced game.”
    • “There are no pay-to-win mechanics, however, and the in-game purchases that are available are reasonably limited and reasonably priced.”
    • “If you buy this game, you will pay $70 for a game that will force you to watch an unskippable advertisement if you accidentally click on the 'rally adventure', which can be acquired for an additional fee of about $20.”
    • “This misleading approach feels like a cash grab and betrays the trust of loyal fans who invested in the premium edition.”
    • “The game costs ludicrous amounts of money and has microtransactions, making it feel like a complete cash grab.”
  • replayability153 mentions

    Forza Horizon 5 offers a mix of replayability, with many players praising its diverse events, seasonal updates, and the innovative EventLab feature that allows for user-generated content. While some users find the game infinitely replayable due to its vast array of activities and multiplayer options, others express concerns about diminishing replay value after completing the main content or due to a lack of competitive ranked modes compared to its predecessor, Forza Horizon 4. Overall, the game's replayability is seen as high, but individual experiences may vary based on personal interests and gameplay preferences.

    • “The freedom to explore, participate in various racing disciplines, or simply go on a joyride ensures endless replayability.”
    • “Events and challenges add endless replayability, making each session unique.”
    • “The addition of the EventLab, allowing players to create and share their custom events, adds infinite replay value to an already content-rich game.”
    • “I was gifted 5 of the most overpowered cars in the game in the first 30 minutes and lost all replay value.”
    • “The races are so boring I could sleep through them, and for a game where you drive cars in an open world, it's somehow just not that replayable.”
    • “With the story complete, the only replayable bits are largely through the weekly Forzathon events, or multiplayer (casual or ranked) if you like being forced into the 'meta' lineup to retain any competitiveness.”
  • atmosphere137 mentions

    The atmosphere in Forza Horizon 5 is characterized by a vibrant festival vibe, enhanced by a diverse and energetic soundtrack that complements the game's stunning Mexican landscapes and dynamic weather effects. While many players appreciate the immersive environment and lively racing experience, some feel that the atmosphere lacks the depth and charm of previous installments, particularly in terms of storytelling and overall engagement. Overall, the game successfully creates an electrifying atmosphere that invites exploration and enjoyment, though opinions vary on its execution compared to earlier titles in the series.

    • “The soundtrack, carefully curated to match the Mexican theme, creates a fantastic atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is electric, with music pumping, crowds cheering, and cars revving their engines in anticipation of the next race.”
    • “The game's gorgeous open-world environment is a treat to explore, with stunning landscapes and a vibrant atmosphere that immerses you in the experience.”
    • “Coming from Horizon 1-3, this was a huge step down in terms of atmosphere and rewarding accessibility.”
    • “There is no variety, there is no sense of atmosphere or that you're even going anywhere worthwhile of driving.”
    • “The atmosphere is lacking in general, especially with the lack of a story.”
  • emotional57 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it heartwarming and enjoyable, while others criticize the story as boring and overly simplistic. Many express frustration with the characters and narrative, feeling that it detracts from the overall experience, although some moments resonate deeply, evoking strong feelings. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly among players, with a notable divide between those who appreciate the game's wholesome elements and those who find it lacking depth.

    • “The story is quite cheesy and cringy at times but also kind of heartwarming.”
    • “Hot Wheels expansion made me cry.”
    • “If games were vacations, previous game FH4 would be an emotional journey through places where you can breathe in the salty air of the North Sea, play in the snow in winter, and sunbathe on the beach in summer.”
    • “Absolutely terribly boring storyline, stupidly flat to the point of impossibility.”
    • “Annoying characters are boring story: I don't usually get bothered by the humor/voice acting of video games but this game has such annoying voice acting, the characters in the game are obnoxious & writing is made to appeal to a 5 year old.”
    • “Unskippable cutscenes for a boring storyline.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the stereotypical character designs and lack of meaningful progression tied to leveling up. While a few appreciate the balance between the main storyline and side quests for character growth, many find the overall execution lacking, citing poor voice acting and a disjointed narrative that detracts from engagement. Additionally, the adjustable character design and clothing options are noted, but overall, the character development feels underwhelming to several players.

    • “The game strikes a perfect balance between the main storyline and side quests, providing ample opportunities for character development and world-building.”
    • “- Adjustable character design and clothing.”
    • “The diversity from character design to the various racing options as well as the 'sandbox' are pure madness.”
    • “I downloaded it because I thought it had RPG elements, but when I finally got a level up, the level ups had nothing to do with character development.”
    • “I'm also very surprised that they managed to take the very old-fashioned and frankly ugly character designs from the previous game and made them even worse.”
    • “Bad voice acting, character development, and an overall sloppily laid out story made it really difficult to get hooked, and I found myself spending far more time just playing with friends or doing random challenges across the map than I did actually trying to continue the story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

91% average critic score

Buy Forza Horizon 5

Play time

35hMedian play time
420hAverage play time
10-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 301 analyzed playthroughs

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