Forza Horizon 5
" Vibrant open-world racing simcade with stunning graphics but frequent technical issues "
Forza Horizon 5 Review
Forza Horizon 5 is widely praised for its stunning graphics and enjoyable, accessible simcade racing gameplay set in a vast, beautiful open-world Mexico. Players appreciate the rich car customization, diverse racing types, and dynamic seasonal events, which add variety to the experience. The game offers a generous car selection, including rare and exotic models, and a robust tuning system that appeals to both casual players and car enthusiasts.
However, the game has notable drawbacks. Many users report frequent crashes and technical issues, especially on PC, impacting playability. The story and missions are often described as repetitive and lacking depth, with some players finding the seasonal changes subtle and underwhelming compared to previous entries. Online multiplayer suffers from small server populations and occasional griefing, while forced unskippable cutscenes and intrusive dialogue detract from immersion. The in-game economy and grind mechanics also receive criticism for being unbalanced and overly reliant on microtransactions. Overall, it’s a visually impressive and fun racing game with room for improvement in polish and content depth.
Highlights
Players consistently praise Forza Horizon 5's breathtaking graphics that blur the line between game and reality. The gameplay mechanics are lauded for being fun, accessible, and offering deep car tuning and customization options. The open-world setting is vast and varied, providing an immersive sandbox experience. The dynamic weekly seasonal events and music integration enhance replayability and atmosphere. Many players enjoy the large car roster and the generous approach to car rewards, making it appealing for car enthusiasts and casual racers alike.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include frequent technical issues and crashes, especially on PC, which frustrate players. The story and mission design are often seen as repetitive, lacking meaningful progression or engaging narrative. The online multiplayer suffers from small player counts, poor matchmaking, and griefing without adequate penalties. Forced unskippable cutscenes and intrusive dialogue disrupt gameplay flow. The in-game economy and grind are viewed as unbalanced, with microtransactions undermining progression. Additionally, the seasonal changes and map design are considered less impactful and more barren compared to previous titles.
Pros
- • Stunning and realistic graphics that impress players consistently.
- • Fun and accessible simcade racing gameplay with deep tuning options.
- • Large, immersive open world with varied environments and scenery.
- • Dynamic weekly seasonal events that keep the game fresh and engaging.
- • Extensive car roster including rare and exotic vehicles.
- • Generous car rewards and customization options for players.
- • Smooth and well-optimized performance on a range of hardware.
Cons
- • Frequent crashes and technical issues, especially on PC platforms.
- • Repetitive and shallow story and mission design lacking depth.
- • Online multiplayer suffers from low player counts and poor matchmaking.
- • Forced unskippable cutscenes and intrusive dialogue disrupt gameplay.
- • In-game economy feels unbalanced and grind-heavy with microtransactions.
- • Seasonal effects and map changes feel subtle and underwhelming.
- • AI behavior criticized for being inconsistent and unfair at times.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
Forza Horizon 5 Version Comparison
About the Game
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.
This is Your Horizon Adventure
Lead breathtaking expeditions across the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.
This is a Diverse Open World
Explore a world of striking contrast and beauty. Discover living deserts, lush jungles, historic cities, hidden ruins, pristine beaches, vast canyons and a towering snow-capped volcano.
This is an Adventurous Open World
Immerse yourself in a deep campaign with hundreds of challenges that reward you for engaging in the activities you love. Meet new characters and choose the outcomes of their Horizon Story missions.
This is an Evolving Open World
Take on awe-inspiring weather events such as towering dust storms and intense tropical storms as Mexico’s unique, dynamic seasons change the world every week. Keep coming back for new events, challenges, collectibles, and rewards, and new areas to explore. No two seasons will ever be the same.
This is a Social Open World
Team up with other players and enter the Horizon Arcade for a continuing series of fun, over-the-top challenges that keep you and your friends in the action and having fun with no menus, loading screens or lobbies. Meet new friends in Horizon Open and Tours and share your creations with new community gift sharing.
This is Your Open World
Create your own expressions of fun with the powerful new EventLab gameplay toolset including custom races, challenges, stunts, and entirely new game modes. Customize your cars in more ways than ever before with new options such as the ability open and close convertible tops, paint brake calipers, and more. Use the new Gift Drops feature to share your custom creations with the community.
Begin Your Horizon Adventure today!
Explore the vibrant open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in the world’s greatest cars.