Forza Horizon 5 review - Mexico map takes the series to the next level

As the sun looks over the tropical plains of Mexico with flamingos resting in their natural habitat, the calm is shattered by the roaring chaos of motors. This is exactly what we see in Forza Horizon 5.

It's been a three-year wait for another Horizon game from Playground Games, and for many - following the Forza Motorsport trailer from July 2020 - the reveal of Horizon 5 came as a shock in June.

For the game to be revealed and released within the same six months, the anticipation was sky high, and the developers did not disappoint.

The last two installments of the franchise have taken players to a fictional part of Britain as well as Australia. While a change of scenery is always expected, the wide variety of challenging terrain, dynamic tracks and beautiful scenery in Mexico make this the best map the series has ever made.

Forza Horizon 5 - Key Details

• Price (Standard Edition): $59.99
• Developer: Playground Games
• Release date: November 9, 2021
• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC
• Review copy: Series S for Xbox

Forza Horizon 5 Trailer

Since this is the fifth installment in the Horizon series, regular players will already know the gameplay structure and style, so we will be focusing on new content. There is also no shortage of notable changes.

Setting

Rivaling only Cyberpunk 2077 for its inclusivity in character creation, Forza Horizon 5 sets a new standard with the ability to identify your player as gender-fluid.

Additionally, Playground Games has also included a feature to select prosthetic limbs for your driver - meaning this year's character creation tools are more representative of society than ever.

Next, vehicle setup.

Different benefits are available for each of your vehicles, which vary by model and manufacturer.

Many of the proven detail or decal customization options remain the same, which will be good news for returning players. The "drag and drop" of collecting community projects remains and it's really easy to use.

The performance chart (right) is also very handy if you're new to the game and would like to see how each upgrade will improve your car. So, if you're looking for a new spray, a sophisticated design, or something that will make your car look better in certain areas, the My Cars menu is what you're looking for.

Forza Horizon 5 Mexico map

The Forza series has always created beautiful environments from a graphical standpoint - in fact, it's known for delivering the most scenic of any Xbox game on Game Pass. Your trip to Mexico on Xbox Series X|S won't disappoint either.

Your introduction to the Forza Horizon 5 map will certainly be an unforgettable moment on your journey. Planes crash to the ground, dropping a few vehicles for you to check out, and you enter a world of fast cars caught in difficult terrain.

From sandy beaches to bumpy jungles, the surroundings have never felt as breathtaking or realistic as this one.

Unlike the map of Australia (which was still graphically distinct at the time), it does not have a cardboard cutout for some of the terrain.

At speed, you would usually hit trees and they would fly out like they were made of Styrofoam. With Horizon 5, the error is much narrower, so everything looks much more realistic.

And what about these new weather effects - check out this dust storm in the screenshots below:

High rocky mountains, low coastal plains and challenging deserts, Playground Games has served up the perfect cocktail.

Gameplay

Gameplay has never been a problem for Forza, though finely tuned updates are coming with the next generation that enhance the sense of realism.

In terms of handling, the skill level requirement has risen with the addition of so many unforgiving racetracks.

Previously, the gameplay had a very arcade style that tackled the challenge of mountain rallies, driving through deserts and beaches. This year, every bump in the road must be perfectly controlled. This will ultimately make us better drivers.

Handling for faster cars feels more controlled, even with base performance on your car of choice. While the great thing about the plethora of biomes available to play is that no one car is right for every race, so changing your collection has never seemed more important.

Often in Horizon 4, the fastest cars or upgraded versions of slower vehicles will be a bit wild and difficult to control. In terms of understeer and oversteer, Forza Horizon 5 allows you to recover from speed in a smoother way - although you have more obstacles to avoid due to map selection, naturally.

For the Horizon festivals, they will take you from place to place on the Mexico map. By completing each of them (and the side races that follow), these packs are very useful for players. In terms of progression, Horizon 5, as expected, rewards you for being a great racer.

New Photo Mode Missions, Vehicle Skill Points, and Rewards keep things fresh as you move your story from festival to festival.

While we don't intend to spoil anything for you in this review, the journey progresses similarly to Horizon 4 with a few really cool moments along the way.

Forza Horizon 5 rating - 10/10

Forza Horizon 5 sets a new industry gold standard for racing game visuals, gameplay, and map design.

Our map design expectations have just leveled off with Horizon 5, and it's another huge win for Game Pass members who get it on release day.

The good news for players is that there will be DLC content in the future that will only add to what is the most addictive next-gen racing game released so far.

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