Forza Horizon 5 PS5 preview — It's about time

A game that needs no introduction, Forza Horizon 5 finally arrives on the PlayStation 5 after nearly 4 years of exclusivity. Racing enthusiasts can enjoy the franchise’s blend of open world exploration and arcade racing at its very best. Centered around the Horizon Festival, a massive, vibrant celebration of car culture set in a beautifully realized version of Mexico, Forza Horizon 5 has you take on the role of a rising superstar driver, returning to the festival to expand its reach. How original, right? I feel like all racing games do something similar…

Gameplay is a masterclass in balancing accessibility and depth. The driving mechanics strike a middle ground between arcade fun and realistic simulation authenticity. Handling improvements, such as more responsive ABS braking and nuanced off-road physics, make every car feel distinct and rewarding to master. The sheer variety of events, from traditional races to creative community-generated challenges, ensures that monotony never sets in. There’s always something to do.

The game includes four main Showcase Events, each offering a unique, cinematic racing experience against everything from planes to trains and monster trucks. The Festival Playlist introduces a rotating selection of events every week, such as Forzathons (weekly and daily challenges), Horizon Arcade mini-games, The Trial, Seasonal Playground Games, PR Stunts, among plenty of other modes. 

Did you know that Forza Horizon 5 features nearly 900 unique cars to collect? The game originally debuted with over 500 cars, but the roster has expanded to include new-to-Forza vehicles, returning favorites, and a wide range of models from various manufacturers. Since its original launch, there’s been 2 major expansions: Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure. The Hot Wheels DLC transports you to the Hot Wheels Park, featuring gravity-defying orange tracks, four diverse biomes, and a host of new events and challenges. The Rally Adventure DLC focuses on off-road and rally racing in the rugged, multi-biome region of Sierra Nueva.

Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 offers two graphics modes: Performance mode runs at 60 frames per second, while Quality mode targets 30 frames per second but with higher visual fidelity. The PS5 version leverages the DualSense controller’s advanced haptics and adaptive triggers, delivering nuanced feedback for wheel slip, braking, and changes in road surface. Unfortunately, there still isn’t local split-screen multiplayer supported, but there is cross-play, so PS5 players can race, build, and share user-generated content with the entire Forza Horizon 5 community. My main gripe is that a Microsoft account is required to play the game, so you must link your PlayStation account with it during your setup even if you plan to play offline. 

Visually, Forza Horizon 5 is nothing short of breathtaking, especially playing on a 4K television. The lighting engine brings the Mexican landscape to life, and a dynamic weather system that features dust storms and torrential rain makes the experience all more realistic. Car models are rendered with obsessive detail, and even without ray tracing in every mode, reflections and shadows are convincing and add to the sense of realism.

Audio design is another area where the game excels. Each car boasts unique, meticulously recorded engine sounds that react dynamically to upgrades and environmental changes. The soundtrack is energetic and diverse, offering multiple radio stations that cater to a wide range of musical tastes, such as Lil Nas X and even Odesza!

Releasing on the same day as the PlayStation 5 version of Forza Horizon 5 is Horizon Realms, a transformative new addition to the game available on all platforms. This free new mode offers a curated gateway into the game’s rich history of Evolving World updates that allows you to revisit a dozen unique environments: 11 limited time locations from past updates and an all-new Stadium Track. The old ones include Stunt Park, Ice Rink, Lunar Drift Arena, and Retrowave Highway!

The core appeal of Realms lies in its dual modes: Skill Mode and Free Mode. Skill Mode is competitive, obviously, and tasks you with banking the highest possible Skill Score in each realm. Get those drifts and burnout skills ready!  Free Mode, by contrast, is a more relaxed experience, allowing you to explore, complete challenges, and soak in the unique ambiance of each Realm at your own leisure.

Realms introduces over sixty new accolades that reward you with new badges, #Forzathon Points, and 4 exclusive new-to-Horizon cars: the 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto, the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, the 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430, and the 2022 Hennessey Mammoth 6x6. It’s nice that Playground Games honors the community’s favorite moments and ensures that new players can experience the full tapestry of Forza Horizon 5’s evolving world, for free!

I’m glad that PlayStation players can finally enjoy Forza Horizon 5, the first in the franchise to be offered on a non Xbox platform. Aside from the forced account linking and other minor hiccups, Forza Horizon 5 is a sublime open-world racing experience with hundreds of cars to enjoy and a vibrant Mexico to explore.