Forza Horizon 5 for Windows

A thrilling open-world arcade racer

Forza Horizon is the fifth installment in an open-world racing game series and is exclusive to PCs and Xbox. Forza Horizon 5 continues the series tradition of including hundreds of cars, boat-loads of customization options, and an expansive world to explore. 

This time the action takes place in a fictionalized version of Mexico. Not only do you get to race on country roads, winding through scenic hills and farmlands, but there are city streets and coastal roads to explore too. The most significant addition is dynamic weather and seasons, making an already beautiful game even more jaw-dropping. It shares some similarities with Forza Horizon 4 but improves on so many at the same time.

Where is Forza Horizon 5 set?

The Forza Horizon series is well known for its open-world environment. This time the map is based in Mexico, and it’s a big one, at 50% larger than the previous games. It contains all sorts of diverse environments like jungles, beaches, ancient Mayan temples, small towns, big cities, and even active volcanoes! It's beautiful to look at and fun when exploring because you never know what kind of adventure will be waiting down the road.

Forza Horizon 5 gameplay

Forza Horizon 5 includes many elements common among games of this genre. Players take the role of a racer to gain popularity and wealth by winning races and performing stunts. Performing these stunts earns players followers which is vital if you want to become the top Horizon Festival driver. These races and stunts include everything from drift challenges to high-stakes street races, and as always, there's a huge garage full of unique licensed cars to collect and tune.

You can customize cars before a race at each driver's home garage or while out on the road. Each part of the car is upgradable for speed, acceleration, handling, and durability. In addition, you can upgrade the body with spoilers and decals to improve aerodynamics (and aesthetics). There are even paint options for rims and brake calipers. Further customization can be added by changing up your horn, adding flair to your wheels, and more.

The most exciting new feature is the seasons and weather system. With this, players will see changes in the time of day and weather all dynamically around them as they play. One moment you could be driving through a sunny spring day but suddenly find yourself surrounded by rain and fog on a later race, or even driving straight into a giant sandstorm. The seasons cycle through spring, summer, fall, and winter, each bringing its own beauty to the game world.

What game modes does Forza Horizon 5 have?

The game features several game modes like Forza Horizon games always do. There's the classic free-roam mode, where you can explore at your own pace. You can also choose to participate in specific events that are waiting around the map. These could be races, stunt challenges, or something else to advance your popularity.

Other game modes include Showcase Events which allow you to compete in incredibly unique racing experiences like chasing down train robbers across the desert or racing against a steam engine for glory. The Bucket List offers similar extreme challenges that give players a taste of the world. The more dangerous and demanding the Bucket List is, the more rewarding the prize.

How many cars are there?

With over 500 cars, you won't have trouble finding the perfect car to fit your style. Each car is unique and can be customized down to the finest detail. From exotic high-end vehicles to vintage classics, there are options for everyone. Many of these cars are available straight away, but others must be found or unlocked through the game.

What are the system requirements to play?

Forza Horizon 5 Windows PC requires at least an Intel i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 CPU, 8GB RAM, and NVidia GTX 970 OR AMD RX 470 graphics card. You'll also need at least 110 GB of storage space available.

New Seasonal Update: Enhancing Customization and Gameplay

Forza Horizon 5 has recently received a free seasonal update alongside the Rally Adventure DLC, which expands the customization and tuning options available to players. The new update, called Midnights at Horizon, introduces 29 all-new body kit options for select vehicles, primarily designed for rallying purposes. In addition to the new body kits, players can now adjust the tire profile size for specific vehicles, such as the 2011 BMW X5M, which was a much-awaited feature.

Technical Upgrades: DLSS 3.0 and Steering Wheel Rotation Support

The Midnights at Horizon update also brings technical improvements to Forza Horizon 5, such as DLSS 3.0 and steering wheel rotation support. These enhancements provide players with even more flexibility and a better gaming experience, especially for those who prefer using a steering wheel while playing the game.

More Rally Options: Supercharger Anti-Lag and Launch Control

The seasonal update enables players to create more powerful rally vehicles by introducing supercharger anti-lag and launch control customizations. These features make rally racing and off-roading in the open-world sandbox of FH5 even more engaging and exciting, particularly for players who enjoy building custom cars.

Free Rally Cars and Thematic Changes

In addition to the customization features, the Midnights at Horizon update follows the game's trend of offering free seasonal content. Early in March, Forza Horizon 5 added free rally cars that players could unlock without purchasing the expansion pack. The Midnights at Horizon event focuses on road racing, bringing neon decorations, longer nights, and other thematic changes to the game world, providing an immersive alternative for players who are less interested in rallying.

In a Barbie world

With the release of the film, Barbie — based on the iconic fashion doll, herself — Forza Horizon 5 is offering fans of the franchise the opportunity to obtain two exclusive vehicles. The vehicles you can get are Barbie’s stylish, pink 1956 Chevrolet Corvette EV convertible, as well as Ken’s 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup. You’ll automatically receive them once you log into the game and download them from the Message Center. Once you’ve downloaded them, they will automatically appear in your garage, ready for your next adventure.

Featuring Italy’s most iconic automobiles

Forza Horizon 5’s newest update is a major treat for Italian automotive enthusiasts. With 16 new cars to add to their garages, players can look forward to a truckload of exciting new drops. By heading over to the Horizon Festival Outpost or Player House, you can browse through eight of the most iconic Italian cars and drive them all around town. Afterward, you can take part in the Italian Automotive Festival Playlist and unlock eight more additional cars to your roster. 

With numerous events in this series’ Festival Playlist, players can take part in different thrilling challenges over the course of four weeks. In addition to these, players also have the opportunity to purchase the Italian Exotics Car Pack which features seven exclusive cars that are new to the game, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Italdesign models. Best of all, the game has increased each player’s total garage spaces to 2,000 cars, and the save slots for tunes and liveries to 1,000 to give players even more opportunities to enjoy the game to its full potential.

Taking Forza to the next level 

Forza Horizon 5 is a thrilling open-world arcade racer. With over 500 cars, dynamic weather and seasons, and an expansive world to explore, Forza Horizon 5 gives players everything they could want in this genre.

Forza Horizon has never looked or played better than in this latest installment with all these elements combined. This is a solid game for anyone who loves racing games and wants an open world to drive in. Combined with the seasons and weather elements, Forza Horizon 5 is truly a magnificent open-world arcade racer.