Full throttle fun on PS5
By Paul Hunter
Forza Horizon 5, developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, originally launched in 2021 on Xbox Series X and PC. Now, it finally arrives on the PlayStation 5—marking the first time this series has shifted gears onto Sony’s platform. It's a moment that a lot of racing fans on PlayStation have waited for, and the great news is that this version holds up incredibly well.
Built around a giant open-world racing festival set in Mexico, the game leans into fast cars, creative freedom, and nonstop events. It combines arcade-style handling with a huge selection of vehicles and locations to tear through. You don’t need to follow a strict route or timeline. Instead, the game encourages you to jump into whatever mode suits you best, whether that’s racing, drifting, cruising, or just causing chaos with friends.
The PS5 version looks and runs great, and even better, everything from the original version is here, including all the core content, vehicles, online features, and a wide range of customization options. While the DualSense support is a bit limited, the experience still feels smooth and well-optimised on Sony’s hardware.
So, now that Forza Horizon 5 is finally on PS5, the real question is: should it be your next racing adventure?
Forza Horizon 5 is light on story and instead immediately drops you into a vibrant racing festival in Mexico where you're treated as a superstar from the very start. The structure isn't about telling a scripted tale and more about building your own journey through action and choice.
The Horizon Festival serves as your main hub. From there, you branch out into different regions of the country, unlocking new locations and events as you rack up Accolades. This progression system encourages you to earn Accolades by completing objectives across the map, whether that’s winning races, discovering landmarks, finding hidden vehicles, or pulling off specific driving feats. They serve as milestones that guide your overall progress and unlock more content over time.
Each area in Mexico brings its own theme and activities. You might be speeding down the coast in one moment, weaving through tight jungle roads the next, or tackling dusty trails around an active volcano. The variety helps keep things fresh, and the title rarely asks you to play the same kind of event twice in a row—unless you want to.
There are also Horizon Stories, which are short, voice-acted missions that give some light structure and context to certain activities. These are usually playful in tone and vary from test-driving rare cars to helping a photographer capture the perfect action shot. While not essential, they offer entertaining breaks between competitions and give a sense of personality to the festival atmosphere.
Though there isn’t a central plot to follow, the game never feels aimless. The Accolade system gives you clear goals and a reason to try out different types of challenges. Because you’re always unlocking something—new cars, new events, new regions—it creates a steady sense of momentum. You’re not just checking off boxes; you’re expanding your reach across Mexico in a way that feels earned.
Forza Horizon 5 is all about giving you the wheel and letting you decide how to drive. Whether you’re chasing podium finishes in tense drives, going airborne off desert ridges, or aimlessly drifting through winding jungle roads, you choose how you want to play.
After the initial tutorial sets the tone, the map fills with icons. Races, stunts, speed traps, treasure hunts, convoys, and story missions stack up quickly. It can feel overwhelming at first. I would often load up the game for a quick session and end up losing hours bouncing between events, unlocking new cars by spending in-game credit. That sense of constant discovery pulls you forward, even when you’re not sure what to do next.
The handling strikes a rare balance between realism and ease. Vehicles feel responsive without punishing you for imperfect lines. Drift-heavy corners, off-road sprints, and tight street circuits all come with their own rhythm, and the controls adapt nicely to whatever surface you’re tackling. Every car feels different, but none feel bad. Even older models or oddball vehicles are a joy to drive, especially once you start tuning them.
There’s also a surprising amount of customization here. You can adjust everything from difficulty settings and driving assists to suspension setups and gear ratios. If that sounds like too much, you can grab tuning setups shared by other gamers with a few button presses. Paint jobs, horns, outfits, and even licence plates are all editable.
The seasonal system adds another layer. Every few days, events rotate and challenges based on a changing climate. One week, a riverbed might be dry and raceable; the next, it’s flooded. These changes encourage you to revisit familiar locations in new ways.
Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 supports the DualSense controller, but its integration is somewhat basic. The adaptive triggers offer a subtle response to various terrains, like feeling a slight resistance when driving through mud or gravel. However, this effect isn't as pronounced as in other titles that fully utilize the technology. The haptic feedback is present but not overly immersive, providing basic vibrations during collisions or driving on different surfaces. While the lack of more advanced DualSense features like dynamic resistance in braking or acceleration might be disappointing for some, the overall experience still feels responsive and smooth, allowing you to focus on the racing without distraction.
Online features are deeply integrated, but they don’t get in the way if you’d rather drive solo. When connected, the world is populated with AI-controlled Drivatars that similuate how your friends and other online players drive around. You might spot someone your recognize drifting around a roundabout or launching off a cliff just for the thrill of it.
The convoy system makes teaming up straightforward. You can invite friends or join public groups, and once you’re linked, it’s easy to tackle events together. Convoys sync fast travel, events, and map activity so you’re not constantly coordinating through menus. It works well and keeps the focus on the driving, not the setup.
Horizon Arcade events pop up across the map, offering quick cooperative challenges like smashing piñatas or pulling off group drifts. They’re light and chaotic, perfect for jumping into something casual without committing to a long session. Seasonal content also encourages online play, with weekly challenges that often require multiplayer participation.
Matchmaking is mostly seamless. Whether it’s traditional races or community-made challenges, joining an event takes only a few seconds. You can also give kudos to other drivers—a small way to promote good behaviour without pressure.
Forza Horizon 5 looks great on PS5, even several years after its original launch on Xbox Series X|S. From the very first moment, the visual polish is clear. Driving down the side of a volcano at sunset or weaving through muddy jungle trails, the lighting and weather effects make each location feel fresh every time you visit. The Mexico setting offers more variety than you might expect—dense forests, sandy deserts, coastal highways, and tiny villages each bring a distinct atmosphere.
You can choose between Performance and Quality modes. Performance targets 60 frames per second, and it holds that target almost perfectly. It’s smooth, responsive, and the better option for racing. Quality mode bumps the resolution up but cuts the framerate in half. It’s still playable, but if you care about how the game feels, the higher framerate wins out.
One minor issue is that some foliage, especially trees and shrubs, tends to pop into view a little late when driving at high speed. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but once you notice it, it’s hard to unsee in certain areas. Load times, on the other hand, are fast across the board. Whether you're fast-travelling or entering events, you rarely sit staring at a loading screen for long.
Audio also deserves credit. The engine sounds are punchy and change based on tuning or damage. Road surfaces affect the noise under the tires in noticeable ways. The radio stations cover a wide range of genres, and while not every track hits, there’s usually something fitting for the drive ahead.
The user interface is where things get a little cluttered. With so many icons, rewards, and options, navigating menus can sometimes feel like checking emails in a race suit. Still, everything functions well, and the quick menu shortcuts help keep it manageable.
Final Score: 9.5/10 - Amazing
Developer: Turn 10 Studios, Playground Games, Panic Button
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Genre: Racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Forza Horizon 5, developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, originally launched in 2021 on Xbox Series X and PC. Now, it finally arrives on the PlayStation 5—marking the first time this series has shifted gears onto Sony’s platform. It's a moment that a lot of racing fans on PlayStation have waited for, and the great news is that this version holds up incredibly well.
Built around a giant open-world racing festival set in Mexico, the game leans into fast cars, creative freedom, and nonstop events. It combines arcade-style handling with a huge selection of vehicles and locations to tear through. You don’t need to follow a strict route or timeline. Instead, the game encourages you to jump into whatever mode suits you best, whether that’s racing, drifting, cruising, or just causing chaos with friends.
The PS5 version looks and runs great, and even better, everything from the original version is here, including all the core content, vehicles, online features, and a wide range of customization options. While the DualSense support is a bit limited, the experience still feels smooth and well-optimised on Sony’s hardware.
So, now that Forza Horizon 5 is finally on PS5, the real question is: should it be your next racing adventure?
Forza Horizon 5 is light on story and instead immediately drops you into a vibrant racing festival in Mexico where you're treated as a superstar from the very start. The structure isn't about telling a scripted tale and more about building your own journey through action and choice.
The Horizon Festival serves as your main hub. From there, you branch out into different regions of the country, unlocking new locations and events as you rack up Accolades. This progression system encourages you to earn Accolades by completing objectives across the map, whether that’s winning races, discovering landmarks, finding hidden vehicles, or pulling off specific driving feats. They serve as milestones that guide your overall progress and unlock more content over time.
Each area in Mexico brings its own theme and activities. You might be speeding down the coast in one moment, weaving through tight jungle roads the next, or tackling dusty trails around an active volcano. The variety helps keep things fresh, and the title rarely asks you to play the same kind of event twice in a row—unless you want to.
There are also Horizon Stories, which are short, voice-acted missions that give some light structure and context to certain activities. These are usually playful in tone and vary from test-driving rare cars to helping a photographer capture the perfect action shot. While not essential, they offer entertaining breaks between competitions and give a sense of personality to the festival atmosphere.
Though there isn’t a central plot to follow, the game never feels aimless. The Accolade system gives you clear goals and a reason to try out different types of challenges. Because you’re always unlocking something—new cars, new events, new regions—it creates a steady sense of momentum. You’re not just checking off boxes; you’re expanding your reach across Mexico in a way that feels earned.
Forza Horizon 5 is all about giving you the wheel and letting you decide how to drive. Whether you’re chasing podium finishes in tense drives, going airborne off desert ridges, or aimlessly drifting through winding jungle roads, you choose how you want to play.
After the initial tutorial sets the tone, the map fills with icons. Races, stunts, speed traps, treasure hunts, convoys, and story missions stack up quickly. It can feel overwhelming at first. I would often load up the game for a quick session and end up losing hours bouncing between events, unlocking new cars by spending in-game credit. That sense of constant discovery pulls you forward, even when you’re not sure what to do next.
The handling strikes a rare balance between realism and ease. Vehicles feel responsive without punishing you for imperfect lines. Drift-heavy corners, off-road sprints, and tight street circuits all come with their own rhythm, and the controls adapt nicely to whatever surface you’re tackling. Every car feels different, but none feel bad. Even older models or oddball vehicles are a joy to drive, especially once you start tuning them.
There’s also a surprising amount of customization here. You can adjust everything from difficulty settings and driving assists to suspension setups and gear ratios. If that sounds like too much, you can grab tuning setups shared by other gamers with a few button presses. Paint jobs, horns, outfits, and even licence plates are all editable.
The seasonal system adds another layer. Every few days, events rotate and challenges based on a changing climate. One week, a riverbed might be dry and raceable; the next, it’s flooded. These changes encourage you to revisit familiar locations in new ways.
Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 supports the DualSense controller, but its integration is somewhat basic. The adaptive triggers offer a subtle response to various terrains, like feeling a slight resistance when driving through mud or gravel. However, this effect isn't as pronounced as in other titles that fully utilize the technology. The haptic feedback is present but not overly immersive, providing basic vibrations during collisions or driving on different surfaces. While the lack of more advanced DualSense features like dynamic resistance in braking or acceleration might be disappointing for some, the overall experience still feels responsive and smooth, allowing you to focus on the racing without distraction.
Online features are deeply integrated, but they don’t get in the way if you’d rather drive solo. When connected, the world is populated with AI-controlled Drivatars that similuate how your friends and other online players drive around. You might spot someone your recognize drifting around a roundabout or launching off a cliff just for the thrill of it.
The convoy system makes teaming up straightforward. You can invite friends or join public groups, and once you’re linked, it’s easy to tackle events together. Convoys sync fast travel, events, and map activity so you’re not constantly coordinating through menus. It works well and keeps the focus on the driving, not the setup.
Horizon Arcade events pop up across the map, offering quick cooperative challenges like smashing piñatas or pulling off group drifts. They’re light and chaotic, perfect for jumping into something casual without committing to a long session. Seasonal content also encourages online play, with weekly challenges that often require multiplayer participation.
Matchmaking is mostly seamless. Whether it’s traditional races or community-made challenges, joining an event takes only a few seconds. You can also give kudos to other drivers—a small way to promote good behaviour without pressure.
Forza Horizon 5 looks great on PS5, even several years after its original launch on Xbox Series X|S. From the very first moment, the visual polish is clear. Driving down the side of a volcano at sunset or weaving through muddy jungle trails, the lighting and weather effects make each location feel fresh every time you visit. The Mexico setting offers more variety than you might expect—dense forests, sandy deserts, coastal highways, and tiny villages each bring a distinct atmosphere.
You can choose between Performance and Quality modes. Performance targets 60 frames per second, and it holds that target almost perfectly. It’s smooth, responsive, and the better option for racing. Quality mode bumps the resolution up but cuts the framerate in half. It’s still playable, but if you care about how the game feels, the higher framerate wins out.
One minor issue is that some foliage, especially trees and shrubs, tends to pop into view a little late when driving at high speed. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but once you notice it, it’s hard to unsee in certain areas. Load times, on the other hand, are fast across the board. Whether you're fast-travelling or entering events, you rarely sit staring at a loading screen for long.
Audio also deserves credit. The engine sounds are punchy and change based on tuning or damage. Road surfaces affect the noise under the tires in noticeable ways. The radio stations cover a wide range of genres, and while not every track hits, there’s usually something fitting for the drive ahead.
The user interface is where things get a little cluttered. With so many icons, rewards, and options, navigating menus can sometimes feel like checking emails in a race suit. Still, everything functions well, and the quick menu shortcuts help keep it manageable.
The Verdict
Forza Horizon 5 makes a seamless transition to PS5, offering a fun, expansive racing adventure set in Mexico. Its lack of a traditional story is offset by a wealth of events and a rewarding Accolade system, which keeps things fresh and engaging. The accessible yet rewarding handling, coupled with visually impressive graphics and smooth performance, creates an enjoyable experience, even with minor pop-in issues. The online Convoy system enhances multiplayer by allowing easy group play and competitive races. With its varied events, constant updates, and deep customization, the game stands as one of the best arcade racers ever made, making it a top recommendation for PS5 players.Final Score: 9.5/10 - Amazing
Forza Horizon 5 details
Platform: PS5Developer: Turn 10 Studios, Playground Games, Panic Button
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Genre: Racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.