We're only a few days away from Forza Horizon 5's release and it appears that, once again, Playground Games has a huge hit on its hands. After taking gamers on a trip through a fictionalized version of Great Britain, Playground Games now takes the Horizon Festival to Mexico where drivers can burn rubber on everything from wide and arid deserts to serene countrysides as well as bustling cityscapes.
Ahead of the game's release on November 9 on the Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC, and the Xbox Game Pass, critics got a chance to get a hold of the game, and here's what they had to say about Forza Horizon 5.
GameSpot
"Forza Horizon 5 is another meaningful evolution of the series as opposed to a reinvention, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a case of more of the same. Even when it is familiar, Forza Horizon 5 makes small, but thoughtful changes to its established blueprint that hones in on the people behind the cars in a way that the franchise has previously just glossed over. It's not going to convince you to give it a go if Forza Horizon's brand of racing hasn't done it for you in the past, but Forza Horizon 5 still stands head and shoulders above anything else in the genre." - Alessandro Barbosa
GamingBible
"There is a lot in here that will keep you busy for days and weeks on end, in the best way possible. This game builds on everything that already made this series such a success and leaves you inundated, in a good way, with so many activities. It’s fun to play, stunning to watch, and even while writing this all I want to do is jump straight back into it. Whether you’re a fan of racing games or not, Forza Horizon 5 is a must play, as it really is a unique experience." - Dean Abdou
Inverse
"It can’t match Forza Horizon 4 in terms of innovations, but Forza Horizon 5 introduces a more varied open-world structure in one of the most visually stunning experiences of this new console generation — perhaps ever." - Inverse
Windows Central
"Forza Horizon 5 is the culmination of all of Playground Games' efforts to perfect its craft, and the result is the best open-world racing game you can play. It combines the most beloved parts of Forza Horizon 3 and 4 into one ultimate racer." - Zachary Boddy
GamesRadar+
"Forza Horizon 5 is a stunning and beautifully crafted entry in the series that's full of memorable races, creativity, and fantastic additions." - Heather Wald
IGN
"Forza Horizon 5 is a deep and nuanced car nirvana for revheads and auto geeks to endlessly collect, tinker, and experiment. It’s also an extremely accessible buffet of racing spectacle open to everyone, from Deluxe Edition diehards to Game Pass nomads – no matter their driving skill or mechanical knowledge. It’s an occasionally goofy but always earnest Valentine to Mexico’s world-famous culture, and a romantic ode to the magic of road-tripping through postcard-perfect vacation vistas. It’s a long haul, MMO-inspired racer that’s exploding with more races, activities, and event types than can comfortably fit on some parts of the map – and yet it still always feels relaxed rather than daunting. It never locks you into something you don’t want to do and steadily rewards you for however you choose to play it. It looks beautiful, it sounds magnificent, and it is glorious to play. Yes, Forza Horizon 5 is a lot of things. Above all, however, it is the result of a racing studio at the peak of its craft and the best open-world racing game I’ve ever played." - Luke Reilly
Is Forza Horizon 5 worth playing?
Forza Horizon 5 is one of the best-reviewed launch games on Metacritic this year. It has an average critical score of 91% from more than a hundred reviews across different platforms. The only multi-platform game that has a better Metacritic score than Forza Horizon 5 is Hades. This alone speaks to just how well-made Forza Horizon 5 is.
So, is Forza Horizon 5 worth playing? Definitely. If you're looking for the best racing sim on the market, very few can hold a candle to Forza Horizon 5.
