Strap in and fasten your seat belts, speed enthusiasts, because Forza Horizon 5 just hit the PS5 today and it feels hot, quite literally! We mean hot as in sun-baked deserts of Mexico, jungle trails where the engine could almost die from the heat, and roads so insane that you could have sworn you have actually never seen a straight line before. Playground Games is out here not just putting out a racing game but smashing an entire open-world fiesta straight into your console.
What’s the deal? For those living under a rock (or binging overtime to level up in Elden Ring), Forza Horizon 5, the latest contender in an already super-pretty arcade racing series where fender-kissing with cactus is optional, has now been named. The map? Crazily huge. The cars? Exceedingly shiny. The feels? Immaculate.
Mexico does all the act here and Playground has lined them up in glamour. Sandstorm deriding any road that could get into its way, ancient ruins hiding highly lucrative shortcuts, towns where the locals would cheer you on or sway you off depending on how many market stalls you obliterated. Also, you have the volcano; why not?
The biggest difference on the PS5 now is the adaptive triggers. Yup, every gear shift from your DualSense will bring to life every little bit of skidding and “oh-god-I’m-airborne” moment! That is gonna spoil all other racing games for you.
And before you ask—nah, it ain’t some watered-down port; it’s full-on buffet PS5-style: 4K, 60fps, with ray-traced reflections so clear you’ll see your regret for ever painting the car like that. Oh, and all the DLC are available to you if you’re in the mood for some extra cars or checks notes driving through a Hot Wheels loop-de-loop.
Downside? Duh…If you hate fun? Oh, and that is if your internet is lagging like crazy at the moment? Cause this is where the craziness really comes alive. However, for those who aren’t fond of online gaming, you can play a single-player campaign filled with races, stunts, and collectibles that would put a completionist out cold.
So we’ve strapped in a V12 engine to a piñata and let it loose in the most gloriously colorful sandbox. For the winner or photo mode (sunset pics, duh) enthusiasts or just those interested in sending a Bugatti over a cliff, this is one irreverent racing game. And that just makes it all the better.
Now off you go; the horizon waits for you; just watch out for cacti. Maybe.
