There's truly nothing on the PlayStation 5 quite like Forza Horizon 5. While other racing games attempt to capture its magic, none quite match up.
The Crew Motorfest comes close, adopting a festival vibe that echoes the Forza Horizon series more than its own predecessors. However, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown falls short. Although the original Test Drive Unlimited influenced the Forza Horizon series, Solar Crown's always-online requirement, without a dedicated solo mode, misses the mark. Forza Horizon has offered seamless offline and online play since Forza Horizon 2 in 2014.
Need for Speed Unbound boasts an impressive customization suite that surpasses Forza Horizon in some areas, but its focus on high-speed pursuits means it's not a direct comparison.
Forza Horizon 5 stands alone as the champion of modern open-world racing, now available on PlayStation 5 for the first time. Its expansive and stunning Mexico map, drift-friendly vehicle dynamics, and an extensive garage of over 900 cars, including cult favorites not found in other racing games, offer a complete package. PlayStation users are diving into this experience, many for the very first time.
The reaction from new players has been thrilling to observe.
The team at Playground Games eagerly anticipates this influx of new players. "Yeah, I’m super excited," says art director Don Arceta. "For many, this will be their first Forza Horizon game. It's exciting to think about their initial experiences, just as we remember ours."
Arceta is particularly interested in the creations PlayStation 5 players will make using Forza Horizon 5's Event Lab. "We have over 800 props now in the Event Lab, and the creativity of the community is mind-blowing," he adds. "I'm eager to see what PlayStation 5 users will build and the creativity they'll bring."
"You’ll actually get some pretty good Halo content too on the PlayStation, with the event lab props!"
The PlayStation 5 port is technically impeccable, matching the quality of its Xbox and PC versions. "Bringing the game to PS5 was a huge task," says Arceta. "The series has been built around Xbox architecture, so adapting it was no small feat. Panic Button, in collaboration with Turn 10 and ourselves, did an amazing job."
As a car enthusiast, I've always seen the Forza series as the ultimate collection of Hot Wheels. It's packed with unique and wonderful cars, many of which are not available in other racing games. The idea of new players discovering their favorite cars in Forza Horizon 5 is thrilling.
Lead game designer David Orton highlights the game's vast scope. "The breadth of Horizon is staggering," he says. "Players can find what they enjoy, whether it's road racing, Rivals, track racing, photography, or creating content with Event Lab. Horizon welcomes everyone and offers something for all."
"For me, a victory would be hearing players say, 'I can’t believe I’ve never played this game before,'" says Arceta. "That surprise is what engages them and makes them want to learn more."
Orton agrees, emphasizing the welcoming nature of the game. "Players who've never tried Horizon before, whether due to platform differences or time constraints, will find a warm, fun-filled world. Hearing them say, 'Oh my goodness, how have I never played this game before? This is incredible,' is a win for us."
Forza Horizon 5 is set to introduce a new cohort of players to the series, and the team is excited about the potential reactions. "We're continually perfecting our craft, and bringing this to PlayStation is thrilling," says Orton.
In the tribal world of car culture and console gaming, Forza Horizon 5's arrival on PlayStation 5 breaks down a significant barrier. Let's hope it's not the last.
