Forza Horizon 5 – Complete Game Guide, Features & Information
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest main entry in the award-winning Forza Horizon series. Developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, it takes players to a vast open-world recreation of Mexico featuring diverse biomes, dynamic weather, hundreds of licensed vehicles, and an ever-evolving multiplayer experience with seasonal content and community-created events.
Release Date
- November 5, 2021 (Premium Edition Early Access)
- November 9, 2021 (Standard Edition)
Price
Standard pricing (may vary during promotions):
- Standard Edition – $59.99 USD
- Deluxe Edition – $79.99 USD
- Premium Edition – $99.99 USD
- Included with Xbox Game Pass (subscription required)
Platforms
- PC (Steam)
- PC (Microsoft Store)
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X|S
System Requirements (PC)
Minimum
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 470
- Storage: 110 GB SSD recommended
- DirectX: Version 12
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3070 / AMD RX 6800 XT or better
- Storage: SSD strongly recommended
Where to Buy
Forza Horizon 5 is available from:
- Steam
- Microsoft Store
- Xbox Store
- Xbox Game Pass
Account Safety
Forza Horizon 5 is intended to be played using your own Microsoft or Steam account. Buying or selling accounts is not officially supported and may violate platform terms of service. Purchasing the game through official retailers and playing on your own account is the safest way to protect your progress and digital purchases.
Mods
Official Support
Forza Horizon 5 does not officially support gameplay mods.
Community Content
The game includes robust built-in sharing features, such as:
- Custom liveries
- Vehicle tuning setups
- EventLab creations
- Blueprint races
- Photo Mode creations
- Community challenge cards
Online Mods & Cheats
Gameplay-altering modifications, trainers, save editors, or cheats are prohibited in online play and may result in account suspensions or other enforcement actions.
Comparison With Similar Games
| Game | Setting | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 | Mexico | Open-world racing |
| Forza Horizon 4 | Great Britain | Dynamic seasons |
| The Crew Motorfest | Oʻahu-inspired island | Exploration |
| Need for Speed Unbound | Urban street racing | Police pursuits |
| Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown | Hong Kong Island | Lifestyle racing |
Screenshots
Achievement Guide
Achievements reward players for:
- Completing Horizon Adventure chapters
- Unlocking Festival Outposts
- Winning Showcase Events
- Finishing Horizon Stories
- Collecting rare vehicles
- Completing Accolades
- Participating in Festival Playlist events
- Winning online races
- Exploring every road
- Building long Skill Chains
How Long to Beat
Estimated completion times:
- Main Story: 20–25 hours
- Main Story + Side Activities: 45–70 hours
- 100% Completion: 120–180 hours
- All Achievements: 200–300+ hours
As a live-service racing game with regular updates, new objectives and content continue to extend playtime.
Achievement / Trophy Guide
Tips for faster completion:
- Finish Horizon Adventure early
- Complete every Horizon Story
- Participate in weekly Festival Playlists
- Unlock all Fast Travel Boards
- Explore every road for map completion
- Join Horizon Open races
- Complete EventLab challenges
- Earn Accolades across every category
Steam Deck Compatibility
- ✅ Steam Deck Verified
The Steam version runs very well on Steam Deck and offers:
- Stable performance
- Full controller support
- Steam Cloud synchronization
- Adjustable graphics settings
- Excellent portable gameplay experience
Controller Support
Forza Horizon 5 includes:
- Full Xbox controller support
- PlayStation controller compatibility on PC
- Steam Input support
- Extensive controller customization
- Racing wheel compatibility with supported hardware
Co-op Information
Players can enjoy:
- Horizon Life shared online world
- Cooperative Horizon Arcade events
- Online Free Roam
- Convoys with friends
- Horizon Open multiplayer
- EventLab community races
- Seasonal championships
- The Eliminator battle royale mode
Local split-screen is not supported.
Cross-Platform Support
Forza Horizon 5 supports:
- Cross-play between Xbox consoles and PC
- Xbox Play Anywhere (Microsoft Store version)
- Cross-save between Xbox and Microsoft Store PC
- Online multiplayer across Xbox, Steam, and Microsoft Store versions (Microsoft account required)
Similar Game Recommendations
If you enjoy Forza Horizon 5, you may also like:
- Forza Horizon 4
- The Crew Motorfest
- Need for Speed Unbound
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
- Assetto Corsa
- Gran Turismo 7
Frequently Asked Questions (12)
1. Is Forza Horizon 5 available on Steam?
Yes. The game is available on Steam, the Microsoft Store, Xbox consoles, and through Xbox Game Pass.
2. Does Forza Horizon 5 support cross-play?
Yes. Players on Xbox, Steam, and Microsoft Store PC versions can race together using Microsoft account integration.
3. Can I play offline?
Yes. Most single-player content is available offline, although online features, seasonal events, and multiplayer require an internet connection.
4. Is split-screen available?
No. Forza Horizon 5 does not support local split-screen multiplayer.
5. Is Steam Deck supported?
Yes. The Steam version is Steam Deck Verified and performs well with optimized graphics settings.
6. Does the game support racing wheels?
Yes. A wide range of compatible racing wheels and pedals are supported on both PC and Xbox.
7. How many cars are available?
The game features more than 800 licensed vehicles, with additional cars added through updates and downloadable content.
8. What is EventLab?
EventLab is an in-game creation tool that allows players to build, customize, and share their own races, challenges, and gameplay experiences.
9. Does Forza Horizon 5 receive updates?
Yes. Playground Games regularly releases seasonal Festival Playlist updates, new vehicles, bug fixes, and gameplay improvements.
10. Are there achievements?
Yes. The game includes a large achievement list covering story progression, exploration, multiplayer, Accolades, and vehicle collection.
11. Can I customize my vehicles?
Yes. Players can tune performance, create custom paint designs, download community liveries, and share upgrades with others.
12. Is Forza Horizon 5 worth playing?
Absolutely. Its expansive open world, exceptional driving physics, extensive vehicle roster, polished visuals, robust multiplayer features, and frequent content updates make it one of the highest-rated and most complete open-world racing games available today.