Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox One)

Forza Horizon 5 Review review

Impossibly beautiful; Endless content ; Peerless driving model ; Er, you hate cars? ;

Forza Horizon 5 review

Racing-game fanatics will love Forza Horizon 5’s gorgeous open world, and the unlimited gameplay opportunities provided by the customization options. However, it’s lacking investment in characters and storytelling, and as a result it does little to entice newcomers to the genre.

Forza Horizon 5 review: Buckle up and enjoy the ride

Early on in my Forza Horizon 5 adventure, I lose all control. My speedy sports car turns out to be ill-equipped for off-road driving (who would have thought?) and I’m sent skidding off the road. I’m helplessly spinning around in circles as cacti go flying in every direction. What do you expect from someone who’s never had a driver’s license? I expect the game to admonish me or for some NPC to throw a little snark at me over the radio for my poor skills. Instead, the on-screen combo meter goes wild. Superb skidding! Perfect 360! Destruction bonus! Soon, I’ve racked up tens of thousands in experience, giving me some skill points I can spend on car perks that will push my accidental combos even further. Forza Horizon 5 sees no difference between good and bad driving — it treats the simple act of moving a car as a victory and makes sure that drivers are always celebrated for their willingness to get behind the wheel. Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t shift too far from the series’ formula — and it d...