Review: “Forza Horizon 5” on Xbox One is all the speed you want
Forza Horizon 5 was never a question of whether or not it would be well received, given the series’ history and the previews that have been shown before this. Since review scores have started coming in, it’s receiving a lot of 9 and 10 scores, making it the highest-scoring new game of this generation on either PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.
The Metacritic score for Forza Horizon 5 currently sits at 91, which is a rarity for a game that usually falls somewhere around the 90 mark.
This generation’s highest-scoring games are Hades (93), which is a next-generation port, and PS5’s Demon’s Souls (92). (which is a remake). Deathloop (88) and Microsoft Flight Simulator (91) round out the top five, while It Takes Two (89) is in fourth place (88).
As of today, Forza Horizon 5 is available in early access, so you’ll see a lot of content creators in the game. It’s out tomorrow, and like all Microsoft exclusives, it’s included in Xbox Game Pass on day one, so you don’t have to buy a copy if you have the service.
What are others saying? Forza has received a lot of praise from reviewers, including the following:
IGN (10/10) – “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.”
TheGamer (10/10) – “Collectively, Forza Horizon 5 does everything right, and in doing so makes Playground Games’ latest entry into the Forza franchise an absolute must-play for any racing enthusiast or casual racing fan.”
Windows Central (10/10) – “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.”
Anything to complain about? Right now, the game has a perfect score of 8/10, but you know:
Inverse (8/10) – “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.”
People complain that it lacks innovation, but this is about all they have to say about it.
Forza Horizon 4 was the highest-scoring first-party game of the Xbox One generation, with a 92, so we’ll see where the scores land here. This is clearly a must-play for anyone who enjoys racing games, and I’ll be joining in soon.