After years of admiring the Horizon Festival from across the console divide, we finally got our hands on Forza Horizon 5 for PlayStation 5—and it truly lives up to the hype.

From the very first moment the controller rumbled in our palms, it was clear this title is a showcase of everything the series has mastered over time, now optimized for a fresh wave of players ready to take on a sprawling, sun-soaked map.

The first thing that hits you is the sheer scale and beauty of Mexico—the game’s breathtaking setting. The eleven biomes we raced through offered everything from dense jungles to dry desert dunes, all reacting dynamically to weather shifts and seasonal changes. One minute we were coasting through a sleepy village, and the next we were powering through a full-blown tropical storm with debris whipping past our windshield. It’s cinematic, immersive, and honestly, easy to get lost in.

But the map is just the beginning. What truly blew us away was the garage: over 700 cars, each customizable down to the smallest detail. We tweaked liveries, tuned engines, swapped drivetrains—if you can dream it, you can probably build it here. And it’s not just about the hypercars (though those are stunning); we found joy in modding quirky hatchbacks, vintage rally cars, and even whipping around in an Abarth. We even put our own “Hypebeast” license plate on a custom ride. With brands like Alfa Romeo and Lancia back in the fold, there’s a certain Euro flair that feels fresh on this platform.

We also dove headfirst into the expansions, which come bundled with the Premium Edition from the start. Hot Wheels is a chaotic, gravity-defying blast—think life-sized toy tracks high in the sky, complete with loops and boosters. On the flip side, Rally Adventure gave us a gritty, grounded feel with an entirely new off-road map and a focused career mode that’s surprisingly addictive. Add in Horizon Realms, the latest update featuring 12 evolving worlds, and it already feels like the game has infinite ways to keep you hooked.

Technically speaking, the PS5 version is incredibly well-optimized. We toggled between Performance mode—smooth, crisp 60 frames per second—and Quality mode, which delivers 4K visuals with ray tracing at 30fps. Both looked gorgeous, but the added immersion from the DualSense controller sealed the deal. You feel the road. Literally. Every slip of the tires, every brake lock, every surface change—it’s all fed through the adaptive triggers and haptics. It turns what could be a polished racer into a tactile experience. And with cross-play enabled, we instantly connected to a thriving community of players across Xbox and PC.

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Xbox Game Studios

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Xbox Game Studios

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Xbox Game Studios

From Horizon Arcade’s spontaneous mini-games to the return of the Eliminator battle royale mode, the multiplayer elements just work. We even dipped our toes into EventLab, where players can build custom challenges and share them with the world. With the launch of Horizon Realms, PS5 players instantly get access to 12 additional evolving worlds, offering endless replayability right out of the gate.

Beyond the cars and the circuits, what stuck with us was the game’s sense of connection. Forza Horizon 5 feels like a celebration of play. Whether it’s through Forza Link—an AI-driven assistant that helps match you with other players—or the Accolades system that constantly rewards your progress, the game nudges you to try new things and interact with others. It’s rare to find a racing title that makes multiplayer feel this casual.

So, after our first round with Forza Horizon 5 on PS5, we’re definitely all-in. It’s clear Playground Games didn’t just port Forza to the PS5—they reintroduced it in full. Whether you’re looking to take in the views, tune your dream car, compete in high-speed chaos, or build something wild from scratch, there’s room for you here.

If you’re looking to get into the action right away, order Forza Horizon 5 for the PS5 here.