Forza Motorsport serves as a high-fidelity racing simulator, providing dedicated fans with the chance to master a variety of powerful cars, complete with realistic physics and handling. While experiencing millions of dollars worth of vehicles in real life might not be feasible daily, Forza makes it entirely possible.
PlayStation users have long enjoyed their own premier racing sim in Gran Turismo. However, if your preference leans towards a different kind of driving game – a more accessible, open-world arcade-style racer featuring a vast collection of vehicles, tracks, and event types – PlayStation enthusiasts previously lacked a top-tier option. That changes now. Forza Horizon 5 has arrived on PS5, and remarkably, it performs best on the PS5 Pro compared to any other console.
While the Forza Motorsport series focuses on simulation, Forza Horizon is crafted to appeal to a broader audience of racing fans, without sacrificing the depth that seasoned players appreciate. Forza Horizon 5, the latest installment, is considered one of the series` finest. Set in a vibrant, sun-drenched depiction of Mexico, the game invites you to speed across roads, through open fields, and over mountainous terrain. While perfecting each lap is an option, the true spirit of the game is centered around exhilarating, action-packed fun.
The game includes familiar events such as standard races, drag competitions, drift challenges, and timed missions. However, it also features more inventive and unique experiences. Scenic tours across the expansive open world provide moments to admire the incredibly detailed landscape of Mexico. Meanwhile, challenges focused on achieving the longest and highest jumps will see you launching off mountain edges at incredible speeds. Don`t worry about damaging your vehicle or driver; they are virtually indestructible, capable of driving away from even the most dramatic impacts with just a few cosmetic dents.
Even more than three years after its initial launch on PC and Xbox consoles, Forza Horizon 5 still feels incredibly fresh and engaging to play. When you`re not competing against AI opponents or online rivals, you might find yourself driving through intense dust storms, navigating parade floats up hillsides, or drifting across desert landscapes. The sheer variety on offer is impressive, almost overwhelming, and that`s before even considering the additional downloadable content.
A significant advantage of experiencing the game first on PS5 is having immediate access to the DLC packs released since the original launch. The game received two major expansions: Hot Wheels and Rally Adventure. Rally Adventure is specifically designed for rally racing enthusiasts, requiring players to pay close attention to every bend and turn of the road. It serves as a beautiful homage to the rally genre.
The Hot Wheels expansion, conversely, introduces miles of massive, brightly colored Hot Wheels tracks suspended within a mountainous environment. Here, you race around just like a miniature toy car. It`s a striking departure and feels truly exhilarating during the initial races. Eventually, you might realize why Fast Travel is freely available within the Hot Wheels area – traversing miles of plastic track can become somewhat repetitive. Nevertheless, it leaves a fantastic first impression and is a solid enhancement to the already extensive Forza Horizon package.
Intriguingly, this particular game from Microsoft Game Studios actually runs best on a competitor`s hardware rather than on Xbox. The PS5 Pro version of Forza Horizon 5 achieves a high resolution while maintaining a smooth 60 frames per second, or you have the option to enable certain ray tracing features that are exclusive to this specific console version. It`s clearly not just a direct port of the Series X game; significant adjustments have been made to leverage the capabilities of the PlayStation consoles. If you`re looking for the definitive console experience for Forza Horizon 5, it is undoubtedly on the PS5 Pro.
Finley Holt 
Callum Darby