Forza Horizon 5

Game images by RAWG

Forza Horizon 5

Playground Games (Xbox Game Studios)

Windows; Xbox One; Xbox Series X|Spremium open world racer with optional DLC expansions and car packs

Health Score

DECENT

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Forza Horizon 5 offers a vast, visually stunning open-world racing experience, well-suited for car enthusiasts. While it teaches basic driving skills and supports creative custom challenges, parents should be mindful of online interactions, potential for long playtime, and in-game purchases that can add up beyond the base game cost. It’s a qualified fit, best with clear family rules.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Forza Horizon 5 is a robust open-world racer that works best for children with a genuine interest in cars and racing, especially those aged 9 and up. The "Decent" health score of 45 reflects a balance between its engaging gameplay and the notable risks associated with online play, potential for extensive grinding, and opportunities for additional spending on DLC. It's worth considering if your family can establish clear boundaries around online interactions, screen time, and in-game purchases, otherwise, these elements can detract from the experience.

What kids actually do

Players drive hundreds of licensed cars across a diverse open-world map inspired by Mexico, learning basic vehicle handling and racing lines in various event types.
Players can design and share their own race routes and challenges using in-game tools, exercising creativity and problem-solving skills.
Players participate in festival events, online races, and explore the world, earning in-game currency and unlocking new cars, which encourages persistent engagement.

Where it shines

The game provides strong tools for players to create custom race routes, liveries, and photo opportunities, fostering creative expression beyond just racing.
It subtly introduces concepts of car tuning and setup, allowing children to experiment with different vehicle characteristics and learn how various adjustments impact performance on track.

Parent watch-outs

The online components, including voice chat and public lobbies, expose children to unmoderated interactions that may include swearing or trolling from other players.
The design with online seasons, car collections, and various unlockables can strongly encourage a completionist mindset, potentially leading to lengthy play sessions or a feeling of missing out.

Family rules worth setting

Set strict limits on in-game purchases and discuss the value of expansions and car packs before any spending occurs.
Restrict or disable online voice chat, especially for younger players, and supervise online interactions to mitigate exposure to inappropriate content or behavior.

Talk about this

Discuss the difference between game-earned rewards and real-money purchases, emphasizing thoughtful spending and the long-term value of digital content.
Talk about good sportsmanship and online etiquette when playing with others, reinforcing that not everyone online is kind or appropriate in their communication.

Play style

Forza Horizon 5 offers a flexible play rhythm, allowing short bursts of free exploration or longer sessions tackling events and challenges. Players can engage solo through the extensive career mode or form convoys with friends for cooperative play. The difficulty is highly customizable with numerous assists, making it accessible for beginners, though advanced techniques require practice. Younger children, especially those aged 6-8, will likely need parental assistance with menu navigation and understanding advanced game mechanics.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

1/5

Creativity

2/5

Pro-Social

2/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

2/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

2/5

Social Risk

2/5

Content Intensity

0/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

1/5

Forza Horizon 5 scores a 1 for educational value because while it can teach basic driving lines and car handling concepts, its primary focus is entertainment rather than structured learning. Any educational benefits are incidental to the core racing gameplay.

Addictive Monetization

2/5

The game receives a score of 2 for addictive monetization. Its business model as a premium open-world racer includes optional DLC expansions and car packs, along with in-game purchases, which can nudge completionist players towards additional spending beyond the base game.

Negatives

•Online seasons and collections can nudge completionist teens into long grinds
•Online voice chat and open lobbies bring exposure to swearing or trolling
•Expansions and car passes add cost on top of the base game

Positives

•Teaches basic driving lines, car handling and some tuning concepts
•Strong photo and route creation tools support creativity
•Can be enjoyed solo or co-operatively with friends in convoys

Gameplay Videos

Forza Horizon 5 - Full Game Gameplay Playthrough Longplay (Xbox Series X)

Rubhen925

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Official Ratings

E (Everyone)

ESRB

Mild LyricsIn-Game Purchases

Users Interact (online multiplayer and sharing); In-Game Purchases

PEGI 3

PEGI

RacingIn-Game PurchasesOnline Play

Age Fit

ℹ️Ages 3-5

Not recommended; complex controls and menu systems are beyond this age group's typical comprehension.

ℹ️Ages 6-8

Possible with significant parental support and heavy use of assist settings, focusing on offline free-drive and simple races.

ℹ️Ages 9-12

A good fit for car enthusiasts, provided online chat is disabled or closely monitored, and clear time and spending limits are in place.

ℹ️Ages 13-15

Suitable for this age group, offering a rich racing sandbox that can be healthy with established rules for playtime, online interaction, and in-game purchases.

ℹ️Ages 16-18

Suitable; a strong open-world racing experience with moderate social and monetization risks that older teens should navigate with awareness and parental guidance.