Best Racing Game Of 2021: Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon as a series has had a lot of success. After visiting Australia in the third installment and touring Great Britain in the fourth, we’ve known for some time that the newest and fifth entry in the long-running racer would transport us to the idyllic environs of Mexico. But it wasn’t until we got the final game in our hands that it became clear; Playground Games has gone above and beyond, crafting one of the best looking new-gen games on the market, and filling it with some of the most entertaining racing experiences in memory.

A good opener can go a long way to setting a game’s tone, and Forza Horizon 5 nails the landing – both figuratively and literally. One vehicle follows another parachuting from a cargo plane and dropping to various locations in Mexico. It’s a fun opening sequence. This game is a showcase of its immense potential. The video shows everything: offroad racing through the jungles and rivers to street racing in supercars that most people will never own.

From there, it’s a non-stop thrill ride of engagement and opportunities for progression. Virtually every corner on a vast map has a new race or another event. Story wrapping opens up in new major showcases. However, you can choose to travel where you like, keeping the freedom and choice that is the hallmark of most games. The smart UI and spoken dialog guide you to the content that interests you, without making it overwhelming or irritating.

Production values, graphics and sound create an experience that is a delight for your senses as you drive. The engine roar is accompanied by a fun and varied soundtrack. As you approach the centre of the action, smart sound mixing transforms the music to the loudspeakers in the festivals. The game’s visual successes include a strong sense of speed, amazing water effects and detailed environments. And in a game this big, it’s essential players can navigate menus and other in-game elements with ease; thankfully, the myriad systems for car customization, event navigation, rewards, and everything else are all easy to find and understand.

While the window dressing is all stunning, it’s the actual racing that earns Forza Horizon 5 our highest praise. You can race in many different types of cars and car classes. The arcade-inspired gameplay is combined with realism and realistic physics, making it thrilling and compelling. The courses are carefully designed and require you to learn how you can take corners as well as straightaways. Individual vehicles manage to carry their own personality and driving feel, and as a player, you begin to learn what you do and don’t like in a ride.

Forza Horizon 5 is an all-around game that is fun. Our Review Easy to pick up and hard to put down, it’s a continuing success story from the team at Playground Games, proving that they are a group of developers with the ability to find both breadth and depth in the games they create. | Our Review