Forza Horizon 5 brings the series to the stunningly beautiful country of Mexico. This time the stakes are higher, the races are bigger, and the environments are prettier. Forza Horizon 5 is the pinnacle of the series, which means it is sure to attract a whole new audience to the series and even to racing games.
The Forza Horizon games are one of the most approachable racing game series out there. That said, there can still be a lot of daunting and confusing elements for new players. In this guide, you will find several tips to help you get started with Forza Horizon 5.
Updated on November 17, 2021: To help you hit the ground running - or hit the road with your wheels spinning - we have included a video guide. Check out our top beginner tips to help you get started in Forza Horizon 5.
Use Your Brakes Around Corners
If you're new to racing games, you may want to floor it all of the time. While speed is fundamental to racing, it does make turning a whole lot harder, so make sure to use your brakes around corners. The best way to get used to controlling your speed around corners is to follow the driving arrows. You do not need to follow these guides to the tee, but they will help you know when to hit the brakes, changing colour as you correctly brake at the right time.
Collect XP By Hitting XP Signs
One of the best ways to collect XP while driving from race to race in Mexico is to hit XP signs. Typically, these signs are just off of the main road. After you ram your car through one of these XP signs, you will receive some XP depending on the value written on the sign.
Finding the XP sign is easy and they will appear on your minimap when you're nearby them. Destroy them as soon as you spot them, and you will level up much quicker.
Skill Points Are Assigned Per Car
Skill Points are an odd mechanic in Forza Horizon 5. At first, you might think that your skill points apply to every car. Unfortunately, they only apply to the vehicle you are using when you assign them. So, if you change rides often, you will have to unlock a whole new set of skills per car that you use. It’s a frustrating mechanic, but once you know which cars you like the most, you can stick with them and know where your skill points are going.
Use The Right Car For The Job
Depending on the type of race, you're going to want to use your best car for that type of terrain. If you are doing a street race, you probably want a car with a mix of speed, acceleration, and handling. If you are going off-road, you will want to use a vehicle that can handle dirt roads.
Forza Horizon 5 will recommend the best cars in your inventory for every race. Typically, these are the only cars you will need to consider for that event, so listen to the game!
Go Explore!
It might be tempting to focus on going from race to race in Forza Horizon 5, but there is a fair amount of content to discover by simply driving around the map. Travelling across Mexico will reward you with XP and help you familiarize yourself with the various types of terrain. Furthermore, you can find new rides by completing Barn Find missions later in the game.
Find And Break Fast Travel Signs
Fast Travel has its quirks in Forza Horizon 5. When you first start, Fast Travel will cost you credits. To lower the cost, you need to find Fast Travel signs and hit them with your car. These signs look similar to the XP signs, but they are typically in harder-to-reach locations. You will often need to figure out a small puzzle to break a fast travel sign. Additionally, you can buy the Buenas Vistas house in the Baja region to unlock fast travel to specific roads, but it will still cost money until you find every sign.
Auto Upgrade Your Car Or Buy Tune-Ups
Upgrading your cars can be an overwhelming experience as it can be hard to learn what each component does and how it will affect your driving experience. Fortunately, Forza Horizon 5 includes an automatic upgrade section that lets you select what power range you want your car to run at, and the game will automatically buy the parts you need to reach that level.
Additionally, there is an option to tune your vehicle. This section lets you customize everything from your suspension to tire pressure to gear timings. If these upgrade and tuning options are too much for you, you can also find preset tunings from other players and purchase those.
Collect Your Rewards From The Accolades Menu
As you compete in races and explore Mexico, you will unlock rewards for surpassing various milestones. These rewards vary from cosmetics to credits to vehicles. The game will not explicitly notify you when you obtain one of your rewards, so be sure to check in on the accolades menu every once in a while to collect them. Additionally, you can look through the accolades to see what you can be doing to unlock even more rewards.
Use Photo Mode
One of the best features of Forza Horizon 5 is its photo mode, thanks to its huge amount of customization and ability to make the game look even more stunning than usual. All you need to do is press up on the d-pad or find the photo mode button in the menus. Photo mode is a great way to celebrate finding a new location or completing a difficult challenge, so slow down and take some pictures.