It was never really a question that Forza Horizon 5 was probably going to review well, given the pedigree of the series and the previews that have been shown off before this. But now that review scores are coming in, it’s getting loads of 9s and 10s, and though the score keeps shifting slightly, as of right now, it’s the top-scored new game of this generation across either PS5 or Xbox Series X/S
At the time of this writing, Forza Horizon 5 has a 91 on Metacritic, a rare title scoring about a 90, where we usually see GOTY contenders lie.
The only games that have score higher than it this generation are Hades with a 93 (though that’s a next-gen port) and PS5’s Demon’s Souls at a 92 (which is a remake). It’s just above Microsoft Flight Simulator (90), It Takes Two (89), Ratchet and Clank (88) and Deathloop (88).
Forza Horizon 5 is out in early access as of today, which is why you will see a lot of content creators playing. It officially comes out tomorrow, and like all Microsoft exclusives, is on Xbox Game Pass day one, so you don’t have to shell out for a copy if you have that service.
What are people saying about it? Here’s some of the high praise Forza is getting from reviewers:
IGN (10/10) – “Forza Horizon 5 is a deep and nuanced car nirvana for revheads and auto geeks to endlessly collect, tinker, and experiment. It’s also an extremely accessible buffet of racing spectacle open to everyone, from Deluxe Edition diehards to Game Pass nomads – no matter their driving skill or mechanical knowledge.”
TheGamer (10/10) – “Collectively, Forza Horizon 5 does everything right, and in doing so makes Playground Games’ latest entry into the Forza franchise an absolute must-play for any racing enthusiast or casual racing fan.”
Windows Central (10/10) – “Forza Horizon 5 is the culmination of all of Playground Games' efforts to perfect its craft, and the result is the best open-world racing game you can play. It combines the most beloved parts of Forza Horizon 3 and 4 into one ultimate racer.”
Anything to complain about? The game doesn’t have a score below an 8/10 right now, but sure:
Inverse (8/10) – “It can’t match Forza Horizon 4 in terms of innovations, but Forza Horizon 5 introduces a more varied open-world structure in one of the most visually stunning experiences of this new console generation — perhaps ever.”
The common critique I’m seeing is that maybe it doesn’t innovate enough, but that’s really it.
You may recall that the top scoring first party game of the entire Xbox One generation was Forza Horizon 4, which had a 92, so just above 5 here, though we will see where the scores settle. But it clearly seems like a must play for racing fans or even casual players alike, and I will be jumping in shortly myself.
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