A Parent’s Guide to Forza Horizon 5

As a “Car Guy,” Forza Horizon 5 really scratches an itch for me. And by “Car Guy” I mean that I own a car (a 2009 Hyundai Sonata), I regularly get the oil changed, the windshield wiper fluid sign has been on for 5 years despite me refilling it, I’m a card-carrying member of AAA, and I once changed a car battery all by myself. I’m an expert and you can trust me.

Unlike Forza Motorsport, which is an in-depth racing simulation that allows players to tweak minute details of their cars’ wheel bits and go-fast-parts (technical terms used by fellow “Car Guys”), the Forza Horizon series unleashes players into a streamlined, open world driving sandbox with a more explorative and arcade-y vibe. This approachable set up can open the experience up for video game lovers of all ages, but is it appropriate for your family?

Fortunately, we have everything you need to know to decide.

Is Forza Horizon 5 Appropriate for Your Kids?

Forza Horizon 5 is rated E for Everyone, with no Content Descriptors and Interactive Elements for Users Interact and In-Game Purchases.

According to the ESRB Rating Summary, Forza Horizon 5 is “a racing simulation game in which players assume the role of a veteran driver helping to expand the Horizon Festival to Mexico. Players can compete in a variety of racing events to earn accolades and upgrades.”

Having said that, an E rating does not automatically mean the game will be playable for a younger crowd. While the content is likely appropriate, some E rated games may be too complicated to play for children. If you think your kids may be on the bubble of being able to play something, I recommend looking up a couple of gameplay videos too see what may be required in terms of dexterity, strategic thinking, and more.

Where Can I Play Forza Horizon 5 and How Much Does It Cost?

The Forza Horizon series has historically been an Xbox-exclusive franchise but is now on PlayStation 5 as well. This means you can play Forza Horizon 5 on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

The cost of the game varies depending upon which edition you’re looking at:

• Standard Edition – $59.99 on all platforms. This edition is also available physically for the Xbox platforms (PlayStation 5 is digital only) and includes the entire main game. This is also included with Xbox Game Pass subscribers for no additional cost.
• Deluxe Edition – $79.99 on all platforms (digital download only) and includes the entire main game and the “Car Pass” (access to 42 extra cars).
• Premium Edition – $99.99 on all platforms (digital download only) and includes everything in the Standard and Deluxe editions, as well as a host of DLC, such as:
  • Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels – New tracks inspired by Hot Wheels and 10 new cars.
  • Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure – New tracks and races made specifically with rally cars in mind.
  • Forza Horizon 5 Welcome Pack – 5 new cars, a Player House, and a ticket to pick a new car from the in-game Autoshow.
  • Forza Horizon 5 VIP Membership – Access to specific rewards and cosmetics.

Friendly remember: The entire core game comes with the Standard Edition! Some may like the additional content and cosmetics in the Deluxe and Premium editions, but they are in no way mandatory to enjoy Forza Horizon 5.

Forza Horizon 5 also includes the ability to make in-game purchases with real money. While you cannot directly purchase the game’s primary in-game currency – Forza Credits – you can buy Autoshow Car Vouchers with real money. These vouchers can be traded for new and better vehicles. Fortunately, virtually every device on which you can play video games includes the ability to set parental controls to limit or block the ability to spend money.

What is Forza Horizon 5 About?

Forza Horizon 5 puts the player into a massive map of Mexico during the fictional Horizon Festival. The sprawling Festival dots the map with races, challenges, online events, and more. While there is a single-player campaign, the real allure is to explore the map, take part in events, unlock new and better cars, and ultimately become the best racer at the Horizon Festival.

How does Forza Horizon 5 Play?

Initially released in 2021, Forza Horizon 5 is an open world racing game. Players are quite literally dropped into the Festival and soon unleashed into a massive map with few physical barriers. You’d think that most of your family’s time in Forza Horizon 5 would be spent racing cars against computers or online against other players. While this is obviously a big part of the game, the nature of this open world means there’s a lot to do beyond racing.

The entire map is dotted with skill tests, solo events, races, and more. Every activity, from driving through special billboards to acing races, awards you with experience points (XP). The main purpose of XP is to level up, allowing you to unlock a free Wheelspin or Super Wheelspin. Wheelspins contain unlockables, like credits, new vehicles, cosmetics for your cars and in-game avatar, and more.

As you progress, you’ll unlock new cars, all of which can be tuned with new parts and modifications, as well as the aforementioned cosmetics (different colors and textures for paints, body modifications, etc.). Some cars are obtained simply by playing through the solo campaign, while others can be purchased with Forza Credits, which are earned via gameplay.

In addition to solo play, Forza Horizon 5 is playable online. This includes challenging others to races, and participating in online events. If your kids aren’t yet ready to play with others online remember to set parental controls to limit or block with whom your kids can speak to and/or play online.

First Place For Appropriate Video Game Experiences

Maybe your kids are “Car Guys” – just like me – but maybe they’re not. That’s OK too, I guess. But we can all agree that what’s truly important is that they’re having appropriate experiences when playing video games.

In addition to checking the ESRB-assigned age and content rating information, it’s helpful to establish some household rules around video games in your home. ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide has helpful tips and resources to manage how your kids play games.

Parental controls are a great way to back up your household rules. ESRB has step-by-step guides to help you activate parental controls to manage what your kids play, when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. Visit ParentalTools.org for more.