I have a confession: I treat Forza Horizon 5 like a digital passport to Mexico, except I keep getting distracted by shiny cars. When Playground Games first revved up the hype back in 2021, it promised the biggest and most ambitious Forza Horizon yet. Now, sitting here in 2026, I can look back and say: yes, it delivered a massive open-world racing festival. But let us rewind to that initial car list, because the story of Forza Horizon 5 is basically a story of me saying I will only collect one more car and then losing an entire weekend.
The 332-Car Starting Grid
At launch, Playground Games confirmed approximately 332 cars for Forza Horizon 5. That is not a typo. Three hundred and thirty-two vehicles, ready to drive on day one, with at least 42 more set to arrive post-launch through the Car Pass DLC. The developer called it the largest vehicle roster in a Forza game to date, and I believed them, mostly because my garage already looked like a parking lot for a very wealthy, very indecisive person.
For context, the previous Forza Horizon had around 700 models total but launched with 400. So Forza Horizon 5 was not just a new map; it was a new excuse to ignore my real-life responsibilities. The initial list was posted on the official Forza Motorsport website, and Playground promised to update it regularly. They said Forza was just getting started, which is exactly what a car game says before it steals your evenings.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launch cars | About 332 |
| Car Pass additions | At least 42 post-launch |
| Previous game | 700 total, 400 at launch |
| Release date | November 9, 2021 |
| Platforms | Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming |
Mexico: Deserts, Rainforests, and My Terrible Driving Lines
Forza Horizon 5 promised the largest world in the series yet, and Mexico was the perfect setting. Solitary deserts, rich rainforests, extreme weather, and a season system that made every week feel like a fresh excuse to slide into a cactus. The game also delivered deeper story missions, improved vehicle customization, and countless trails to explore. I explored them by accidentally treating every dirt path as a suggestion.
Festival playlists returned too, rewarding players with new vehicles and bringing back fan favorites from previous titles for completing seasonal content. That system turned me into a person who checks the playlist like a weather forecast. Oh, it is autumn? Time to earn a car I did not know I needed. Oh, it is winter? Time to pretend I can drive in mud.
The Car Collection Interface: A Hoarder's Dream
One of the sneakiest features was the new car collection interface. Vehicles obtained now appear under it, and collecting a specific number of cars per manufacturer unlocks a special reward to claim. This sounds innocent. It is not. It is a psychological trap designed by people who know that I will absolutely buy seventeen Fords just to see a progress bar fill up.
I told myself I was being strategic. I was not. I was collecting cars like a dragon with a garage instead of a cave. The daily updates from Playground only made it worse, because every new announcement was another tiny dopamine hit.
Audio, Forzavista, and Ray-Traced Reflections
Forza Horizon 5 also brought a new audio system to improve realism and immersion. I did not fully appreciate this until I heard an engine note echo off a canyon wall and felt personally attacked by a V12. On Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, Forzavista car exploration mode got ray tracing, introducing new levels of detail and reflections for photorealism in 4K Ultra HD. I spent ten minutes staring at a car's paint instead of racing. Worth it.
It was believed at the time that Forza Horizon 5 would be the best racing game ever released on Microsoft platforms. In 2026, that claim has aged pretty well, even with newer racing games on the scene. The combination of arcade handling, gorgeous Mexico, and an absurd car roster keeps pulling me back.
The 2026 Check-In
If you are reading this in 2026, the launch figure of 332 is ancient history. Forza Horizon 5 has kept expanding through Car Pass content, Festival Playlists, and years of updates. I cannot quote the exact current total without opening my garage and weeping at my backlog, but it is far beyond that initial number. The game became a long-running live-service festival, not just a one-and-done racer.
Would I recommend it now? Absolutely. If you have Game Pass, it is a no-brainer. If you love cars, Mexico, or the simple joy of driving through a rainforest while a song you forgot you loved plays on the radio, Forza Horizon 5 still delivers. Just be warned: you will tell yourself you are only collecting one more car. You will be lying. 🚗💨