New to Forza Horizon 5? Don’t worry! Here are some essential Forza Horizon 5 beginner tips and tricks to kickstart your journey. Learn to master handling, optimize your car’s performance, and gain the edge you need to dominate the track and leave your competitors in the dust.
Choose your Right Car
Switching cars is a common temptation in Forza Horizon 5 and the series in general. Swapping cars is convenient – but it can make it hard to drive consistently. To counter this, make time for regular practice with different cars.
This lets you appreciate the individuality and character of each vehicle and, if needed, toggle between them effortlessly. Beginners should start with a B or C-class car. This way you gradually apply driving techniques and see how they affect your performance.
Make the most of map filters
Once you unlock all the adventures however, things can get a little messy on your map. To combat this, use the filters to sort by race type or show only completed activities.
This tip may sound obvious but it’s important to note because there are loads of markers available once you unlock all the expeditions. A well-laid out map makes traveling around Mexico much more enjoyable. So, make sure to use the map filters to organize your adventures and organize your map.
Utilize your skill perks
Skill perks in Forza Horizon 5 aren’t to be missed. Mastery points can be spent on your favorite cars to unlock speed skill improvements, skill multipliers and even wheelspins.
However, we recommend focusing on a select few cars for your perks. Choose one or two vehicles to fully maximize for races and drifts, and save the rest of your perks. This strategy lets you quickly accumulate cash which will dramatically improve your in-game finances.
Check the Forecast
You must consider the effects of weather, terrain and time of day in your driving experience. Each plays a major role in the way you do on the road. Rain means less grip, and your car may feel softer and more susceptible to sudden changes. But getting through a sandstorm can be tricky enough without much visibility, a sandstorm can make for tricky navigatio
Dirt is manageable if your car is suited to the terrain. But, again, traction will be lowered, so beware of excessive wheel spin when accelerating, especially in rally races. Especially challenging at night is poor visibility, making recognizing obstacles more challenging.
Definitely note the weather before each race as it can really affect your car’s performance. This also applies to the Seasons system which introduces additional weather-related problems. Doing the forecast checking puts you in the best possible position for each race.
Upgrade your Car’s Performance
There might appear to be a daunting upgrade and tuning process but it is actually quite easy once you start. Upgrades let you buy better hardware to make your car run better. For better grip, invest in superior tires; for increased top speed, consider adding a turbocharger. There are also auto-tune options, where the game’s mechanics install the right equipment for you.
Similarly tuning lets you play with settings in the tuning menu to get more performance from your car. Or you can use default community-created car tune settings. This lets you maximize your car’s potential without requiring any mechanic expertise, meaning it’s easier to prepare your ride for the game.
Use Drone Mode to Find Barns and Discoveries
When searching for a barn within a large area, switch to your drone instead of driving around aimlessly. Flying the drone makes it easier to find the barn and once there it puts a pin on your map for quick access.
Hidden cars or Barn Finds can be hard to come by, especially in the vast purple search area. With the drone, you can pinpoint barns quickly without having to navigate or get stuck. Remember that the drone doesn’t fly very high – which can be restricting. Once you find the barn, go straight to it to unlock your new car quickly. This simple trick improves your gaming experience.
Explore Horizon Adventure
To get more events on your map, expand the Festival by completing the first mission of each event. This opens up new race types and quickly fills your map with diverse activities. Plus, as you rack up Accolade Points, unlock new missions on the map to get to marquee events. These AP milestones are primarily the entry point for Showcase Races and Story Events.
Forza Horizon 5 has a lot of activities and it’s pretty intuitive too. Initially, prioritize performing well in races and unlocking Horizon Adventure Chapters. These chapters unlock as you earn Accolade Points and feature different story missions to choose from. Initially, it’s beneficial to spread your selections across different regions of Mexico to explore and race in.
Practice Makes Perfect 
But Forza Horizon 5 has its fair share of difficulties – constantly changing terrain at high speed can be treacherous. But the game is forgiving. Play with the rewind function as frequently as you want to perfect your approach. There is no penalty for not finishing first, and retrying events is encouraged. But even the most spectacular crash can sometimes yield unexpected rewards, depending on the timing and place. Enjoy and take pleasure in the racing, remember that not every lap needs to be perfect.
Earn your Skills Points and Rewards
You can earn skill points while waiting to head to a new location. Drive fast, drift around corners, jump and try to avoid collisions as you go. Try global PR stunts, such as jumping or hitting top speeds on specific roads for an extra boost.
Accolades work like real life achievements, from completing races to higher level challenges such as being in the top 5% of leaderboards. These accolades load on launch but you’ll have to redeem them yourself. Open the main menu, click Accolades and look for a small star in the top right of any rewards category. Click on each award to claim your prizes.
Conclusion
Conquering the roads of Mexico in Forza Horizon 5 takes practice, but this guide provided essential Forza Horizon 5 Tips and Tricks to help you dominate. Master car handling, optimize performance, and utilize the map effectively. With time and dedication, you’ll become an unstoppable force in the vibrant racing world. Enjoy the exhilarating experience!
