1. Introduction

Forza Horizon 5 is a celebration of speed, freedom, and exploration across the vibrant landscapes of Mexico. But for new players, the sheer number of cars, events, and challenges can feel overwhelming.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to play smarter, progress faster, and enjoy everything Horizon Festival offers.

2. How to Choose the Right Starter Car

Step 1: Avoid picking the flashiest hypercar early—it’s harder to control.

Step 2: Choose a balanced AWD or RWD car with decent grip and acceleration.

Step 3: Use starter cars to learn handling before expanding your garage.

3. How to Drift Effectively

Step 1: Pick a RWD car with enough power for slides.

Step 2: Enter corners at medium speed and tap the handbrake to initiate drift.

Step 3: Counter-steer gently while feathering the throttle to maintain control.

Drifting is not only fun but also key to skill chains and drift zone challenges.

4. How to Adjust Difficulty for More Rewards

Step 1: Go to settings > difficulty.

Step 2: Increase AI difficulty to “Highly Skilled” or above.

Step 3: Turn off some assists like braking line or traction control.

Doing this increases credits and XP while making you a better racer over time.

5. How to Explore the Map and Find Secrets

Step 1: Use the drone mode or free roam to scan areas for hidden barns and XP boards.

Step 2: Drive off-road to uncover trails, jumps, and fast travel boards.

Step 3: Keep an eye out for danger signs and landmarks that reward exploration.

Exploring not only expands your map but also unlocks rare rewards.

6. How to Upgrade and Tune Cars

Step 1: Start with tires, brakes, and suspension upgrades before adding horsepower.

Step 2: Enter tuning options to adjust gear ratios and tire pressure.

Step 3: Test your build in free roam before taking it to races.

Smart tuning makes even cheap cars competitive.

7. How to Complete Seasonal Events

Step 1: Open the Festival Playlist from the pause menu.

Step 2: Select current seasonal challenges and see their rewards.

Step 3: Complete tasks like races, PR stunts, and photo challenges before the season ends.

This is how to unlock exclusive cars only available for limited times.

8. How to Play with Friends in Convoys

Step 1: From the pause menu, select Online > Convoy.

Step 2: Invite friends or join an open group.

Step 3: Participate in races, events, or free roam together.

Convoys make progression faster and add a fun cooperative layer.

9. How to Build Skill Chains

Step 1: Perform stunts like drifts, jumps, and near misses in quick succession.

Step 2: Keep combos going without crashing.

Step 3: Use skill points to unlock perks in your car’s mastery tree.

Skill chains are the fastest way to farm points and unlock bonuses.

10. How to Master Different Racing Disciplines

Step 1: Start with road races to learn handling.

Step 2: Move to dirt and cross-country to practice off-road control.

Step 3: Try drag and drift challenges to sharpen specialized skills.

By rotating disciplines, you’ll become a versatile driver ready for any event.

Conclusion

Forza Horizon 5 is vast, but by following these step-by-step instructions, you’ll learn how to choose cars, upgrade smartly, explore efficiently, and dominate every racing discipline. Master these fundamentals, and the Horizon Festival will truly be yours.