Playground Games' new Forza Horizon 5 includes a ton of new races and environments for players to choose from, and it can be daunting to figure out which races to run first. Forza Horizon 5 is one of the many highly anticipated games releasing in November of 2021, and it has big shoes to fill from its successful predecessor. After completing the introduction of Forza Horizon 5, players are thrown into the open-world map of Mexico to explore their surroundings. While it's a good idea to go sightseeing on a short drive, completing races will progress Forza Horizon 5's story and unlock new events.
The types of races that players have access to in Forza Horizon 5 include road races, dirt races, and cross country races. Every race has a car type that performs better on it, and the Forza Horizon 5 tutorial will grant players access to cars that perform well on each track. The different types of races are labeled on the Forza Horizon 5 map, and players can see the rewards they will receive for winning and completing any course.
The Forza Horizon 5 races that should be completed first are the Horizon Mexico Circuit, Mulegé Town Scramble, and the Oasis Cross Country courses. These are some of the earliest races that players can compete in, and they're all located within close proximity to one another in southern Baja California. Each of these races is also in close proximity to Accolades, which, when completed, award Accolade Points that help progress players to new chapters in Forza Horizon 5. The order of completion for these races doesn't particularly matter, but they each offer a mix of road, dirt, and cross country tracks. Additionally, these races give a good overview of what multi-lap and separate start and finish position races are like throughout Forza Horizon 5.
Races To Run First In Forza Horizon 5
The Horizon Mexico Circuit is a short, three-lap race in Forza Horizon 5, and it takes one minute and 15 seconds to complete each lap. This is a road race that has simple turns and straightaways, and it's a great first race to start with that can be completed with any car in Forza Horizon 5. There isn't anything particularly special about this track; it's just an easy track to lean into as players begin their Forza Horizon 5 journey.
The Mulegé Town Scramble is another shorter, three-lap race, with its time per lap only being a few seconds longer than Horizon Mexico Circuit's. Mulegé Town Scramble is a dirt race, and dirt races feature a mix between on-road and off-road competition that diversifies the terrain. Although it's a short track, the Mulegé Town Scramble is packed with tight turns and drifting opportunities, so it's perfect for getting a feel for some technical mechanics in Forza Horizon 5.
The Oasis Cross Country race is a completely off-road course that offers an early example of the beautiful landscape in Forza Horizon 5 featured in the game's many cross-country races. This race is a single lap with a starting point separate from its finishing point. It's a fun race that adds a bit more pressure to the competition, as there is no opportunity to learn the track beforehand. Winning this race takes a little more skill than either the Horizon Mexico Circuit or Mulegé Town Scramble, but it's perfect for players who want to jump right into the content shown in the Forza Horizon 5 trailers.
Forza Horizon 5 is available for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.