Forza Horizon 5: three things we'll do before racing

Forza Horizon 5 is nearly here! We're mere days away from the start of the festival in Mexico. We've been looking forward to playing this game for some time and can't wait to jump right in. But before we get racing, there are a few things we like to sort out.

Here's how we start a Forza Horizon game.

Configure your peripherals

Whether you're a keyboard, a controller, or a wheel player, you'll want to set things to your liking before you get stuck into playing. On the Xbox controller, I personally like to remove the trigger dead zones so I have finer control over the throttle and brakes.

It's worth doing this first so you don't get used to the controls one way and then have to readapt to the improved settings!

Lose the driver aids

If you're a racing game enthusiast like us, you'll probably want to disable the ABS, stability control, and traction control pretty quickly. Those with plenty of Forza experience will probably also want to switch to manual with clutch gears. Especially if you're using a steering wheel!

But if you're a newcomer to the Forza Horizon series or racing games generally, don't feel pressured to disable everything at once. Work through the driver aids gradually and build up confidence with the controls. I'd advise starting by switching off stability control, then traction control, then ABS, then learning to use the clutch in-game.

Explore the Mexico of Forza Horizon 5

The Forza Horizon 5 map is vast! There's plenty to see all over Mexico. Take the time to see the sights and enjoy the sounds before jumping into the festival playlist.

Driving around in free roam before tacking events will also help you get to grips with your new cars and their handling quicker. What's more, there's plenty to do in free roam. There are about 600 roads to discover across the Mexican landscape as well as all the usual bonus boards to collect, so get exploring!