Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5

game

2021, Racing, Sport

WISE
79%

WISE Score

Pure racing joy in Mexico—hundreds of cars, zero violence, and enough open-world freedom to keep gearheads happy for months.

Where to Play

Xbox
Xbox
PC/Steam
PC/Steam
PlayStation
PlayStation
Screenwise Verdict

This is about as clean as AAA gaming gets. Forza Horizon 5 is a legitimately great racing game that happens to be completely appropriate for kids—no blood, no guns, no trash talk, just cars and beautiful Mexican landscapes.

The open-world format means kids can explore at their own pace rather than grinding through a rigid campaign. They'll learn about cars (prepare for dinner table discussions about horsepower and torque), develop real gaming skills, and actually see some geography. It's not going to teach them algebra, but it's far from brain rot.

The online component is the only asterisk: players race against others but can't freely chat, which keeps toxicity low. In-game purchases exist but aren't aggressive. Overall, if your kid is into cars or racing, this is a solid choice that won't make you cringe when you see what they're playing.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-7+ who can handle the controls and understand racing mechanics. The E rating is spot-on—this works for elementary kids through teens and even adults who love racing games. Younger kids might struggle with the complexity, but there's nothing inappropriate here.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Racing game with zero violence, profanity, or inappropriate content. ESRB rated E for Everyone with no content descriptors. IMDb parent reviews confirm no sex, violence, or profanity. Celebrates car culture and exploration in a positive, energetic way without chaos or toxicity.

Imaginative
76

Open-world Mexico setting encourages exploration and discovery across varied landscapes. Players can customize cars and create custom routes/races. However, it's still fundamentally a racing sim—you're driving cars, not building worlds or solving creative puzzles. The 'limitless fun driving action' offers freedom within racing parameters.

Safe
82

Very clean content with E rating and no content warnings. Users interact online but no open chat system. In-game purchases exist but aren't predatory loot boxes. Main safety consideration is the online multiplayer component where players race against others, but this is controlled and limited. No compulsive loops or aggressive monetization.

Enriching
68

Develops hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and reaction time. Players learn about hundreds of real car models and their characteristics. Geography of Mexico provides some educational context. However, it's primarily entertainment—racing games don't offer deep cognitive growth or emotional development. Parent reviews note 'educational value' but this is modest.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Genuinely clean content—E rating with no violence, language, or inappropriate material whatsoever
  • Gorgeous open-world Mexico setting encourages exploration and discovery across deserts, jungles, and cities
  • Hundreds of real cars teach kids about automotive engineering and design (and yes, they'll memorize every spec)
  • Develops legitimate skills: hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and split-second decision-making
  • Online racing is controlled—no open chat means less toxicity than most multiplayer games
⚠

What to Watch For

  • Online multiplayer means racing against real people—generally fine, but worth monitoring for younger kids
  • In-game purchases for car packs and expansions, though not predatory or necessary to enjoy the game
  • Can be time-consuming—open-world games invite hours of exploration and 'just one more race' syndrome
  • Some kids may get frustrated with racing mechanics if they're not naturally into cars or driving games

Conversation Starters

  • "Which car is your favorite and why? What makes it special compared to the others?"
  • "What's the coolest place you've discovered in Mexico? Have you learned anything about the real geography?"
  • "How do you decide which races to do—do you have a strategy or just pick what looks fun?"
  • "If you could design your own race course, where would it go and what would make it challenging?"

Deep Dive

Forza Horizon 5 isn't just a racing game; it’s a massive, sunny sandbox. If you have a kid who constantly asks to play Grand Theft Auto because they want to "just drive around," this is the best age-appropriate alternative to popular M-rated games on the market. It offers that same sense of total freedom without the crime, cynicism, or strip clubs.

The "Clean GTA" factor

The magic of this game is the open world. Instead of being locked into a menu of tracks, players are dropped into a vibrant recreation of Mexico and told to go anywhere. Your kid can spend three hours ignoring every "official" race just to see if they can drive a supercar to the top of a volcano or smash through a field of cacti.

This is a vibes game. The "Horizon Festival" setting means everything is framed as a giant, positive party. There are no "losers," only "new heroes." Even if you finish a race in dead last, the game showers you with XP, new clothes for your avatar, and more cars. It’s designed to make the player feel like a superstar regardless of their actual driving skill.

Subscription-friendly racing

If you are trying to decide between buying a $70 disc or managing a monthly bill, this title is the poster child for the "Netflix of gaming" model. It’s a permanent fixture in the library, making it a great way to test the waters if you're still navigating the Xbox Game Pass tiers.

Because the game features hundreds of cars—from 1960s classics to futuristic hypercars—it often turns into a digital car collection hobby. Kids who like Hot Wheels or LEGO sets will naturally gravitate toward the "Barn Finds" mechanic, where they hunt down hidden, rusted-out cars in the jungle and wait for the game to restore them to their former glory.

Friction and accessibility

While the game is rated E, the physics can be a hurdle for younger kids. Driving a 1,000-horsepower car on a rainy dirt road is hard. However, Playground Games included some of the best accessibility toggles in the industry.

  1. Auto-Steering: You can literally set the game to steer for you, allowing a five-year-old to just hold the "gas" trigger and enjoy the scenery.
  2. Rewind: If they miss a turn or fly off a cliff, a single button press rewinds time by five seconds so they can try again.
  3. Difficulty Scaling: The game constantly asks if you want to make the AI opponents easier or harder based on your performance.

These features make it a standout choice for families looking for video games for kids with disabilities or just kids who get frustrated by traditional "Game Over" screens.

The online reality

The "Users Interact" flag on the rating mainly refers to seeing other players driving around the world. You’ll see their cars, but they can't crash into you and ruin your fun (they turn into "ghosts" if they get too close). There is no open voice chat in the world map, and the "Forza Link" system uses pre-set text phrases like "Good luck!" or "Nice car!" to keep things friendly. It’s the safest way to experience a "massively multiplayer" world without the typical lobby toxicity.

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