Forza Horizon 5: Racing With Dust Storms

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the most beautiful and exciting racing games ever made. Developed by Playground Games and released for Xbox and PC, it allows players to explore a massive open-world version of Mexico filled with deserts, forests, cities, and mountain roads. The game’s visuals are breathtaking, and its cars handle with realistic detail. when we play any game, we must ask: Is it Playable? Is it clean entertainment?

This review looks at Forza Horizon 5 honestly — what it includes, what it avoids, and whether it’s suitable for someone who wants to enjoy games without compromising truth values.

1. Graphics and Gameplay: A Stunning Experience

The first thing players notice is the realism. The game world is full of detail — sandstorms, rain, sunsets, and mountain views that almost look real. The car physics are smooth and natural, and the driving feels satisfying whether you’re on dirt, tarmac, or sand. The dust storm scenes (as seen in the promotional trailers) are especially impressive and give a strong sense of adventure.

You can drive freely, join races, or simply explore. There is no violence, no blood, and no killing. It’s purely about cars, speed, and skill. That makes it far better than most modern games that focus on violence or crime. From a halal perspective, this part of Forza Horizon 5 is clean and safe.

2. Story and Setting

Unlike many other games, Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t have a deep story. It’s centered around the “Horizon Festival,” a big car celebration that takes place across Mexico. Players participate in different events, unlock new vehicles, and explore the country.

While the word “festival” may sound like a party, in the game it mainly means races, challenges, and car shows. There’s no alcohol shown, no gambling, and no indecent scenes. It’s all about driving and competition.

The environment showcases Mexico’s natural beauty — deserts, beaches, ancient ruins, and mountains.

3. Music and Audio

Forza Horizon 5 includes several in-game radio stations that play modern music — mostly pop, rock, and electronic songs. Some of these have inappropriate lyrics or themes.

The good news: you can easily turn the music off completely in the settings. The game allows you to mute all radio stations and only hear the car engines, road sounds, and ambient noise. This makes it much more comfortable for a Muslim gamer.

So while the game contains music by default, it is fully removable — which is a major plus.

4. Character Customization and Modesty

Players can create and customize their own in-game driver. The customization options include different clothing styles, hairstyles, and accessories. Some outfits are modest, while others are not. Thankfully, the game does not force you to wear immodest clothing. You can choose simple, decent attire for your character and still enjoy the full experience.

The game doesn’t include any scenes of nudity or sexual content. There’s also no flirting, dating, or indecent interactions. So with modest choices, this part of Forza Horizon 5 is Good-friendly.

5. Online Play and Community

Forza Horizon 5 can be played offline or online. In online mode, you can join races with real players around the world, share car designs, and compete in events. The online community is generally friendly, though like all online games, you may encounter rude or toxic players.

The focus remains on driving and competition. For those who want to avoid online exposure, the offline single-player mode is still full of activities, missions, and exploration.

6. Time Usage and Addiction Risk

While Forza Horizon 5 is fun, it can also become addictive if played too much. The game’s freedom and constant rewards (new cars, upgrades, points) can make hours feel like minutes.

As Muslims, moderation is key. Playing sometimes for relaxation is fine, but wasting long hours daily would be considered lahw — idle distraction. As a Muslim Games should not replace salah, Qur’an recitation, studying, or family time.

So, enjoy Forza Horizon 5 as recreation, not obsession.

7. Overall Content Rating (Halal Review)

Category Good Review Notes

Violence ✅ Clean No fighting, blood, or killing

Music ⚠️ Optional Present but can be fully turned off

Modesty ✅ Mostly fine Modest clothing available

Language ✅ Clean No swearing or bad dialogue

Addiction Risk ⚠️ Medium Fun but can consume time

Positive Values ✅ Strong Skill, patience, competition

8. Should You Play It?

Yes — with conditions. But not For Hours For 20 to 30 Mintunes

Forza Horizon 5 is one of the cleanest major games available today. It avoids violence, immorality, and corruption that many modern titles include. The only concern is the background music, but since it can be turned off, that issue is easy to fix.

If you’re a car lover who enjoys racing, exploring beautiful landscapes, and improving your driving skills, this game offers hours of halal-friendly fun — as long as you play in moderation and avoid wasting time.

“In a world full of distractions, may we find strength to turn away from what harms us and move toward what makes us better — in this life and the next.”