Summary
- Forza Horizon 5's showcase events offer chaotic, unforgettable moments like racing a train or dodging jet skis.
- The events range from explosive to nostalgic, all aiming to deliver an adrenaline rush players won't forget.
- From chasing a cargo plane to navigating a jungle with jet skis, each event serves up excitement with a side of chaos.
Showcase events in Forza Horizon 5 don’t just flirt with chaos—they marry it. These are the moments where the game stops pretending to be a grounded racing simulator and says, “What if you raced a train through a canyon or dodged jet skis in a jungle?” Whether players are tearing down a volcano or weaving between flying dirt bikes, each event serves up a slice of adrenaline with a side of “wait, did that just happen?” Some are explosive, others lean on nostalgia, but all of them aim to deliver something players won’t forget the moment the race ends.
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Every newcomer to Forza Horizon 5 should get these awesome rides ASAP.
Here’s a look at every Forza Horizon 5 showcase event, ranked from the least to the most spectacular.
4 On A Wing And A Prayer
The Starting Line To The Ridiculous
|
Showcase Event Name |
Unlock Condition |
Vehicle Used |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
|
On A Wing And A Prayer |
First showcase event in the campaign |
Hoonigan Rally Car |
1994 Hoonigan Ford Escort RS Cosworth WRC "Cossie V2", 4,000 Accolade Points, ~5,000 XP |
There’s no easing players into Forza Horizon 5. The very first showcase throws a cargo plane, dirt bikes, and a Hoonigan rally car into one gloriously unhinged track. Players are dropped into the driver’s seat of the 1994 Hoonigan Ford Escort RS Cosworth WRC "Cossie V2," tasked with chasing down a behemoth aircraft that’s casually dropping dirt bikers mid-race. Those bikers? Yeah, they’re doing stunts and wingsuiting past players like it’s just another Tuesday.
The terrain shifts constantly between pavement and dirt, making traction feel like a polite suggestion rather than a rule. Meanwhile, the showboating stunt crew keeps flying over the hood like they're auditioning for a different game entirely. It's chaotic, it’s flashy, and while not the most challenging event, it does a great job setting the tone for what’s coming next.
Crossing the finish line here nets players 4,000 Accolade Points, a new car, and a solid reminder that Forza Horizon is not interested in subtlety.
3 Buggy And The Beast
Monster Trucks On A Mountain, Because Why Not
|
Showcase Event Name |
Unlock Condition |
Vehicle Used |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Buggy And The Beast |
Open Horizon Baja Cross-Country Festival |
Modified Ford Bronco |
New Chat Phrase, 4,000 Accolade Points, ~4,000 XP |
If a race begins at the top of a volcano, it’s probably not going to be boring. In Buggy and the Beast, players find themselves in a Modified Ford Bronco, rumbling down the rocky slopes of La Gran Caldera with two enormous Hot Wheels Bone Shaker monster trucks breathing down their neck.
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The drive down is fast, frantic, and occasionally unhinged. Giant jumps send vehicles airborne while tight, boulder-strewn paths make it hard to keep momentum without skidding into the lava-stained scenery. The Bone Shakers don’t just race—they try to body-check you into the stratosphere, which makes maintaining a lead feel like fending off a pair of hungry rhinos.
It’s loud, it’s difficult, and it looks phenomenal. And while players don’t get to keep the Bronco, completing it unlocks a new chat phrase, 4,000 Accolade Points, and about 4,000 XP. Not a bad trade for surviving a volcanic demolition derby.
2 Catch Me If You Canyon
Train Racing Is Always A Good Idea
|
Showcase Event Name |
Unlock Condition |
Vehicle Used |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Catch Me If You Canyon |
Open Horizon Rush PR Stunts festival |
1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV |
New Chat Phrase, 4,000 Accolades, ~4,000 XP |
Train races have been a Forza Horizon tradition for a while, and Catch Me If You Canyon keeps that legacy alive—with style. Behind the wheel of the 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV, players take on a high-speed chase through a canyon, trying to stay neck and neck with a speeding locomotive.
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There’s something cinematic about flying down narrow cliffside roads while a train whistles past just a few feet away. And at one point, players jump over it, landing on another track in a stunt that feels ripped from a summer blockbuster. The Countach may not handle like a dream, but its raw speed makes the close calls even more intense.
Timing here is everything. One missed corner or overcooked turn, and the train slips ahead. The rewards include another chat phrase, 4,000 Accolade Points, and 4,000 XP.
1 Flood, Sweat, And Gears
Jungle Mayhem With Bonus Jet Skis
|
Showcase Event Name |
Unlock Condition |
Vehicle Used |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Flood, Sweat, And Gears |
Open Horizon Wilds Dirt Racing Festival |
2020 Ford #2069 Ford Performance Bronco R |
New Chat Phrase, 4,000 Accolade Points, ~4,000 Credits |
This is Forza Horizon in full spectacle mode. In Flood, Sweat, and Gears, players take control of the 2020 Ford #2069 Ford Performance Bronco R and plow through a jungle that feels like it’s actively trying to stop them. There’s mud, rivers, fallen trees, and oh yeah—jet skis doing flips directly over the windshield.
The track winds through thick foliage and waterlogged paths, forcing players to stay on their toes while dodging both nature and machinery. The jet skis aren’t just window dressing either. They’ll swoop in out of nowhere, adding a layer of chaos that somehow works. Add in some gorgeous lighting effects and next-level water physics, and this race turns into a visual buffet.
It's the most unpredictable of the showcase events, but also the most entertaining. Every second feels like a cutscene with steering. The Bronco R doesn’t stick around in the garage after, but the 4,000 Accolade Points, 4,000 Credits, and lingering feeling that you just survived a car-vs-watercraft showdown more than make up for it.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- November 9, 2021
- ESRB
- E for Everyone // In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Playground Games
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Forza Tech
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Open-World
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X