A brand new Series is now available in Forza Horizon 5, bringing creativity to the fore.
Officially called “Horizon Creatives”, it’s the 25th Series in the lifetime of FH5 and will take the game towards its second anniversary.
Although not technically part of the Playlist this month, the core of the game’s update is a wide range of changes to EventLab. That includes a brand-new location, EventLab Island, which gives players the ultimate blank canvas in the shape of a 2km x 2km (1.24mi x 1.24mi) concrete slab in the ocean.
However, EventLab will play a larger role in the Playlist, with many more events and some unique creations for the Treasure Hunt as the Series goes on.
Of course there’s the usual suite of new cars, with seven vehicles showing up as Playlist rewards — along with an Evolving World Accolade for collecting all seven — while an eighth is available to those who start their Forza Motorsport journey, with the title coming along towards the end of S25.
Table of Contents
- Series 25: Horizon Creatives
- Series 25 Summer/Wet Season Rewards
- Series 25 Summer Playlist: Forzathon Events
- Series 25 Summer Playlist: Season Events
- Series 25 Summer Playlist: Challenges
- Series 25 Summer Playlist: Monthly Events
- Series 25 Summer Bonus DLC Events
- Series 25 Summer Forzathon Shop
Series 25: Horizon Creatives
Performance BMWs are the theme for the month, and the first Series reward car reflects that.
Scoring 80 points across the Series (out of a possible 300, or 256 if you don’t own the DLC) will earn you the BMW 850CSi.
The 850CSi is a cruiser par excellence, and possibly the archetype of the Grand Tourer. It’s also particularly notable for being the rarest BMW in unlimited series production for the global market.
Its 5.5-liter V12 has two pieces of trivia of note too. Firstly, it’s also the BMW engine with the smallest ever production run, but it also formed the basis of the six-liter item you’ll find in the back of the McLaren F1.
Racking up 160 points will put you into the even rarer Porsche 911 Carrera 2 by Gunther Werks.
This resto-mod is officially known in the real world as the 400R (not to be confused with the Nissan of the same name) and combines a carbon fiber, 993-based body with a custom-built, 400hp 4.0 flat six.
Series 25 Summer/Wet Season Rewards
There’s a new but familiar face as this week’s 20-point reward car, in the shape of the BMW M3 Competition Sedan.
That’s the sibling of the BMW M4 Competition Coupe which was available all the way back in Series 11 as a reward car. In fact, the two cars share everything but a roofline, with the M3 sporting two more doors and more room for the three occupants in the back.
Unfortunately that includes the rather odd front-end, but thankfully you can’t see that while driving it. You can however feel the 504hp straight six, with the two cars sharing the honor of being the most powerful 3 Series platform vehicles ever made.
There’s another chance to pick up the Mercedes-AMG GT S if you can pick up 40 points this season.
This is the little brother of the GT R model, meaning it packs slightly less power and doesn’t have quite as much aggressive tech beneath the softer and less fussy lines. 500hp is sure to bring you the horizon quickly enough though…
Summer will continue until 1430UTC on Thursday September 21, while Series 25 will remain in place for a further three weeks until the same time on Thursday October 12.
Series 25 Summer Playlist: Forzathon Events
Range-topping cars are the theme for the Forzathon Weekly Challenge across the series, and we’re starting off with something very light and powerful. Own and drive the 1999 Lotus Elise Sport 190 to get Elite Elise underway.
After that you’ll need to earn three stars at any Speed Traps in the Elise, before heading into Rivals and beating any ghost at any course and any car class. Lastly hold the 190 at a speed of 99mph (160km/h) or more for at least 25 seconds.
Completing all of that will earn you five Playlist points and 80 Forzathon Points — the last of which is doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Elite Elise
- Car: Lotus Elise Sport 190 ’90
- Chapter 1: Own and drive the Lotus Elise Sport 190
- Chapter 2: Earn three stars at Speed Traps in the Lotus Elise Sport 190
- Chapter 3: Beat any Rivals ghost in the Lotus Elise Sport 190
- Chapter 4: Maintain a speed of 99mph (160km/h) or more for 25 seconds in the Lotus Elise Sport 190
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
More Daily Challenges await, with a new tasks unlocking each day at 1430UTC. Each one is worth one point towards your playlist total, and you’ll have a full seven days to do so even if that runs into the next season.
The first challenge on your list has been kept secret up until now, but simply requires you to visit the new EventLab Island for an Island Getaway.
Next up, you’ll need to get hold of any (sigh) Lab-orghini Event-ador, and simply win a Road Race in the car.
Leave some Smoke Trails next, by earning three stars at any Drift Zone in any car.
You’ll need to earn a Crash Landing Skill — a combined Air and then Wreckage Skill, best achieved pretty much anywhere you can land on something breakable — to complete a Sketchy Landing.
Be a Car-chitect next and spend 25,000cr on car upgrades. This could be paired with the Forzathon Weekly or tuning for the PR Stunts.
Get some good Lab Times by beating any ghost in any Rivals event. Again, this could be paired up with the Forzathon Weekly Challenge above.
Finally you’ll be Positively Charged when you get a Trading Paint Skill — for a mild, side-to-side collision with an NPC vehicle — in any Dodge Charger.
Daily Challenges
- September 14 – Island Getaway: Visit EventLab Island
- September 15 – Lab-orghini Event-ador: Win a Road Race in any Aventador
- September 16 – Smoke Trails: Earn three stars at any Drift Zone
- September 17 – Sketchy Landing: Earn a Crash Landing Skill
- September 18 – Car-chitect: Spend 25,000cr on car upgrades
- September 19 – Lab Times: Beat a ghost in Rivals
- September 20 – Positively Charged: Get a Trading Paint Skill in any Dodge Charger
Series 25 Summer Playlist: Season Events
There’s nine challenges in the single-player list this week, as EventLab stages something of a takeover. You’ll have three of these to get through and they’re a bit of a mix of styles, but each is worth the usual three points.
Probably the most unusual one — in fact to date — is Scinaty Part 1 Oval, which consists of a weird, enclosed toroid circuit placed over at Horizon Baja. You’ll need an S2 Class (901-998PI) Extreme Track Toys car, and also learn when to go high and when not to; keep Rewind handy too, as it’s possible to break out of the track. There’s a Kick-Ups Emote reward too.
Also at the same location (that’s the multiverse for you) is the Dunas Rallycross Circuit. This long loop takes you through and around the Baja Circuit, on road, dirt track, and sand, so you’ll need an all-terrain, A Class (701-800PI) Modern Rally or Rally Monster car. There’s a Subaru WRX ’04 for completion.
That leaves Horizon Mexico Rally Short, a mixed-surface point-to-point for B Class (601-700PI) Classic Rally and Retro Rally cars. It’s a simple enough run across Guanajuato, but do take extreme care at the first hairpin which goes on to the left more than you think. Complete the course to earn a Super Wheelspin.
All three PR Stunts this week are the same type and use the same car: Speed Traps for a C Class (501-600PI) Nissan 240SX. As usual, each is worth two points and a Super Wheelspin.
With a modest tune, none are too tricky. You’ll need to hit 130mph at the Estadio trap next to the Stadium (straightlining it cross-country from the north is a good idea), 150mph down into Guanajuato’s east side at Calle Principal, and 160mph down the main highway at Autopista.
There’s different surfaces on offer in the two Seasonal Championships, this week, with each being a three-race event against Highly Skilled AI. You’ll need to top the points table at the end of the event to win the five points and bonus reward.
Y2K is a Street Racing Series — so watch out for NPC traffic — for A Class (701-800PI) cars from the 2000-2009 decade, with a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG for victory. Retro Active heads off-road for a Dirt Racing Series for B Class (601-700PI) Retro Rally cars, offering a Nissan Skyline GT-R ’93 for the win.
That just leaves Horizon Arcade, which can be done solo or co-operatively as the targets scale with the number of participants. You’ll only need to complete round three of any theme — Air, Chaos, Drift, Speed, and Wreckage — which you can start by finding any pink Horizon Arcade zone on your map, and you’ll earn three points for doing so.
EventLab: Dunas Rallycross Circuit
- Car: A Class, Modern Rally/Rally Monsters
- Location: Baja Circuit
- Challenge: Finish the race
- Reward: 3 points, Subaru WRX ’04
EventLab: Horizon Mexico Rally Short
- Car: B Class, Classic Rally/Retro Rally
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: Finish the race
- Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin
EventLab: Scinaty Part 1 Oval
- Car: S2 Class, Extreme Track Toys
- Location: Baja Circuit
- Challenge: Finish the race
- Reward: 3 points, Kick-Ups Emote
Horizon Arcade: Mini Games
- Car: Any
- Location: Horizon Arcade (any)
- Challenge: Complete three rounds of any Horizon Arcade theme
- Reward: 3 points
Speed Trap: Autopista
- Car: C Class, Nissan 240SX
- Location: Cordillera
- Challenge: 160mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Calle Principal
- Car: C Class, Nissan 240SX
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: 150mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Estadio
- Car: C Class, Nissan 240SX
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: 130mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: Retro Active
- Car: B Class, Retro Rally
- Location: Gran Puente
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Nissan Skyline GT-R ’93
Seasonal Championship: Y2K
- Car: A Class, Decade 2000s
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
There’s just the one multiplayer event this week, which requires an Xbox Live subscription to access on console, but it’s free to take part on PC.
Of course that’s The Trial, which remains in its permanent spot. It’s a three-race team event that pits you and up to five other humans against a team of six “Unbeatable” AI.
Within each race you’ll earn 100pt for every AI you beat but nothing (aside from a 50pt bonus for winning overall) for beating your own team-mates. That means there’s some tactics at play: a solo win does little for the team, so if you have the speed to do so you should instead block the AI to allow your team-mates to pass them.
This week event is a Road Racing Series event for S1 Class (801-900PI) Modern Supercars. There’s a good chance that — and the wet surfaces — will mean some wayward driving from humans, especially if they’ve not bothered making the braking a priority in their tunes, but if everyone can keep it together then a win inside two races isn’t difficult.
Taking the win means ten points and a Porsche 918 for all players.
The Trial: It’s Super Effective
- Car: S1 Class, Modern Supercars
- Location: Mulege
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Porsche 918
Series 25 Summer Playlist: Challenges
It’s a busy week in the Challenges as the Treasure Hunt, The Eliminator, and the regular Photo Challenge all remain in place.
The Eliminator requires access to multiplayer, so you’ll need to play on PC play or have an Xbox Live subscription. It’s the usual challenge: just finish 30th or better. This often is just a matter of surviving, unchallenged, for two minutes. Completing it is worth two points and a “Welcome to the Eliminator” Forza LINK greeting.
For the Photo Challenge this week, #SpaceProject, you’ll need to grab one of the game’s cover cars (handily available in the Forzathon Shop) and head up the volcano. Just photograph the Mercedes-AMG ONE by the radio telescope there to earn two points and a “To The Moon” Forza LINK greeting.
The Treasure Hunt is an unusual affair this week, and indeed across the Series, as it becomes the “Treasure Stunt”.
For once, the Clue doesn’t actually tell the whole story. It reads “Head East from the Horizon Rush Festival Site along the Copper Canyon to find the hiddern Treasure Stunt course!”.
You’ll only need to find that course, which is located in the river about half way between the Copper Canyon map marker and the Canyon Run street race start point. However you’ll then need to negotiate an assault course to reach the chest — we’d recommend an A Class (701-800PI) car as the sweet spot between control and pace for the jumps — which is on the final ramp. Smash it to take three points and 100,000cr.
The Eliminator: Battle Royale
- Cars: Any (provided)
- Location: The Eliminator
- Challenge: Finish 30th or better in The Eliminator
- Reward: 2 points, “Welcome to the Eliminator” Forza LINK
Photo Challenge: #SpaceProject
- Cars: Mercedes-AMG ONE ’21
- Location: Gran Telescopio
- Challenge: Photograph the Mercedes-AMG ONE at the Gran Telescopio
- Reward: 2 points, “To The Moon” Forza LINK
Treasure Hunt: Horizon Rush Treasure Stunt
- Cars: Any
- Location: Horizon Rush Outpost
- Challenge: Find the stunt park in Copper Canyon; complete it and smash the Treasure Chest
- Reward: 3 points, 100,000cr
Series 25 Summer Playlist: Monthly Events
It’s an absolutely bumper crop of Monthly Events this Series, with four challenges sitting in the list across the entire four-week period.
You’ll receive a total of four points for completing each one, with one point added to each of the four Seasons regardless of when you complete them.
As usual you’ll need to complete a clean run at the respective courses using the cars provided to you for the task in order to pass the event. Speed isn’t important, only cleanliness. That means avoiding hitting anything solid or using the Rewind feature.
That might be a big ask this month, with two point-to-point events, two offroad challenges, and some powerful ICEd BMW and EV trucks involved.
Each of the Forza EV events uses one of the new Rivians, with the R1S at the tight Herencia Cross Country Circuit and the R1T at the Baja California Trail point-to-point event.
BMW is the theme for Monthly Rivals, with the M2 in use at the compact Lookout Circuit (and you will need to lookout for the tight right-hander) and the 850CSi at the long Ruta Norte Street Race course.
Forza EV: Baja California Trail
- Cars: Rivian R1T (provided)
- Location: Dunas Blancas
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Forza EV: Herencia Cross Country Circuit
- Cars: Rivian R1S (provided)
- Location: Teotihuacan
- Challenge: Post a Clean Time
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Monthly Rivals: Lookout Circuit
- Cars: BMW M2 (provided)
- Location: Horizon Rush Outpost
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Monthly Rivals: Ruta Norte
- Cars: BMW 850CSi (provided)
- Location: Bahia de Plano
- Challenge: Post a Clean Time
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Series 25 Summer Bonus DLC Events
Owning either of the two DLC expansion packs gives you a chance to earn seven additional points per pack, with each location hosting of a two-point PR Stunt and a five-point Seasonal Championship. These aren’t required for Playlist completion so you don’t miss out if you don’t have them.
The locations both have the same PR Stunt, with an A Class (701-800PI) BMW M3 ’97 required to earn 125,000pt at a Drift Zone — Water’s Edge in Hot Wheels, Tierras Verdes in Rally Adventure — with a Super Wheelspin reward.
You’ll need a C Class (501-600PI) Retro Hot Hatch for the Rally Adventure seasonal, Turn Up the Heat, which awards a Mitsubishi Lancer GSR ’08. There’s an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera available for the Aston-themed Intensity Driven event, which requires an A Class (701-800PI) car from the brand.
Hot Wheels Drift Zone: Water’s Edge
- Car: A Class, BMW M3 ’97
- Location: Hot Wheels Forest Falls
- Challenge: 125,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Intensity. Driven.
- Car: A Class, Aston Martin
- Location: Hot Wheels Forest Falls
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Aston Martin DBS Superleggera ’19
Rally Adventure Drift Zone: Tierras Verdes
- Car: A Class, BMW M3 ’97
- Location: Sierra Nueva Tierras Verdes
- Challenge: 125,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: Turn Up The Heat
- Car: C Class, Retro Hot Hatch
- Location: Sierra Nueva Valle de Pozas
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Mitsubishi Lancer GSR ’08
Series 25 Summer Forzathon Shop
Wild motorsport-derived vehicles are the theme in the Forzathon Shop, each representing some of the highest-performance cars of their era.
At the head of the store is the Mercedes-AMG ONE, which is pretty close to being a Mercedes F1 car wrapped up in a two-seat coupe body.
Under that body is a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine complemented with a suite of motors and energy recovery technology more-or-less identical to that of the championship-winning W06.
Where the ONE differs is having the two front wheels driven by individual electric motors, but with everything working together there’s close to 1,050hp. It also sports all the aerodynamic tricks that aren’t allowed in F1 (unless you can get away with it).
TVR did things a little differently with the Cerbera Speed 12. Originally intended for GT1 racing, this absolute monster was little more than a spaceframe chassis and an enormous 7.7-liter V12 good for literally nobody knows how much power as it just ate dynos for fun.
Sadly the collapse of GT1 brought about by prototypes in road car dress and the fact TVR CEO Peter Wheeler thought it would be irresponsible to actually allow people to own this car meant that none were officially made. In fact this car is the only road-going original example, and even that’s made from bits of the race cars…
The ONE comes in at 700FP, against a 2.7m purchase cost in the Autoshow, while the 350FP TVR is just 500,000cr.
Other store items this week include the Cuckoo car horn and the Spaik Jumper at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and a Super Wheelspin (150FP) occupy their regular spots.
See more articles on Forza Horizon 5 Season Change.
