Forza Horizon 5’s month-long celebration of the spooky season rolls into its second week, as Series 26 — “Dia de Muertos” — continues.
The Festival is marking the Spanish language version of Hallowe’en, which directly translates to “Day of the Dead” with a world makeover that features items common to the real-world festivities.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in the town of Mulege, which sees appropriately colorful alebrijes and calaveritas, as well as a night-time drone show and lashings of marigolds.
There’s plented of themed events on the Playlist across the four-week season too, which actually ends on FH5’s second anniversary on November 9. Among the goings-on there’s four new cars, which includes the most-requested vehicle, and you’ll earn an Evolving World Accolade for collecting all four.
Alongside the free cars, there’s a new DLC pack for players to pick up — the third in the last four months — and the recent update added a dozen new Achievements to the game for you to earn.
Table of Contents
- Series 26: Dia de Muertos
- Series 26 Autumn/Storm Season Rewards
- Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Forzathon Events
- Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Season Events
- Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Challenges
- Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Monthly Events
- Series 26 Autumn Bonus DLC Events
- Series 26 Autumn Forzathon Shop
Series 26: Dia de Muertos
Two rare and valuable Ferraris are up for grabs this month, and although neither are new to the game, you can’t acquire either through normal means.
First, and for 80 points, is the Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso, which remains one of the finest ways to wrap a bunch of metal around a V12.
The last car to bear the 250 name to date, the car plays host to three-liter Colombo unit good for 240hp. Unusually for a Ferrari of the time, it wasn’t specifically intended to race but as the perfect, two-seat grand tourer.
At 160 points you’ll pick up another final Ferrari in the shape of the F8 Tributo.
The clue here is in the name: it’s a car built as a tribute to the eight-cylinder Ferrari engine before it’s discontinued in favor of more emissions-friendly blown sixes and electric motors.
It packs a 710hp version of the 3.9-liter F154 V8 engine, with no assistance from forced induction or electricity — very much an endangered species.
Series 26 Autumn/Storm Season Rewards
This week’s playlist rewards are a little on the odd side, due to an error on Playground’s behalf.
The first reward is as intended however, with the second generation Meyers Manx buggy coming along for 20 points.
It’s the first new car from the brand in 60 years, and brings the famous “Big Red” right up to date with an electric powertrain.
Packing a single, 200hp electric motor, driving the rear wheels, it’s also considerable more powerful than the original car — and you can try it out first in the Monthly Rivals this Series.
For 40 points you’ll pick up a car you can just drop 42,000cr on in the Autoshow. That’s the Subaru Impreza WRX ’15, which has been incorrectly marked as “Exclusive”.
Apropos of that, PG will be sending the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing to all players by way of a concession.
Autumn will run until 1430UTC on Thursday October 26, with Series 26 continuing on for another two weeks until the same time on Thursday November 9.
Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Forzathon Events
The star of this week’s Forzathon Weekly Challenge is arguably the star car of the game due to its fame in the Mexican setting: the 1963 Volkswagen Beetle.
Own and drive the Vocho to get Beloved Beetle underway, before a rapid-fire set of tasks to earn your five Playlist points.
Firstly, spend 25,000cr on upgrades for the Beetle, then paint its body; you don’t actually need to exit to the game map between these two tasks, so long as you do them in the right order.
Lastly, take the Beetle out for a drive and earn three Sideswipe Skills — earned for smacking the side of the car into a destructible object — to complete the event. You’ll also earn 80 Forzathon Points, doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Beloved Beetle
- Car: Volkswagen Beetle ’63
- Chapter 1: Own and drive the Volkswagen Beetle ’63
- Chapter 2: Spend 25,000cr on upgrades for the Volkswagen Beetle ’63
- Chapter 3: Paint the body of the Volkswagen Beetle ’63
- Chapter 4: Earn three Sideswipe Skills in the Volkswagen Beetle ’63
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
Seven Daily Challenges await as usual, with a new one appearing every day at 1430UTC and with seven days to complete each one — for one Playlist point.
Firstly, win a Road Race in any B Class (601-700PI) Datsun — or, as there’s only one Datsun in the game, a B Class example of that — to complete Calavroom!
Next, hit up Speed Zones at the Speed of Light and earn three stars in a Nissan Pulsar GTi-R.
It’s a Road Trip after that, as you need to complete a Horizon Tour. Beware that this is a multiplayer event so you’ll need to be able to access online multiplayer to take part.
Reach 100mph in the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker to show off its Twin Turbone, from Sunday onwards.
Drive to Mulege in any Jeep next, to complete Alebrijeep.
Ace Van-Tura requires you to smash into ten cactuses to earn Smactus Skills, using any Vans & Utility vehicle. Really.
Finally get the Tippy Taps by earning a Drift Tap Skill — for lightly tapping a solid obstacle while drifting — in Mulege.
Daily Challenges
- October 19 – Calavroom!: Win a Road Race in any B Class Datsun
- October 20 – Speed of Light: Earn three stars at Speed Zones in the Nissan Pulsar GTi-R
- October 21 – Road Trip: Complete a Horizon Tour
- October 22 – Twin Turbone: Reach 100mph in the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker
- October 23 – Alebrijeep: Drive to Mulege in any Jeep
- October 24 – Ace Van-Tura: Earn 10 Smactus Skills in any Vans & Utility vehicle
- October 25 – Tippy Taps: Earn a Drift Tap Skill in Mulege
Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Season Events
A shuffle of the solo Playlist returns eight challenges again, this week consisting of two EventLabs, three Seasonal Championships, and three PR Stunts.
Once again, the three PR Stunts all require the same type of car which for this week is any B Class (601-700PI) Renault. The events are all different types, but the targets are low enough that you can achieve all in the exact same car, and each is worth two points and a Super Wheelspin.
The 99mph target for Pequeno Puente is easily achieveable (and a lower target than a recent Challenge in an identical car), and the 100,000pt marker at the Las Dunas Drift Zone is simple even using the handbrake in a front-wheel drive car.
You’ll have to aim carefully for the Stadium Jump target though, as the 195mph target is pretty much the stadium building itself; approach the jump at a severe angle to make the distance safely.
This week’s EventLab races are big on the environmental upgrades but neither is particularly wild on the driving front. Each is worth its usual three points, plus a bonus prize, for completion.
Self Sabotage – Vehicular Therapy consists of a custom course near Mulege that’s actually shorter than the title. You’ll need to complete your laps in any B Class (601-700PI) Offroad car, and you’ll earn the “I’m in the Zone!” Forza LINK greeting.
Heading a little way to the west you’ll find the Del Mar City course which this week uses D Class (≤500PI) Classic Sports Cars. Finish the event to earn a Super Wheelspin.
The three Seasonal Championships each consist of a three-race event against Highly Skilled AI. You’ll start each race in eighth position (while the AI line up in finishing order), and you’ll need to top the points table at the end of the event. Do so and there’s five points and a bonus vehicle for each event.
Natural Habitat is Street Racing event for A Class (701-800PI) vehicles wearing the Dodge SRT badge; look out for any NPC traffic (if it appears at all) and you’ll take a Porsche 944 for the win. Pocket Pandamonium also takes place on surfaced roads, requiring a D Class (≤500PI) car from the custom “Microcar Madness” bucket, and earning you a Renault Megane R26.R for victory.
Finally there’s the Escaping the Heat Cross Country event, so make sure there’s some dirt tires, decent suspension travel, and all-wheel drive on your B Class (601-700PI) Super Hot Hatch if you want the points and the Nissan GT-R ’17 bonus.
EventLab: Del Mar City
- Car: D Class, Classic Sports Cars
- Location: Palacio Azul
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin
EventLab: Self Sabotage – Vehicular Therapy
- Car: B Class, Offroad
- Location: Mulege
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, “I’m in the Zone!” Forza LINK
Danger Sign: Stadium Jump
- Car: B Class, Renault
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: 195m
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Drift Zone: Las Dunas
- Car: B Class, Renault
- Location: Dunas Blancas
- Challenge: 100,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Pequeno Puente
- Car: B Class, Renault
- Location: Mulege
- Challenge: 99mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: Escaping the Heat
- Car: B Class, Super Hot Hatch
- Location: De Otro Mundo
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Nissan GT-R ’17
Seasonal Championship: Natural Habitat
- Car: A Class, Dodge SRT
- Location: Teotihuacan
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Porsche 944
Seasonal Championship: Pocket Pandemonium
- Car: D Class, “Microcar Madness!”
- Location: Ek’Balam
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Renault Megane R26.R
The Trial takes its usual place as the only multiplayer event this week, requiring an Xbox Live subscription to access on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.
It’s a best-of-three series, with a team of up to six humans racing an “Unbeatable” AI squad of six. However the AI is usually quite beatable; it’s often the humans that cause the problems.
Each player on each team scores 100pt for every opponent they beat (as shown on the live leaderboard) but — aside from a 50pt bonus for victory as a tie-breaker — nothing for beating a team-mate.
That means you’ll need to co-operate to help each other out while bringing maximum pain to the AI, rather than smashing through your own team-mates or racing off to victory while everyone else flounders.
The relatively low pace of B Class (601-700PI) cars this week — with only cars from the 1980s eligible — should help, but the fact it’s a Dirt Racing Series challenge might cause some issues at tight corners.
However it should be easy enough to take the win inside two races, scoring ten points along with a bonus Mitsubishi Lancer MR ’06.
The Trial: Trial Mix
- Car: B Class, 1980s
- Location: Gran Caldera
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Mitsubishi Lancer MR ’06
Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Challenges
It’s a two-Challenge week, as the new Collectibles event lines up alongside the regular Photo Challenge.
Game mascot Tank makes a fresh appearance as the Collectible, decked out in mariachi finery. You’ll find these freezer-sized pinatas dotted around the Horizon Festival site, and smashing ten will earn you three points and a “Welcome to Mexico” Forza LINK greeting.
The Photo Challenge this week is #Stargazer, and requires three distinct elements.
Firstly, you’ll need any Renault — and since all of the PR Stunts this week require one, that’s probably not an issue. Then head to the Star27 mural in Mulege; that’s the painted wall at the north-east corner of the central market in the town, which has a bunch of marigold stands and a giant skull in front of it this month.
Finally wait until night time, or set it in the Photo Mode effects, and take your shot. It’s worth two points and the Mexican Race Suit outfit.
Collectibles: Tanks for the Show
- Cars: Any
- Location: Horizon Mexico Festival
- Challenge: Smash ten Tank Mariachis at the Horizon Mexico Festival
- Reward: 3 points, “Welcome to Mexico” Forza LINK
Photo Challenge: #Stargazer
- Cars: Renault (any)
- Location: Mulege
- Challenge: Photograph any Renault at the Star27 mural in Mulege while it’s night-time
- Reward: 2 points, Mexican Race Suit
Series 26 Autumn Playlist: Monthly Events
The two Monthly Events will remain in situ all Series long, giving you four points apiece — one point per event to each season — regardless of when you do so in the four-week window.
Each features new-to-game vehicles, and consist of Rivals-type events where outright pace isn’t strictly necessary; you only need to set a clean time, so avoid hitting solid objects or using the Rewind feature.
Monthly Rivals puts you into the “iconic” Nissan Tsuru for a lap of the compact Chihuahua Circuit, which ought not to be too hard even if the car is a bit sloppy on the handling front.
It’s another point-to-point challenge for Forza EV — ramping up the difficulty, as a messed-up run requires a restart — with the dirt-based Desierto Trail hosting the Meyers Manx 2.0.
Forza EV: Desierto Trail
- Cars: Meyers Manx 2.0 (provided)
- Location: Colinas Aridas
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Monthly Rivals: Chihuahua Circuit
- Cars: Nissan Tsuru (provided)
- Location: Hotel Mirador
- Challenge: Post a Clean Time
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Series 26 Autumn Bonus DLC Events
Seven bonus points — not required for Playlist completion — await in each of the two DLC expansions, with a two-point PR Stunt and a five-point, three-race Seasonal Championship in each location.
Again, both PR Stunts require the same car, and again it’s the same vehicle as the PR Stunts on the main map: a B Class (601-700PI) Renault. Each stunt awards a Super Wheelspin.
Speed is the key to each, as you’ll need to hit 100mph through the Frozen Rush Speed Zone in Hot Wheels and 80mph at the Duna Escarpada Speed Trap in Rally Adventure. Neither is particularly tricky with a straight, clean run.
A Class (701-800PI) BMWs feature at the Hot Wheels seasonal, Slip and Slide, which awards a 1999 Lotus Elise for victory. You’ll need a C Class (501-600PI) car from the Chevrolet SS — or Super Sport by the Microsoft language filter — stable for You’re Doing Super, Sport! in Rally Adventure, and you’ll receive a Ford Racing Puma for the win.
Hot Wheels Speed Zone: Frozen Rush
- Car: B Class, Renault
- Location: Hot Wheels Ice Cauldron
- Challenge: 100mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Slip and Slide
- Car: A Class, BMW
- Location: Hot Wheels Forest Falls
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Lotus Elise ’99
Rally Adventure Speed Trap: Duna Escarpada
- Car: B Class, Renault
- Location: Sierra Nueva Valle de Foreanos
- Challenge: 80mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: You’re Doing Super, Sport!
- Car: C Class, Chevrolet SS
- Location: Sierra Nueva La Presa
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Ford Racing Puma
Series 26 Autumn Forzathon Shop
This week’s Forzathon Shop theme is American V8s in heavily modified versions of cars built overseas.
The thumbnail car this week is the Hot Wheels Nash Metropolitan, a creation so madcap it was immortalized as a toy car. It’s based on the very, very humble Nash — built exclusively for the US market in the UK — but has had a rather extreme makeover.
That includes a custom-built chassis, chopped body, and a five-liter V8 in place of the original B Series straight four. In the real world, the car is actually known as the “Nashole” (and it’s painted on the hood) but that’s been sanitized slightly for Microsoft’s sensitivities.
Formula Drift again stars in the second slot, with the FD Maloo. This is a whole nest of “based on” clauses, with the Australian, 6.2-liter supercharged slide truck being based on the HSV Maloo, which is based on the Holden Ute, itself based on the Holden Commodore, which in turn is based on the Chevrolet Camaro.
The Nash isn’t available in the Autoshow, so at 1000FP it’s worth picking up now. Again the Drift car is 300FP against a normal Autoshow price of 300,000cr.
Other store items this week include the Macarena Emote and Festival Sombrero at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and a Super Wheelspin (150FP) occupy their regular spots.
See more articles on Forza Horizon 5 Season Change.
