Players have another week of ghostly goings-on as Forza Horizon 5’s latest Series rolls over into a new week with a fresh set of Playlist events.
Series 26, officially titled “Dia de Muertos”, celebrates the Mexican “Day of the Dead” festival, bringing a small world makeover along with the new challenges for the month.
Visit the town of Mulege — which you’ll do several times across the Playlist on various challenges — and you’ll see a colorful change as it’s decked out in traditional Day of the Dead decorations.
That includes large, decorated skulls (calaveritas) and animal carvings (alebrijes), along with marigold stalls and piles of the festival’s flowers littering the streets. There’s also a night-time light show with the drones you’ll also find at Rally Adventure.
You’ll be able to join in with that this week too with the free delivery of two unique clothing items: the Dia de Muertos Dress and Suit. Handily, that also forms the core of a challenge on the Playlist.
That’s one of several themed events on the Playlist, along with the opportunity to claim four brand-new cars. You’ll also earn an Evolving World Accolade for collecting all four of these. A further four vehicles are available too, by way of a new paid-DLC pack.
Table of Contents
- Series 26: Dia de Muertos
- Series 26 Winter/Dry Season Rewards
- Series 26 Winter Playlist: Forzathon Events
- Series 26 Winter Playlist: Season Events
- Series 26 Winter Playlist: Challenges
- Series 26 Winter Playlist: Monthly Events
- Series 26 Winter Bonus DLC Events
- Series 26 Winter Forzathon Shop
Series 26: Dia de Muertos
There’s a further chance to earn two vehicles you can’t buy in the game through this month’s events. Neither is new to the game, but both are rare, valuable (especially in the Auction House) and red.
By far the most desireable is up first, with 80 points earning you a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso.
This combines legendary looks and power, with a Pininfarina-designed body housing the famous Colombo V12 to make an epic, two-seat grand tourer.
It’s the last car to bear the 250 name — referring to the approximate 250cc swept volume of each of the V12’s cylinders — before being replaced by the 275/330 models.
There’s almost 60 years between that and the 160-point car, but that too is a last-of-line Ferrari of sorts.
The F8 Tributo is, as the name somewhat suggests, a tribute to Ferrari’s eight-cylinder engine, as forced induction and electrification become the path to emissions-friendly power.
With a 710hp version of the 3.9-liter F154 V8, the F8 is the end of an era — and 100hp down on its turbocharged, hybrid V6 successor.
Series 26 Winter/Dry Season Rewards
A hot version of one of the game’s cover cars is up for grabs this week, as the Ford Bronco Raptor makes its debut.
While it shares many attributes with the regular Bronco, the Raptor turns the wick up considerably. For starters there’s a new three-liter V6 — shared with the second-gen Ranger Raptor — packing 418hp.
More notably there’s a raft of chassis upgrades in order to help the Braptor cover off-road miles more effectively, including a whole new suspension setup.
This is based on the rally raid car’s underpinnings, with a wider track — by eight inches — and more than five inches of extra ground clearance. That’s enhanced by new 17-inch wheels with enormous 37-inch offroad tires from BFGoodrich.
Score 40 points and you’ll pick up the Plymouth Fury, a car that lives in infamy from its starring role (admittedly with a bit of a caveat) as the possessed ride in Christine.
You can’t buy the Fury in the Autoshow, so it’s a good chance to score a rare ride.
Winter will run until 1430UTC on Thursday November 2, with Series 26 continuing on for one more week until the same time on Thursday November 9.
Series 26 Winter Playlist: Forzathon Events
The only car in the game actually from a Mexican brand is the appropriate star of the Forzathon Weekly Challenge this week. Own and drive the Vuhl 05RR to get Mexico’s Very Own up and running.
You’ll need to do some very unwise driving next, getting two Barrel Roll Skills in the Vuhl. For this you’ll need to get the car to roll laterally, such as by running the wheels on one side up a ramp, and land safely. Twice.
A little more in-keeping with the car’s attributes, take the little Vuhl to victory in any Road Race to complete the next chapter, before heading to the Horizon Apex Outpost near Playa Azul to take a single photo.
Once the shutter snaps, you’ll earn your five Playlist points and an 80 Forzathon Point bonus — with that latter item doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Mexico’s Very Own
- Car: Vuhl 05RR ’17
- Chapter 1: Own and drive the Vuhl 05RR ’17
- Chapter 2: Earn two Barrel Roll Skills in the Vuhl 05RR ’17
- Chapter 3: Win a Road Race in the Vuhl 05RR ’17
- Chapter 4: Take a photo of the Vuhl 05RR ’17 at the Horizon Apex Outpost
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
Once again there’s seven Daily Challenges for you to complete, with a new one appearing every day at 1430UTC. You’ll have seven days to complete each one — for one Playlist point apiece — even if that runs into the next season.
You’ll need to be Looking the Part to start the week off, by heading into the Character Customizer and equipping the Dia de Muertos Dress or Suit clothing items. This will be delivered, for free, to all players through the Gifts tab, so keep an eye out.
Find The Right Anglia next, and take a photograph of the 1959 Ford Anglia anywhere you choose.
Take any Formula Drift car and score six stars at any Drift Zones to get a point for Drifting in the Dark, starting on Saturday. You don’t actually need to do this at night, despite the name.
Be a Lab Rat next and complete any EventLab challenge from the Creative Hub. Note that the Playlist events don’t count towards this goal.
Horizon Arcade is the venue next, as you’ll need to get through three rounds of any theme — Air, Chaos, Drift, Speed, or Wreckage — for Level Complete. Just look out for the pink map marker zones to start this one.
There’s some Tiny Trials after that. Win any Street Race in any Mini vehicle to complete it and earn the point.
Lastly earn 50,000 Skill Score and get it In the Bank while in Mulege to round out the week. Note that you can earn the points anywhere, so long as you’re in Mulege when you bank it…
Daily Challenges
- October 26 – Looking the Part: Equip the Dia de Muertos Dress or Suit
- October 27 – The Right Anglia: Take a photo of the Ford Anglia ’59
- October 28 – Drifting in the Dark: Earn six stars at Drift Zones in any Formula Drift
- October 29 – Lab Rat: Play any EventLab from the Creative Hub
- October 30 – Level Complete: Complete Round 3 of a Horizon Arcade
- October 31 – Tiny Trials: Win a Street Race in any Mini
- November 1 – In the Bank: Bank 50,000 Skill Score in Mulege
Series 26 Winter Playlist: Season Events
Seven challenges await on the solo playlist this week, as the Seasonal Championship count drops to two — alongside two EventLabs and three PR Stunts.
You’ll need an A Class (701-800PI) Toyota for all of the PR Stunts, although you might like a couple of builds to get the distance for the Danger Sign and the average speed for the Speed Zone.
None of the three targets are particularly tricky though. You can pretty much fall off the ramp to score 90m at the Hotel Danger Sign, while 117mph at the Oceano Azul Speed Trap is pretty much a case of having enough of a run-up.
The Atlantes de Tula Speed Zone is a little trickier, but keep it on the road and 113mph should come up first try.
Both EventLab races are worth the usual three points and a bonus reward for completion, and they both feature unique course layouts in major game locations.
Ek’Balam Rally Cross GP2 is, as it sounds, a custom rally stage built through and around the Ek’Balam location. You’ll need a C Class (501-600PI) Classic Rally car for the event, which also awards a Puebla Mexican Suit.
You’ll need your wits about you for Neon City Circuit Race, which is a custom route through Guanajuato with multiple diversions. We’d recommend not taking the marked line — and weaving through the containers — for all but the final one at the marked hairpin, in your B Class (601-700PI) Volkswagen. A Super Wheelspin is your reward for victory.
As usual the Seasonal Championships are three-race events against Highly Skilled AI. For each race you’ll start in eighth position (while the AI line up in finishing order), and you’ll need to top the points table at the end of all three races to claim victory. There’s five points and a bonus vehicle for each event if you win.
Lurking in the Jungle is a Street Racing event for B Class (601-700PI) cars from the 2010s decade — so keep an eye out for NPC traffic, if there is any — with a Subaru BRZ as a bonus prize. You’ll be heading Cross Country for Perfect Match, using B Class (601-700PI) Offroad cars, with a Renault Clio for victory.
EventLab: Ek’Balam Rally Cross GP2
- Car: C Class, Classic Rally
- Location: Ek’Balam
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Puebla Mexican Suit
EventLab: Neon City Circuit Race
- Car: B Class, Volkswagen
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: Win the race
- Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin
Danger Sign: Hotel
- Car: A Class, Toyota
- Location: Palacio Azul
- Challenge: 90m
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Oceano Azul
- Car: A Class, Toyota
- Location: Club de Opala
- Challenge: 117mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Zone: Atlantes de Tula
- Car: A Class, Toyota
- Location: Atlantes de Tula
- Challenge: 113mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Seasonal Championship: Lurking in the Jungle
- Car: B Class, Decade 2010s
- Location: Gran Puente
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Subaru BRZ
Seasonal Championship: Perfect Match
- Car: B Class, Offroad
- Location: Guanajuato
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Renault Clio ’13
There’s two multiplayer events this week, with a Seasonal Playground Games event joining The Trial. You’ll need an Xbox Live subscription to access these on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.
For this week’s Seasonal Playground Games you’ll be taking on Team Flag Rush, a best-of-three game of automotive tag.
In this event one team tries to carry flags from a pickup point to a target zone while the other team defends the target by tagging the flag-carriers, before swapping over. The winning team is the one that scores the most flags in the time allotted — or, in the event of a tie, the quickest to score the amount.
You’ll need to play up to three rounds of this (so if you lose the first one, it’s quicker to just throw the second), with three points and a Saleen S1 on offer.
The Trial is a best-of-three series, with a team of up to six humans racing an “Unbeatable” AI squad of six. That’s not as daunting as it sounds, as it’s often the humans that are the issue rather than the AI.
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.
The best course of action then is to co-operate, helping each other to good points by hindering the AI and not your fellow humans.
That’s going to be easier said that done this week, as the races are bizarre and if your team-mates remember to tune their cars it’s likely they’ll be overpowered for their ability to control them.
You’ll need an S1 Class (801-900PI) Chevrolet or Dodge for the event, which consists of a three-lap race at the Oval, the awful Volcan Sprint point-to-point, and a one-lap run of the Horizon Festival Circuit…
Complete the victory over the AI as a team and you’ll score ten points and earn an Ariel Nomad.
Seasonal Playground Games: Powerlifting
- Car: C Class, Classic Muscle
- Location: Aerodromo en la Selva
- Challenge: Complete a Seasonal Playground Games event.
- Reward: 3 points, Saleen S1 ’18
The Trial: Battling it Out
- Car: S1 Class, Chevrolet/Dodge
- Location: Estadio Horizon
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Ariel Nomad
Series 26 Winter Playlist: Challenges
Three Challenges appear this week, with another multiplayer event by way of Horizon Open alongside a Treasure Hunt and the regular Photo Challenge.
You’ll be playing games in Horizon Open, with Playground Games the theme again. The challenge is to deny five flags during rounds of Team Flag Rush.
The good news is that you can actually do this during the Seasonal Playground Games event above (we did) rather than waiting for the event to pop up in Horizon Open. Just tag five enemy cars which are carrying flags while you’re defending in order to complete the challenge.
That’ll doubtless mean incessant camping of the pickup point, but complete the five denials and you’ll earn two points and a Parade Horn.
The Photo Challenge this week, #NewHome, is one of many events taking in Mulege. You’ll need to head to the Casa Bella player house in the town with a Nissan Silvia Ks Aero ’98.
There’s a little additional complexity here. You’ll need to use the Photo Effects Mode presets to position your avatar outside the car, but once done just take the picture to earn two points and a “Last Man Standing” Forza LINK greeting.
For the Treasure Hunt this week you’ll need to solve a relatively uncomplicated clue: “Catch up to your prey across the country as this big cat takes first place”.
As you might expect, that means you’ll need to win any Cross Country series race in any Jaguar, so pick your favored leaper and take victory in any of the green races. Doing so will yield the Treasure Hint: a red map marker zone showing roughly where the Treasure Chest is.
This week that is — of course — in Mulege, on the east side of the town. The chest itself is located right by the XP board marker you’ll find out there, right in front of the mission building. Smash it to earn three points and 100,000cr.
Horizon Open: Access Denied
- Cars: Any
- Location: Horizon Open Playground Games
- Challenge: Deny five flags in Team Flag Rush
- Reward: 2 points, Parade Horn
Photo Challenge: #NewHome
- Cars: Nissan Silvia Ks Aero ’98
- Location: Casa Bella, Mulege
- Challenge: Photograph the Nissan Silvia outside the Casa Bella Player Home while your character stands outside the car
- Reward: 2 points, “Last Man Standing” Forza LINK
Treasure Hunt: Sinking Your Teeth In
- Cars: Jaguar
- Location: Cross Country Series (any)
- Challenge: Win a Cross Country race in any Jaguar; find and smash the Treasure Chest
- Reward: 3 points, 100,000cr
Series 26 Winter Playlist: Monthly Events
If you haven’t already completed them, there’s still this week and next to get through the two Monthly Events. Each gives you four points to your Series total — one point per event to each season — regardless of when you complete them in the four-week window.
Both of this month’s events feature new-to-game vehicles, with two Rivals-type challenges — although lap times aren’t your target here. You only need to set a clean time, so avoid hitting solid objects or using the Rewind feature.
For the Monthly Rivals event you’ll be racing the Nissan Tsuru around a lap of the compact Chihuahua Circuit, while the Meyers Manx 2.0 stars in the Forza EV challenge at the point-to-point dirt course of Desierto Trail.
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 Winter Bonus DLC Events
With it being a multiplayer-heavy week, players who own the DLC expansions will be pleased to have the chance to score seven bonus points in each of the two add-on locations. They’re not required for Playlist completion for those who don’t own them.
Once more, both PR Stunts — worth two points and a Super Wheelspin each — require the same car as those on the main map: an A Class (701-800PI) Toyota.
You might want a dedicated drift setup for Hot Wheels and the Horizon Nexus Drift Zone, although the 105,000pt target isn’t too tricky. The Palm Forest Danger Sign in Rally Adventure will need a bit of a run-up though, so head off-road to the north before pointing it at the ramp and aim to just reach the river for the 228m target.
The Seasonal Championships are three-race series as with the main map, each worth five points and a bonus car if you top the points table at the end.
It’s a rare Street Racing event in Rally Adventure, as you’ll need a C Class (501-600PI) Retro Hot Hatch for the surfaced-road racing — with NPC traffic — in Down the Hatch, awarding a Mercedes A45 AMG for the win. You’ll aim to be Smashing the Competition in Hot Wheels, with an A Class (701-800PI) Modern Muscle car and a BMW M4 ’14 for victory.
Hot Wheels Drift Zone: Horizon Nexus
- Car: A Class, Toyota
- Location: Hot Wheels Horizon Nexus
- Challenge: 105,000pt
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Smashing the Competition
- Car: A Class, Modern Muscle
- Location: Hot Wheels Giant’s Canyon
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, BMW M4 ’14
Rally Adventure Danger Sign: Palm Forest
- Car: A Class, Toyota
- Location: Sierra Nueva Epitaph Radio Tower
- Challenge: 228m
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: Down the Hatch
- Car: C Class, Retro Hot Hatch
- Location: Sierra Nueva La Presa
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
Series 26 Winter Forzathon Shop
The Forzathon Shop this week is all about speed done the British way, with a pair of high-performance machines from the nation.
First up is the Radical RXC Turbo which is, believe it or not, the sensible offering in the RXC range of track-day specials.
It shares the same basic layout as the rest of the RXC lineup, combining a lightweight composite body with a 450hp, turbocharged version of the Ford EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6.
However Radical has added some weight by the way of sound deadening to make it a little less harsh for those who drive it on the public roads. The madmen.
Joining the Radical is a considerably more refined, high-speed machine in the shape of Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage S.
This grand tourer with a sporting edge packs over 550hp from a 5.9-liter V12, good for more than 200mph in comfort of the highest quality.
As with the other line-leaders this month, the Radical isn’t available in the Autoshow, as reflected in its 1000FP cost. The Aston Martin is, so you’ll have to weigh the 250FP price against the 240,000cr Autoshow sticker.
Other store items this week include the Mexican Traffic Light Horn and Gold Leather Boots at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and a Super Wheelspin (150FP) occupy their regular spots.
See more articles on Forza Horizon 5 Season Change.
