Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels is a strong fit if you want a fast, spectacular arcade-racing playground; it is less compelling if you expect simulation handling or a major change to Forza Horizon 5’s driving. Reviews praised its towering track network and variety, while raising reservations about rank-gated progression, the story and how much the expansion changes the base game. You also need Forza Horizon 5 to play it.
Is Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels worth it?
For players who enjoy high-speed arcade racing, loops, unusual track surfaces and a steady stream of challenges, the expansion offers a distinct setting and plenty of new racing. The tradeoff is a more directed progression structure: advancing through Hot Wheels Academy involves medals and event completion, rather than simply roaming wherever you like. The five-chapter Hot Wheels history story also divided reviewers.
The key question is whether the setting and track design are enough to make more Forza Horizon 5 feel fresh. If you want realistic racing or an entirely new handling system, this is a less obvious purchase. Check the current price and bundle contents on your platform’s store; the $19.99 standalone price in the 2022 announcement is historical, not a promise of today’s price.
What do the reviews say?
The two reviews below agree on the visual spectacle and added racing, but differ in how satisfying the progression and presentation are. Their scores are individual reviews, not a review-average or universal verdict.
#1 Best Overall
- Hot Wheels Forza 5-pack highlights awesome racing and muscle cars featured in the popular video game
- It includes 5 1:64 scale premium vehicles with Real Riders tires and full metal construction
- The mix features replicas of the Nissan Silvia S15, Morris Mini, Porsche 911 GT3RS, Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera and Porsche Speedster
- Hot Wheels vehicles inspire creative push-around play in kids 3 years and older, encouraging them to exercise creative thinking and hone their problem-solving skills
- Makes a great gift for collectors and kids 3 years old and older who love the rad details and cool stylings of each Hot Wheels vehicle
| Review | Score and date | What worked | Main reservations |
|---|---|---|---|
| GameSpot, Alessandro Barbosa | 7/10, July 26, 2022 | The large, detailed map, varied tracks and exhilarating speed. | Medal-based rank advancement can feel like checking off a list, and the five-part history story is uneven. GameSpot disclosed that Barbosa spent eight hours with the expansion and received review code from the publisher. |
| Gamereactor, Jakob Hansen | 6/10, July 19, 2022 | The Hot Wheels track recreation, new content and environments. | Hansen felt the driving formula changed little, the missions and history presentation did not fully serve Hot Wheels fans, and some races felt unbalanced. His 10–15 hour figure is an estimate, not a guaranteed completion time. |
In practical terms, the expansion’s appeal depends on whether its high-speed setting and structured challenges feel like a new playground to you—or like more of the same driving with a different backdrop.
What does the Hot Wheels expansion add?
The expansion moves racing to Horizon Hot Wheels Park, an imagined high-altitude region above Mexico. Its interconnected orange tracks run through three named areas—Giant’s Canyon, Ice Cauldron and Forest Falls—with Horizon Nexus connecting them. Magnet tracks, ice tracks, water flumes and rumble tracks change the feel of the routes, while loops, vertical sections and extreme speed define the experience.
Rank #2
- FORZA HORIZON 6 LIMITED EDITION — Explore breathtaking Japan with the XBOX Wireless Controller – Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition. Inspired by the winding Touge roads of Japan, this controller blends high-performance style with festival flair.
- FESTIVAL-INSPIRED DESIGN — Watch the translucent top case and triggers unveil dynamic lighting effects of a vibrant pink and green XBOX button. Bold pink thumbsticks, multi-color ABXY buttons, and a Horizon logo stamped on the battery door seal the look.
- RACING-READY GRIP — Lock into the open-world driving action with black and pink diamond-patterned grips and textured triggers built for every moment on the road.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can explore Japan from neon-lit streets to mountain passes without stopping to recharge.*
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.**
Playground Games’ 2022 expansion infographic lists 212 km of track, 87 EventLab props, 45 collectibles, three dragons, 10 new cars, 156 missions, three biomes, five track types and 42 events. These are the studio’s published content counts, not independent measurements. The expansion also includes a five-chapter Hot Wheels history story, Hot Wheels Academy rank progression, missions and challenges, online play options, and more than 80 snappable Hot Wheels-themed track and stunt pieces for EventLab creations.
Which cars are included?
The ten cars are in-game unlocks, not physical toy cars:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute- 2021 Hennessey Venom F5
- 2020 SIERRA Cars #23 Yokohama ALPHA
- 2019 Brabham BT62
- 2018 Chevrolet Hot Wheels COPO Camaro
- 2018 Subaru WRX STI ARX Supercar
- 2013 Hot Wheels Baja Bone Shaker
- 2012 Hot Wheels Bad to the Blade
- 2006 Mosler MT900 GT3
- 2000 Hot Wheels Deora II
- 1993 Schuppan 962CR
Do I need Forza Horizon 5 to play Hot Wheels?
Yes. The add-on requires Forza Horizon 5; the Xbox and Steam listings both identify the base game as a requirement. Buying the expansion does not provide the base game. Check your platform’s listing for current editions, regional availability and bundle overlap before purchasing.
There is a limited exception for people who do not own the expansion: Playground Games’ launch material says they can play base-map blueprints that use Hot Wheels props. That does not grant access to the full Hot Wheels Park expansion.
Rank #4
- Complete set of 5 Forza Vehicles in the 2021 Release
How do I start the Hot Wheels DLC?
- Progress through Forza Horizon 5’s initial experience until open-world access is available.
- Find the Hot Wheels Expedition icon near the Gran Caldera in northern Mexico and start the expedition.
- After the introductory expedition, enter Hot Wheels Park from the pause menu or fast-travel to its events.
According to the official Xbox launch guide, co-op players can join from the introductory expedition.
Is the Hot Wheels expansion available on PS5?
Playground Games’ 2025 guide says the expansions can be purchased separately from the PlayStation Store in connection with the PS5 version. On Xbox, the expansion was announced for Xbox consoles, Windows PC, Steam and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta); the Xbox store lists Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Store availability and entitlements can change, so confirm the live listing for your platform and region.
Best Value
![Xbox One S 500GB Console - Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels Bundle [Discontinued]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519oCc4k5KL._SL160_.jpg)
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
What do Steam users think?
Steam displayed 55% positive from 1,807 lifetime reviews and 45% positive from 11 reviews in the prior 30 days when accessed on October 8, 2026. Those figures are a changing Steam user-review snapshot; the recent sample is small, and neither figure represents critic consensus or sentiment across all platforms.
Quick Recap
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