Forza Horizon 5’s big anniversary celebration of the Horizon series is finally here, with the Series 13 playlist delivering a good hit of nostalgia.
The four weeks of the series, officially called “Horizon 10-Year Anniversary” each take in a different entry from the previous games in the series, starting with 2012’s Forza Horizon.
That means new events and challenges that pay homage to each title, as well as new and significant reward cars coming to FH5 from the old titles.
Alongside the various themed events, there’s a new Horizon Story too. “Horizon Origins” is an unsurprisingly five-chapter long set of challenges during which the various NPC talking heads will deliver history lessons about the various titles — curiously starting with the current game.
The story also provides players with a brand new car of sorts. This is a special “Anniversary Edition” of the Dodge Viper GTS which starred on the cover of the first game. Scott Tyler will host, alongside his duties DJing a new “Horizon Mixtape” radio station.
There’s also a new game mode, Midnight Battles, which resurrects a concept from Forza Horizon 3 — and the original’s “Star Showdowns” — allowing you to win cars through head-to-head street races.
New Accolades also appear for all of these things, in the Street Racing, Stories, and Evolving World sections.
Series 13: Horizon 10-Year Anniversary Rewards
It’s fair to say that the Series rewards are something of an odd bunch and very much towards opposite ends of the grand automotive spectrum. Neither is new, but both are Playlist exclusives and therefore this month is another chance to own them.
Starting us off for 80 points is the Wuling Sunshine. One of the first Chinese cars ever to feature in a Forza title, the Wuling Sunshine — actually a Hongguang S — was a reward in Series 4, and is one of the most popular cars in the world.
That’s by virtue of being an affordable MPV sold in the Chinese market, where it’s racked up five million sales in a decade. It won’t be breaking any land speed records with a 1.5-liter petrol engine, but the FH5 version has more than a handful of upgrades available…
For 160 points there’s the McLaren 650S Spider, previously available as a Series 6 reward.
This convertible version of the 650S adds a power-retractable hard top to the already enticing recipe. A development of the first car from the modern McLaren Cars, the 12C (originally the MP4-12C), the 650S sports a 641hp version of the McLaren 3.8-liter V8 twin-turbo placed inside that carbon-fiber tub.
Series 13 Summer/Wet Season Rewards
The first reward cars for the Series see a familiar face returning in what will be the theme for the four-week run.
That’s the Ferrari 599XX, available as a Playlist exclusive for 20 points this season and very much in line with the activities this week.
Based on the 599 GTB, the 599XX is a track-day special. Ferrari honed just about everything for track use, rendering the car completely unsuitable for the road — and indeed not road-legal. It’s also not eligible for any race series, and Ferrari keeps hold of and maintains the car for you.
From highly specialized electronics to wild fan-assisted aero, and a V12 engine turned up from just under 600hp to almost 700hp, the 599XX was just about the ultimate version of the 599 until an Evo model turned up two years later. However Forza Horizon’s antagonist, Darius Flynt, used it as his personal street-racing machine for the game’s final Star Showdown.
At 40 points you’ve got another chance to pick up the Plymouth Barracuda, previously available in Series 9. Designed as a rival for the first Ford Mustang — and in fact beating it to market by two weeks — the Cuda was the first Pony car; thankfully the Mustang was more popular, so we don’t have to call them Fish cars.
The second-gen model in FH5 is again based on the contemporary Plymouth Valiant, but features a 300hp 383ci (6.3-liter) V8 derived from the unit found in Plymouth’s Super Bee and Road Runner muscle cars.
Summer will last until 1430UTC on Thursday October 20, with the anniversary celebrations of Series 13 continuing on until the same time on November 10.
Series 13 Summer Playlist: Forzathon Events
With the first Forza Horizon title the focus of events this week, you’ll be driving the game’s cover car: the Dodge Viper GTS 2013. Pick one up — it’s a prize for the Collectibles event this week — and drive it to get Welcome to Colorado underway.
Follow the spirit of the Horizon series by using the Viper to win any Road Racing Series event, then pick up the equivalent of nine stars at any Speed Traps in Mexico.
Finally score an Ultimate Skill Chain — that’s 20,000 points before the skill score multiplier — using the Viper to complete the challenge and earn five points and 80FP — doubled to 160FP if you own the La Casa Solariega player house.
Weekly Challenge: Welcome to Colorado
- Car: Dodge Viper GTS 2013
- Chapter 1: Own and drive the Dodge Viper GTS 2013
- Chapter 2: Win a Road Racing Series event in the Dodge Viper GTS 2013
- Chapter 3: Earn nine stars at Speed Traps in the Dodge Viper GTS 2013
- Chapter 4: Earn an Ultimate Skill Chain in the Dodge Viper GTS 2013
- Reward: 5 points, 80FP
The regular Daily Challenges will pop up at the rate of one a day — at 1430UTC each day — with seven days to complete each for one point and 10FP per challenge.
It’s an easy start point and one that’ll occur naturally anyway. Just visit the Horizon 1 Festival Site in Copper Canyon — it’s on the eastern edge — to Party Like It’s 2012. Use the Viper above and take a photo while you’re there to fulfil this week’s Photo Challenge for a twofer.
You’ll Make Dak Proud on Friday, if you spend 50,000cr on vehicle upgrades — honoring the upgrade wizard Dak Stewart from FH.
Prove you’re Born Slippy by winning a Dirt Racing event for Saturday’s daily challenge.
Sunday will require you to Style Stunt, and earn 20,000 Skill Score in the Volkswagen Corrado VR6.
Start next week off with a Photo Shoot, and take a photograph of the 1998 Toyota Supra RZ.
Tuesday’s task is a Speed Stunt, requiring you to reach 200mph in the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Be aware that you will need a standard car for The Trial this week, so if you’re going to tune a car up for this then run through the multiplayer event first.
Finally round out the FH1 week with some Horizon Legacy. Just complete a Horizon Open Race in the 2013 Dodge Viper GTS; this can be paired with one of the regular Challenges this week for another twofer.
Daily Challenges
- October 13 – Party Like It’s 2012: Visit the Horizon 1 Festival Site in Copper Canyon
- October 14 – Make Dak Proud: Spend 50,000cr on upgrades
- October 15 – Born Slippy: Win a Dirt Racing Event
- October 16 – Style Stunt: Earn 20,000 Skill Score in the 1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6
- October 17 – Photo Shoot: Photograph the 1998 Toyota Supra RZ
- October 18 – Speed Stunt: Reach 200mph in the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500
- October 19 – Horizon Legacy: Complete a Horizon Open Race in the 2013 Dodge Viper GTS
Series 13 Summer Playlist: Season Events
It’s another straight split of PR Stunts and Seasonal Championships this week, with three of each, alongside two EventLab challenges.
With each week of the Series focusing on the stunts introduced in different titles, the first three are all Speed Traps — the only type in the first Horizon game. Unusually, they’re also three temporary PR Stunt locations, having been previously used only in Series 5.
Each has a different American car requirement, and offers two points and a Super Wheelspin reward.
You’ll need to hit 120mph in an A Class (701-800PI) Jeep for the Horizon Baja Speed Trap, located on the Baja Circuit. East Resort (near Playa Tranquila) and Pantano Pass (near Riviera Maya) require an S1 Class (801-900PI) Chevrolet and Ford, at target speeds of 185mph and 168mph, respectively.
There’s a US theme to the three Seasonal Championships too. As usual, these are three-race events against Highly Skilled AI and worth five points to your season total.
Dodge Brawl puts you into a one-make Road Racing series for S1 Class (801-900PI) Dodge-brand vehicles. Come out on top to earn a Volkswagen Corrado VR6.
For Muscle Mash you’ll be driving your choice of Classic Muscle category vehicles, tuned to C Class (501-600PI) in a Street Racing series. There’s a Ford Shelby GT500 on offer for taking first place overall.
The final championship, USA Rocks!, is open to any American vehicle in the A Class (701-800PI) performance brackets; it’s a Dirt Racing event, so make sure you have a robust vehicle to deal with the undulations. Take the win to also earn the Porter Robinson “Language” track for Horizon Mixtape.
It’s unusual to see two EventLabs, and they are rather different events. For The Backroads you’ll be racing on a very tight circuit set on the main avenue at Teotihuacan. Any B Class (601-700PI) car is eligible for this solo, two-lap run — we’d advise keeping left through the final arches, due to tree and concrete. There’s a Take Off Emote and three points for completing it.
The second EventLab, Coastal Town Circuit, is more of a sprawling affair albeit with some nightmarish hairpins and corners that the C Class (501-600PI) Volkswagen Corrago really doesn’t like. Keep the driving line on and don’t be tempted by what look like two alternate paths during the race, as they aren’t. Hold on for the win for three points and a Star27 Sundress.
Speed Trap: East Resort
- Car: S1 Class, Chevrolet
- Location: Playa Tranquila, East Resort Speed Trap
- Challenge: 185mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Horizon Baja Speed Trap
- Car: A Class, Jeep
- Location: Horizon Baja Circuit, Horizon Baja Speed Trap
- Challenge: 120mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Speed Trap: Pantano Pass
- Car: S1 Class, Ford
- Location: Riviera Maya, Pantano Pass Speed Trap
- Challenge: 168mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
EventLab: The Backroads
- Car: B Class
- Location: Teotihuacan, Teotihuacan Drag Strip
- Challenge: Finish the Race
- Reward: 3 points, Take Off Emote
EventLab: Coastal Town Circuit Pro
- Car: C Class, Volkswagen Corrado
- Location: Palacio Azul del Oceano, Costera Cross Country Circuit
- Challenge: Finish the Race
- Reward: 3 points, Star27 Sundress
Seasonal Championship: Dodge Brawl
- Car: S1 Class, Dodge
- Location: Los Jardines, Los Jardines Circuit
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Volkswagen Corrado
Seasonal Championship: Muscle Mash
- Car: C Class, Retro Muscle
- Location: Hotel Castillo Santa Cecilia, Hilltop Descent
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Ford Mustang 2013
Seasonal Championship: USA Rocks!
- Car: A Class, USA
- Location: Copper Canyon, Barranca Trail
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Porter Robinson – Language Song
For those with the Hot Wheels DLC there are seven additional points available; they’re not required for 100% completion of the Playlist, but give a little extra way to find points for DLC owners.
This week there’s the Forest Edge Speed Trap, with a 260mph target and any S2 Class (901-998PI) cars permitted. Hit the target — it’s possible in either direction — to score two points and a Super Wheelspin.
The Seasonal Championship in Hot Wheels Park is Here Be Dragons. This three-race series against Highly Skilled AI will take you on a tour of the dragons in the region, with the event open for any American cars in the S1 Class (801-900PI). There’s five points and a Jeep Wrangler available for victory.
Hot Wheels Speed Trap: Forest Edge
- Car: S2 Class
- Location: Hot Wheels Park Forest Falls, Forest Edge Speed Trap
- Challenge: 260mph
- Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin
Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Here Be Dragons
- Car: S1 Class, USA
- Location: Hot Wheels Park Ice Cauldron, Dragon’s Fall Speed Circuit
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 5 points, Jeep Wrangler
We’re back down to a single multiplayer event this week, for which you’ll need Xbox Live Gold or to play on a PC to access.
That’s the perennial The Trial, which returns to a “Stock Showdown” format. You’ll be racing a mechanically standard Shelby GT500 2013 (756PI) along with up to five other humans as you race against six AI bots on “Unbeatable” difficulty, all in identical cars. However it’s often the humans that are the challenge here.
Each driver on each team earns 100 points for every opponent they beat, but there are no points available for beating your team-mates — unless you win overall and score the tie-breaking 50 points.
That means that outright pace isn’t too important. Helping your team to pass the AI, or being excessively cruel to the AI to hold them up, is often the way to win. It’s a best-of-three series, so if you win the opening two rounds it’s a quick ten points — and there’s a bonus Hennessey Venom prize too.
The Trial: Stock Showdown 2013 Shelby GT500
- Car: Shelby GT500 (no upgrades)
- Location: Guanajuato, Copper Canyon Sprint
- Challenge: Win the Championship
- Reward: 10 points, Hennessey Venom
Series 13 Summer Playlist: Challenges
Three more challenges await this week, with the regular Photo Challenge joined by a Collectibles challenge and Horizon Open.
You’ll need multiplayer access — Xbox Live Gold, or playing on a PC — for Horizon Open. However you only need to complete any Horizon Open Racing custom event for the two points and a Countdown Timer horn.
The Photo Challenge is about as expected as it gets. For #HorizonAnniversary you’ll need to snap the Dodge Viper GTS 2013 (available from the Collectibles challenge below) at the Horizon 1 Festival Site in Copper Canyon. You’ll earn two points and a Colorado Cover Car horn.
To score the car you’ll need to smash up ten special Horizon Colorado Bonus Boards to complete Dak Delivery. These strongly resemble those from FH1, with Dak’s face and the word “Horizon” (instead of “Upgrades”), and you’ll find them lining the length of Copper Canyon.
Photo Challenge: #HorizonAnniversary
- Cars: Dodge Viper GTS 2013
- Location: Horizon 1 Festival Site, Copper Canyon
- Challenge: Photograph the Dodge Viper GTS 2013 at the Horizon 1 Festival Site in Copper Canyon
- Reward: 2 points, Colorado Cover Car Horn
Collectibles: Dak Delivery!
- Cars: Any
- Location: Any
- Challenge: Smash 10 Horizon Colorado Bonus Boards
- Reward: 3 points, Dodge Viper GTS 2013
Horizon Open: Made for the Road
- Cars: Any
- Location: Horizon Open Road Racing
- Challenge: Complete a Horizon Open Road Racing Custom Event
- Reward: 2 points, Countdown Timer Horn
There’s three month-long challenges in S13, with the new Story joining the regular Rivals events.
Horizon Origins looks at the history of the FH game series, and will likely be the first thing you do as you’re thrust into the opening prelude chapter as soon as the season starts.
Complete all five chapters to earn 12 points across the Series, with three added to each season. You’ll also pick up the Dodge Viper GTS Anniversary Edition car which headlines the Series.
Forza EV and Monthly Rivals return with new circuits and cars. You need to post clean lap times at the circuits using the cars provided to you in order to complete each, worth four points (one added to each season) in each case. Outright pace isn’t important, just cleanliness, so keep it off the walls.
That’ll be tricky in both cases. Forza EV sends you to the Arch of Mulege Circuit in Mulege, with a Jaguar I-PACE as your ride; you’ll need to watch your braking for this, so as not to understeer into barriers. You’ll be using the Anniversary Viper for the Lookout Circuit in Monthly Rivals, again with barriers close at hand.
Horizon Story: Horizon Origins
- Cars: Provided
- Location: Valle de las Ranas, Horizon Origins Story
- Challenge: Earn 15 Stars in the Horizon Story
- Reward: 12 points (3 added to each season), Dodge Viper GTS Anniversary Edition
Forza EV: Arch of Mulege Circuit
- Cars: Jaguar I-PACE (provided)
- Location: Mulege, Arch of Mulege Circuit
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Monthly Rivals: Lookout Circuit
- Cars: Dodge Viper GTS Anniversary Edition (Provided)
- Location: Horizon Rush Outpost, Lookout Circuit
- Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
- Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)
Series 13 Summer Forzathon Shop
There’s a little shake-up in the Forzathon Shop this week, with three items alongside the two cars — and regular wheelspin items.
The store headline car this week is the Shelby Cobra 427, a car legendary for both causing the 70mph motorway limit to be created in the United Kingdom and for spawning so many replicas that the real thing is outnumbered 100:1.
Having started out life as a humble AC Ace sports car, the Cobra came into being when Carroll Shelby asked AC for a V8-engined version. AC implanted a Ford Windsor, starting the car down the path to eventually become a seven-liter monster under Shelby’s own watchful eye.
At 700FP it’s not cheap, but then the regular Autoshow price of 2.1 million isn’t either so take your pick.
Also available is the Hennessey Velociraptor 6×6, the result of a tuning company wondering what a Ford F150 Raptor would be like if it had 50% more everything.
It’s one of two six-wheel drive vehicles in the game, although we’d be tempted to pick this one up in the Autoshow for 350,000cr instead of the 300FP price in the Store this week.
Store items this week are the Horizon Colorado Tee, Legacy Rewind Horn, and Quick Draw Emote at 75FP each. The Wheelspin (60FP) and Super Wheelspin (150FP) remain in their usual spots.
See more articles on Forza Horizon 5 Season Change.
