Forza Horizon 5 Season Change: Brrrr… Z

Andrew Evans · · Comments

Winter, somehow, arrives again in the new Forza Horizon 5 Playlist this week, as the snowy shenanigans continue in the game’s current Series.

Known as “Winter Wonderland”, Series 28 brings a cold snap to Mexico that lasts an entire year in game-time, with the icy weather now in its third week (of four).

Along with being a record-breaking chill, the world map has a number of other changes this month which start with a makeover at the Horizon Stadium.

Now known as “the Winter Wonderland Stadium”, the central location is transformed into a Scandinavian village for the month. It consists of mounds of snow, dotted with little houses, large fir trees, and even an ice rink and a pair of toboggan runs.

This will actually become a staple every winter from this Series on, returning on the third week of every standard Series — we’d not expect it during other events that feature a stadium-specific makeover — with one exception: the Wonderland gift drop hub.

That’s a dedicated location which allows you to send gifts purchased from the Forzathon Shop (itself having a bit of a shake-up this week) to other players in order to earn global community prizes. The first prize, the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, has already been sent out and it’s pretty likely that the not exactly secret second prize will also come during the week.

As usual, players will earn new cars for completing Playlist tasks this month, with one new vehicle at the 20pt mark on each of the four seasons, and an Evolving World Accolade for collecting all four. There’s also a new, paid-DLC car pack which adds vehicles from the Fast and Furious movie series.

Table of Contents

Series 28: Winter Wonderland

You won’t find new cars for the Series rewards, but both vehicles available were previously up as Playlist rewards and as such are unattainable through the Autoshow. That means it’s well worth aiming to pick up both.

For 80 points, which ought to be a distant memory, you’ll earn yourself a Porsche Mission R concept — previously a seasonal reward in Series 20.

Essentially designed to suggest what a future one-make Porsche race series could look like in a post-ICE world, the Mission R is intended to be as quick as a 992 GT3 Cup car around a track.

Porsche has endowed the vehicle with an asymmetric all-wheel drive system, with the Mission R developing 1073hp — 60% of which comes from the rear-axle motor.

At 160 points there’s the 2011 Koenigsegg Agera, previously available in Series 13 as a reward car.

While there are faster Koenigseggs in the game, it’s only a relative term; the “base” Agera can only just crack 250mph. However it formed the basis of a series of progressively faster vehicles, including the brand’s halo speed-machine, the 300mph Agera RS.

Series 28 Winter/Dry Season Rewards

This week’s first prize car is new to the game, although you’ll be forgiven for thinking there’s something of the familiar about it.

The 2022 Subaru BRZ joins its Toyota sibling — in fact Subaru makes both the BRZ and GR86, but 90% of the cars are the Toyota — and its predecessor vehicle in the game, having made its series debut in Forza Motorsport in October.

Externally it’s a subtle reworking, but the magic comes under the skin. Slightly wider and lighter in the chassis thanks to more aluminum, the ’22 car also sports a new, 2.4-liter version of the boxer four engine. That comes with a power hike and 20% more torque, addressing the primary criticism of the original which didn’t feel as fast as it was.

For 40 points you’ll earn the 2019 Porsche 935, a modern homage to the classic “Moby Dick” 935/78 Group 5 race car.

Under that retro bodywork — which both makes the car almost 16 feet long and not road legal — the 935 is an amalgamation of various 991-generation cars. That included a GT3 R chassis and a GT2 RS engine and gearbox.

Third Winter will run until 1430UTC on Thursday December 28, with one more Winter season to follow running through to the same time on Thursday January 4.

Series 28 Winter Playlist: Forzathon Events

It’s another not particularly winter-friendly car for this week’s Forzathon Weekly Challenge, as you’ll be driving the rather brisk Lotus 3-Eleven. Own and drive the open-top speedster — and you can win it from The Trial this week — to get For the Drivers underway.

Firstly you’ll need to get some distance on the Lotus with at least a five-mile drive (8km) in the 3-Eleven, before spending on upgrades (no, a roof and heated seats aren’t available) to the tune of at least 11,000cr.

Once completed, beat any Rivals ghost in the Lotus to earn five Playlist points and 80 Forzathon Points, with the FP doubled if you own the Casa Solariega player house.

Weekly Challenge: For the Drivers

  • Car: Lotus 3-Eleven
    • Chapter 1: Own and drive the Lotus 3-Eleven
    • Chapter 2: Drive five miles (8km) in the Lotus 3-Eleven
    • Chapter 3: Spend 11,000cr or more on upgrades for the Lotus 3-Eleven
    • Chapter 4: Beat any Rivals ghost in the Lotus 3-Eleven
  • Reward: 5 points, 80FP

The next seven winter-themed Daily Challenges come along at their usual one-a-day rate, arriving at 1430UTC each day with seven days to complete each one, for one point apiece.

Christmas Superlight is up first, requiring you to earn six Speed Skills in the Caterham Superlight at the Winter Wonderland. This is made easier by the fact that the perimeter road is still present, so just make laps of that to rack up the required.

Win any of the four Midnight Battle events next to complete Polar Position.

You’ll need to be Ever So Spritely next, earning three Kangaroo Skills — gained for completing two successive Air Skills (jumping all the wheels off the floor and landing safely) each time — in the 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite.

Paint the body of your car in Your Favorite Color to complete the next challenge.

Christmas Day is marked by Happy Holidays, as you send a gift to any other player as part of Secret Santa.

Take a photo at the top of Gran Caldera to show that Ice is My Life next.

Finally win a Cross Country race in any Hummer, for 12 Hummers Humming.

Daily Challenges

  • December 21 – Christmas Superlight: Earn six Speed Skills in the Caterham Superlight at Winter Wonderland
  • December 22 – Polar Position: Win a Midnight Battle
  • December 23 – Ever So Spritely: Get three Kangaroo Skills in the Austin-Healey Sprite ’58
  • December 24 – Your Favorite Color: Paint the body of your car
  • December 25 – Happy Holidays: Send a Gift Drop to another player
  • December 26 – Ice is My Life: Take a photo at the top of the Caldera
  • December 27 – 12 Hummers Humming: Win a Cross Country Race in any Hummer

Series 28 Winter Playlist: Season Events

This week’s solo list consists of eight events, with the EventLabs trimmed down to two, alongside three PR Stunts and three Seasonal Championships.

Cabo Snow Xmas Circuit is a novel winter-themed route (but don’t drive on the “snow”) for B Class (601-700PI) Hot Hatches, awarding a Gingerbread Outfit if you beat the AI over three laps. Feliz Navidad takes place in the caldera, with a figure-eight course for A Class (701-800PI) Unlimited Offroad and Buggies — and some AI collisions over the four laps — for a Super Wheelspin.

You’ll need different vehicles for all three PR Stunts once again, but each is relatively uncomplicated if you’re tuned up to the top of each class requirement. As usual, each offers two points and a Super Wheelspin.

Starting off slow, you’ll need a C Class (501-600PI) FIAT 124 Sport Spider for the 125mph target at the Avenida Speed Trap in Playa Azul — best approached across the cameras rather than through. You’ll need a B Class (601-700PI) Toyota MR2 ’89 for the 103mph goal at Camino del Cielo Speed Zone near Copper Canyon. Finally it’s an A Class (701-800PI) Volkswagen Golf R ’14 at the Quebrada Trailblazer, with its 30-second target; head under the bridge but stay left on solid ground to hit your mark.

Each of the Seasonal Championships is a three-race event against Highly Skilled AI, each worth five points and a bonus prize if you can top the points table at the end of the championship.

You’ll be Feeling Santamental in a Road Racing challenge for C Class (501-600PI) Classic Muscle, which awards a 2011 Ford F-150 Raptor. S1 Class (801-900PI) Honda NSX models are up for Merry NSXmas, which is another Road Racing event and gives you a 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 for the win. Finally there’s Ice Ice Fairlady, a Street Racing event (with NPC traffic) for A Class (701-800PI) Nissan Z models and a 2018 Honda Civic for victory.

EventLab: Cabo Snow Xmas Circuit

  • Car: B Class, Hot Hatch
  • Location: De Otro Mundo
  • Challenge: Win the race
  • Reward: 3 points, Gingerbread Outfit

EventLab: M1K3G3TZ Wishes Feliz Navidad

  • Car: A Class, Unlimited Offroad/Unlimited Buggies
  • Location: Gran Caldera
  • Challenge: Win the race
  • Reward: 3 points, Super Wheelspin

Speed Trap: Avenida

  • Car: C Class, FIAT 124 Spider
  • Location: Playa Azul
  • Challenge: 125mph
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Speed Zone: Camino del Cielo

  • Car: B Class, Toyota MR2 ’89
  • Location: Hotel Mirador
  • Challenge: 103mph
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Trailblazer: Quebrada

  • Car: A Class, Volkswagen Golf R ’14
  • Location: Cordillera
  • Challenge: 30s
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Seasonal Championship: Feeling Santamental

  • Car: C Class, Classic Muscle
  • Location: Horizon Oval
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Ford F150 Raptor ’11

Seasonal Championship: Ice Ice Fairlady

  • Car: A Class, Nissan Z
  • Location: Dunas Blancas
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Honda Civic ’18

Seasonal Championship: Merry NSXmas!

  • Car: S1 Class, Honda NSX
  • Location: Gran Caldera
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Porsche 911 GT3 ’04

Two multiplayer events are up this week, each requiring an Xbox Core subscription to take part on console — although it’s free to take part on PC.

Seasonal Playground Games makes a return, with Sleigh-vival of the Quickest. This is a best-of-three team event, consisting of rounds of Infection/Survival in A Class (701-800PI) Extreme E cars.

The locations will rotate, but the game is the same. You’ll need to either infect the other team as zombies or evade the zombies (or cure yourself once infected by tagging an uninfected team-mate) before switching ends.

Each round consists of one attempt at each, with the winning team either the one that infected the other quickest or had the most uninfected at the end. There’s three points and a Merry Christmas Horn whether you win or lose.

The Trial also remains in its permanent spot. This is a best-of-three-race series, with you and a team of up to five other humans racing against a squad of six “Unbeatable” AI.

Your goal is to score more points as a team than the AI do — with “team” being the key word. Each player on each team scores 100pt for each opponent they beat, but nothing for beating a team-mate.

That means you can’t just sprint off into the distance if you have the capability to do so. Instead you should help as many of your own team as you can by hindering the AI.

It’s a Road Racing event this week, with A Class (701-800PI) cars required, so it ought to be a relatively controlled event. You’ll need either an AMG vehicle or a BMW M car for the event.

Take the win as a squad — easily doable in two races — and you’ll earn ten points and a Lotus 3-Eleven for this week’s Forzathon.

Seasonal Playground Games: Sleigh-vival of the Quickest

  • Car: A Class, Extreme E
  • Location: Baja Circuit
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 3 points, Merry Christmas Horn

The Trial: Settling Scores

  • Car: A Class, AMG/BMW M
  • Location: Costa Rocosa
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 10 points, Lotus 3-Eleven

Series 28 Winter Playlist: Challenges

There’s three Challenges again this week, as the permanent Photo Challenge is joined by a new Treasure Hunt and Horizon Open.

You’ll need Xbox Core to access Horizon Open on console, and it’s an odd challenge this week. It requires you to complete any Horizon Open custom race in the rather unwieldy International Scout 800A, so you really just need to enter the vehicle in a race to earn three points and a “Merry Christmas!” Forza LINK greeting.

This week’s Photo Challenge is #SleighingIt!, and you’ll need to head back to the Winter Wonderland stadium. Just take a photograph of any Morgan there (like we did for last week’s article) to complete the challenge and earn two points and a “Ho Ho Ho!” Forza LINK greeting.

The Treasure Hunt, Rebel Without a Claus, is a relatively gentle one this week. Your clue is “First find Rebel in the name, then cause wreckage for the game!” and given the accompanying image it should be relatively clear what you need to do.

Grab an AMC Rebel “The Machine” (there’s one available in the Forzathon Shop early in the week, and towards the end) and simply score an Ultimate Wreckage Skill, for smashing into very many destructible objects during the same Skill chain. That will reveal the Treasure Clue: a red zone on your map showing roughly where the Treasure Chest is located.

For this week that’s at the Horizon Rush Outpost, and it’s actually just a little south of that on some scrub ground. Just avoid the entry arch to the right and drive a little way to find it; smash it to earn three points and 100FP.

Horizon Open: Scout’s Honor

  • Cars: International Scout 800A ’70
  • Location: Horizon Open
  • Challenge: Complete a Horizon Open Custom Race in the International Scout
  • Reward: 3 points, “Merry Christmas!” Forza LINK

Photo Challenge: #SleighingIt!

  • Cars: Morgan (any)
  • Location: Horizon Stadium
  • Challenge: Photograph any Morgan at the Winter Wonderland Stadium
  • Reward: 2 points, “Ho Ho Ho!” Forza LINK

Treasure Hunt: Rebel Without a Claus

  • Cars: AMC Rebel “The Machine”
  • Location: Any
  • Challenge: Get an Ultimate Wreckage Skill in the AMC Rebel; find and smash the Treasure Chest
  • Reward: 3 points, 100FP

Series 28 Winter Playlist: Monthly Events

The two Monthly Events will still be there if you haven’t already done them, with each worth four points — one point per Season — whenever you complete them during the four-week period.

These are similar to Rivals events, but you’re not required to beat any lap times. Simply complete a clean run of the course — don’t be tempted to go all out and beat the ghost — in the cars provided to finish the challenge. That means keeping away from solid objects, hitting the checkpoints, and no use of the Rewind feature.

It won’t be easy as the Winter Wonderland Circuit is a pretty tight circuit and you’ll be driving the Fast X Dodge Charger (to tempt you into buying it!), while the Marigold Sprint is a point-to-point course albeit in a much friendlier vehicle.

Monthly Rivals: Marigold Sprint

  • Cars: Subaru BRZ ’22 (provided)
  • Location: Costa Rocosa
  • Challenge: Post a Clean Lap
  • Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)

Monthly Rivals: Winter Wonderland Circuit

  • Cars: Dodge Charger Fast X (provided)
  • Location: Estadio Horizon
  • Challenge: Post a Clean Time
  • Reward: 4 points (1 added to each season)

Series 28 Winter Bonus DLC Events

Another 14 points — seven in each location — are available as bonuses for players who own the DLC expansions. These aren’t required for completion, but offer a little boost to meet your weekly goals if needed.

Each of the two maps hosts a PR Stunt and a Seasonal Championship, worth two and five points respectively, along with a bonus prize for each event.

Both PR Stunts require specific vehicles, as with the main map. The Canyon Jump Danger Sign in Hot Wheels needs an S1 Class (801-900PI) Toyota GR Supra for the 380m leap, while the Orogrande Rush Speed Trap in Rally Adventure requires a B Class (601-700PI) ’73 Ford Escort for the 110mph goal.

The Seasonal Championships are also three-race events against Highly Skilled AI, with five points and a bonus car for coming first overall, just as they are on the main map.

You’ll need an S1 Class (801-900PI) Modern Muscle car for Modern Solutions in Hot Wheels, which offers a Holden Monaro as a reward. Get to Grits in Rally Adventure is an open event for A Class (701-800PI) Porsche models, awarding a 1940 Ford Coupe.

Hot Wheels Danger Sign: Canyon Jump

  • Car: S1 Class, Toyota GR Supra ’20
  • Location: Hot Wheels Giant’s Canyon
  • Challenge: 380m
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Hot Wheels Seasonal Championship: Modern Solutions

  • Car: S1 Class, Modern Muscle
  • Location: Hot Wheels Ice Cauldron
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Holden Monaro

Rally Adventure Speed Trap: Orogrande Rush

  • Car: B Class, Ford Escort ’73
  • Location: Sierra Nueva Cantera Industrias Sur
  • Challenge: 110mph
  • Reward: 2 points, Super Wheelspin

Rally Adventure Seasonal Championship: Get to Grits

  • Car: A Class, Porsche (any)
  • Location: Sierra Nueva Senda de Montanana
  • Challenge: Win the Championship
  • Reward: 5 points, Ford Coupe ’40

Series 28 Winter Forzathon Shop

There’s going to be two changes to the Forzathon Shop this week, as the standard store is swapped out over the Christmas Eve to Boxing Day period with a new one temporarily before reverting to the original.

That will see, briefly, an all-vehicle selection — and exclusively Playlist reward vehicles at that — across the three-day window, starting at 1430 UTC on December 24 and ending at the same time on December 26.

Outside this period you’ll also be able to pick up a selection of Santa clothing items, and the AMC Rebel required for this week’s Treasure Hunt if you don’t already have it.

Series 28 Winter Forzathon Shop: December 21-24

  • AMC Rebel “The Machine” ’70 – 800FP
  • Bentley Blower 4½ Liter Supercharged ’31 – 700FP
  • Santa Hat – 75FP
  • Santa Outfit – 75FP
  • Ho Ho Ho Horn – 75FP
  • Wheelspin – 60FP
  • Super Wheelspin – 150FP

Series 28 Winter Forzathon Shop: December 24-26

  • Toyota GR86 ’22 – 200FP
  • Toyota Sports 800 ’65 – 150FP
  • Chevrolet K10 Customized – 100FP
  • Renault Clio RS ’10 – 50FP
  • Wheelspin – 60FP
  • Super Wheelspin – 150FP

Series 28 Winter Forzathon Shop: December 26-27

  • AMC Rebel “The Machine” ’70 – 800FP
  • Bentley Blower 4½ Liter Supercharged ’31 – 700FP
  • Santa Hat – 75FP
  • Santa Outfit – 75FP
  • Ho Ho Ho Horn – 75FP
  • Wheelspin – 60FP
  • Super Wheelspin – 150FP

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Forza Horizon 5 Season Change: Wave Goodbye

Andrew Evans · · Comments
The final week of new challenges and events in Forza Horizon 5’s “Horizon Retrowave” Series is now available, with new rewards for taking part over this last seven days.