The Forza Horizon 5 photo mode is sure to blow even the most hard to please virtual photographer. With it’s complete ease of use and a full set of virtual photography tools that match their real world counter parts. This game is a no-brainer when it comes to virtual & in-game photography.
The Good
- Simple intuitive camera controls
- Superb in-game graphics
- Easy and enjoyable to play
The Bad
- Some in-game car graphics can be pixelated
- No control over the time of day

"THE BENCHMARK FOR PHOTO MODE IMPLIMENTATION"
A Well Thought Out Photo Mode
The Forza Horizon 5 photo mode is something XBOX Games Studios should be proud of. This is as far as I’m concerned the absolute benchmark as of December 2021. Right from the outset the photography mode built in to this game has been well thought out and many of the real world effects can be applied to give you an unlimited amount of creative possibilities.
In-Game Graphics
The in-game lighting effects render beautifully even at lower graphical settings. Together with the lighting and shadow effects, in particular the contact shadows you’d forgiven for believing some of the images captured in real life.
The attention to detail given in the textures means you can get really close to the cars and at speed the motion blur effects are beautiful. There’s a visual sense of speed here which I’ve only ever seen matched in Ride 4.
Best User Experience
But its not all about the graphics or how realistic it looks. The game has to be easy to navigate your way through vast landscapes and settings and at the same time be a joy to use in general play. This is where the games really shines. It’s so easy to get lost in the environments you find yourself in, just watch the hrs tick by as you drive around in search of great light and compositions.
Photo Mode Camera Controls
Moving the camera around the scene could not be easier whether using a keyboard on controller and only adds to this immersive mode for us creative gamers or photographers looking to try out in-game photography.
Conclusion
Forza Horizon 5’s photo mode follows on from an already great photo mode in Forza Horizon 4 but with quite a few enhancements. When you match intuative controls and systems with graphical prowess like this, the Forza Horizon 5 Photo Mode is going to be the one to beat for some time to come.