The Forza Horizon series has visited Australia, the UK, and Mexico over the years. But Japan? That was the one place fans kept asking for. Forza Horizon 6 finally goes there and it does not disappoint. Developer Playground Games has taken one of the most beloved racing franchises and given it a setting that feels tailor-made for everything the series does best. The result is a game that is easy to love, hard to put down, and impossible to finish quickly.
A map that steals the show
The first thing you notice is how good the world looks and feels. Tokyo, snowy mountain roads, bamboo forests, cherry blossom streets, and the iconic Shibuya Crossing are all here. Exploring the map is honestly the best part of the game. Every new area feels exciting to discover, not just drive through. The northern part of the map has enormous roadside snowbanks that make the roads feel genuinely intimidating, while the southern regions feel warm, colorful, and alive. The variety is impressive, and the transitions between regions feel natural rather than forced. It is the kind of world you want to get lost in, and the game actively encourages you to do exactly that.
Play it however you like
Forza Horizon 6 is one of those rare games that works for everyone. If you want a serious, realistic driving experience with no assists and real damage, you can have it. If you want something more casual and fun with gentle braking help and rewind options, that is available too. There is even an auto-drive mode if you simply want to enjoy the scenery without focusing on the road. The game never forces a single style on you, and that flexibility is one of its biggest strengths. It is welcoming to beginners and deep enough to keep experienced players engaged for a long time.
Hundreds of cars, tons to do
You get over 600 cars at launch, with a strong focus on Japanese brands. No two cars feel the same, and learning the personality of each one is part of the fun. Beyond standard races, there are sightseeing tours, photography jobs, treasure car hunts, and hidden barn finds scattered across the map. The treasure hunts where a single photo is your only clue to finding a hidden car are a particular highlight. It is simple detective work, but it adds a lovely change of pace to the experience. The seasonal weather system also keeps things fresh, with rain, snow, and sunshine all changing how the road feels under your wheels. The game rewards you constantly for almost everything you do, which makes it very hard to stop playing.
Visuals and sound that impress
It is worth taking a moment to talk about how the game looks and sounds. Whether you are playing on Xbox Series X or PC, Forza Horizon 6 is a visual showpiece. Car exteriors and interiors are modeled with incredible detail, and switching between vehicles is faster and smoother than in previous games. The engine sounds are just as impressive. Every car has its own real-life roar, rumble, or hum, and listening to them from the driver’s seat never gets old. Even the quieter electric cars have a satisfying presence on the road. The overall presentation is polished from start to finish.
Not without its flaws
If you have played the previous games in the series, some parts will feel familiar. The big set-piece Showcase races where you race against things like robots and jets are visually exciting but follow a predictable pattern once you know how they work. The game also gets stricter toward the end, asking you to complete more tasks before unlocking the final events. This feels slightly at odds with the freedom the game gives you for the first thirty or so hours. The property customization feature, while a nice idea, also feels a little shallow and does not add much to the overall experience.
My Thought
Forza Horizon 6 is a great game. Japan was the perfect setting, the driving feels excellent, the world is beautiful, and there is genuinely something for every type of player. It is not a massive reinvention of the series, but it is confidently the best version of it yet. New players will find it completely captivating. Veterans will enjoy it while quietly hoping the next entry pushes things a little further. Either way, this is the open-world racing game to play right now.
Rating: 9/10
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