Chris InglisAfter years of traversing the vast deserts and rugged landscapes of Mexico in Forza Horizon 5, the festival has finally packed up its bags and traded the sand for the neon-drenched streets of Japan. Developed by Playground Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, Forza Horizon 6 officially launches on February 19 for PC and Xbox, with early access kicking off on the 15th. This shift in scenery isn’t just a cosmetic change; it’s a mechanical and visual overhaul that breathes fresh life into the franchise while maintaining the high-speed DNA fans have come to love.
Playing on the Xbox Series X, the first thing that hits you is the sheer technical fidelity. The graphics are breathtaking, running with incredible smoothness regardless of the environment. Whether you are weaving through high-density traffic in the city or tearing through a thick bamboo forest, the frame rate remains rock-solid. The lighting engine truly shines during the golden hours. Dusk and dawn offer genuine screenshot moments, with light reflecting off rain-slicked streets or filtering through the trees. There is a newfound level of environmental persistence as well; seeing your tyre tracks remain carved through a farmer’s field long after you’ve driven past adds a layer of immersion that makes the world feel lived-in and reactive.
The sound design in Forza Horizon 6 is arguably the best in the genre, amplified by the diverse environments. The roar of a high-revving engine changes dynamically, echoing sharply off the concrete walls of Tokyo’s tight backstreets or booming with satisfying resonance when you fly through one of the city’s many tunnels. While the initial hour felt a bit DIRT-heavy, once you reach the first Horizon Festival hub, the true Forza experience takes over. The gameplay loop is beautifully balanced by slower-paced activities. Day Trips & Food Deliveries provide a great palate cleanser between high-stakes races. Tune-up Runs are a test of finesse where you must return a car with as little damage as possible.
The map itself is a brilliant juxtaposition. You have the frantic, vertical energy of the city which then opens into serene rice paddy fields and vast plains with Mt Fuji in the background. While we can’t drive to it, I am hopeful it forms part of a future DLC release where we can race there. This contrast is perfectly introduced by the game’s wild opening giving you a tease of just some of the vehicles and locations you will be racing in.
We also get a very brief glimpse at a massive, mechanical Kaiju-style transformer running through the cars which causes mayhem in races once you get to it. You can’t jump in the cockpit of the beast yourself, rather it serves as a spectacular centrepiece for Showcase Events, where it smashes the environment to create new ramps and obstacles in real-time. One of the most significant structural changes is the return of a tiered progression system, but with a modern twist. The game splits your journey into two distinct tracks:
- The Horizon Festival (Wristbands): There are seven coloured wristbands to earn, each gating access to faster car classes and more prestigious events. To level up, you must complete Horizon Rush obstacle challenges or massive Showcases. Reaching the final Gold Wristband grants you Legend status and unlocks Legend Island, home to the gruelling Goliath race. Whilst I am almost through the blue band during the review period, I can see getting to gold being a bit of a grind but will be worthy of showing off to your mates once you get there.
- Discover Japan (Stamps): Running parallel to the official festival is a Discover Japan series of events and things to see and do. Instead of wristbands, you collect Stamps by engaging with the local culture—street racing, Touge battles, and exploration. This pathway is more flexible, often letting you bypass the festival’s car class restrictions, and is essential for uncovering the heart and soul of the land of the rising sun whilst exploring more of the map. You are shown more about the history of certain locations and can take in the scenery at slower paces.
Outside of the regular unlocks and the notoriously well-hidden Barn Finds (don’t take a high-powered vehicle into the bush or you can get frustrated at being wedged between trees on a slope), Forza Horizon 6 introduces fresh ways to build your collection. Aftermarket Street Finds have uniquely tuned cars parked on the side of the streets. These give you access to modified vehicles outside the standard progression, encouraging you to explore the city’s hidden tracks and alleyways. There are also treasure cars which is a new scavenger hunt system. Instead of just heading to a waypoint, these require actual thinking and puzzle-solving based on a single scenic image. It’s a rewarding break from the high-speed action that makes you appreciate the map’s layout and history.
Buying a home amongst several spread across the map is no longer just a fast travel shortcut tied to your Discover Japan progress. Many properties, which are inspired by abandoned Akiya homes, require you to navigate debris or overgrown terrain to reach them before they can be claimed. Once unlocked, you can rename and remodel each home to your liking. It isn’t a full construction simulator, but it offers enough customisation to provide a fresh break from the hectic racing. It also allows you to showcase two of your favourite cars at each location.
A standout quality-of-life feature is the refined ANNA system. I loved how the in-game assistant would proactively recommend Horizon events or nearby activities for me to select. It’s a small thing, but when you only have a quick 30 minutes to play after a long day, having curated options presented is brilliant as it keeps the momentum going without the decision paralysis of which event to do next or which car class to choose.
The multiplayer integration is excellent offering both co-op and pvp options, as well as the rivals system to record your fastest times. Once you find an event, you can search for a convoy or host one yourself, searching for nearby players. Once grouped, the link combo bonus system rewards driving and doing stunts in proximity to one another, making the act of cruising together a viable way to level up and gain mass experience.
Overall, Playground Games have done an outstanding job with Forza Horizon 6. It offers just enough innovation to keep long-term fans excited while delivering the most polished racing experience out there today. With its mix of competitive racing, creative garage housing, and breathtaking exploration, Forza Horizon 6 is the best in the franchise and a title I’ll be returning to regularly for the rest of the year.
This review utilised an Xbox key provided by Microsoft/Xbox ANZ and Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19 on Steam and Xbox, with early access starting from May 15. The game is also coming to PlayStation 5 later this year.
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