Contrary to many fans out there, I joined the Forza Horizon series during its fifth entry. After all, that installment was set in my home country, so I didn’t hesitate to play it, even if I’m not the best at racing games. Besides basking in the beauty of a Mexico-inspired map, I discovered my favorite racing game of all time, which not only delivered a paradise for racers but also one of the most immersive and addictive gameplay loops I simply couldn’t put down. Now, Forza Horizon 6 has done the impossible, as it raised the bar of what I thought was the pinnacle of the series. And if you thought the fifth installment was Playground Games at its best, wait until you get to Japan’s Horizon Festival.
Welcome to Japan
This time, the Horizon Festival takes a trip to the east and lands in the gorgeous lands of Japan. As someone who is a huge fan of Japanese culture, I was extremely excited when Forza Horizon 6 revealed this country would be its setting, and I must say that just like its predecessors, it nailed every detail.
In true Forza Horizon fashion, this installment kicks off with the sweet montage of several drivers arriving at the festival grounds, trying different vehicles, and making their way to the main stage. Here is where you create your character, and the real adventure begins.
One thing I’ve always said about Forza Horizon things is that, oddly enough, they are among the most immersive out there in the sense that they sell you the idea of being part of a festival. From the fanfare to the over-the-top races and the satisfying “from rags to pro driver” progression, everything comes together to build a strong sense of narrative that naturally unfolds as you play. Yes, the story itself isn’t particularly groundbreaking, and while there are some engaging side missions, nothing here really stands out as jaw-dropping or unexpected. Still, I’ve always enjoyed these stories and the overarching setting because it thrusts you into the feeling of being part of the world’s largest racing festival, and that is something I always appreciate.
Yet, I dare say that Forza Horizon 6 goes a step beyond that because you have to work your way through the ranks. While I’ll go deeper into the gameplay aspects of it, I liked that Playground Games actually made me work to be part of the festival. Sadly, this part was extremely short and made the process of earning my first wristband anticlimactic, especially since the studio promoted this system as the game’s big deal during its showcases. Fortunately, it is one of the minor caveats I have because the truth is, once I unlocked more challenging events, I was glad joining the festival didn’t take too long.
Slowly Climbing the Ranks
What takes longer, however, is the process of earning more wristbands and exploring everything Japan has to offer. Like its predecessor, Forza Horizon 6 leans into a grind-heavy structure, though in a way that feels rewarding rather than repetitive. With a festival like this, it makes sense to nail every event to make it to the next rank.
After the qualifiers, you obtain your first wristband, and several races pop up in certain areas of the map, and this keeps repeating as you earn better ranks and even more events become available. I was able to earn my first two wristbands easily, but I did have to put in more work and lock in during every race once I reached the A-class vehicle events.
This is yet another thing I loved about Forza Horizon 6: its challenge. While you can tailor the difficulty in many ways, I always ended up racing on Average or Above Average. While the former was easier during the lower-class races, the latter was extremely challenging yet exhilarating. There was one particular off-road race where I had to stop for a moment, save some credits to purchase every Spartan’s favorite Warthog, and finally reach the first spot in that event that got me stuck for a couple of hours. But I liked how the game encouraged me to keep finding a better car, even if it meant grinding events, finding collectibles, or smashing mascots across the map.
Speaking of the map, your second progression system tasks you with looking around every nook and cranny of Japan, and like the above one, it has different rankings that, instead of unlocking new events, give you clues for Barn Finds and unlock a new house to purchase. As a fan of anything related to Japan, I loved this system for its several side quests, day drives with amazing details about the country’s culture, and the excuse to explore every road around these magnificent lands.
Also, speaking of roads, driving around this version of Japan was an absolute joy. There are just so many places to visit, from dense urban cities to the open countryside and snow-topped mountains, every single environment poses a challenge for even the most experienced devotees of the series. And yes, I know some people have been a bit worried about the number of NPC vehicles on the road, and don’t worry, Forza Horizon 6 is packed with traffic, and you’ll be filling up that skill point bar with Near Misses at every chance you can.
Another incentive for players to progress through the two aforementioned tracks is the Collector’s Journal system, which awards credits, cosmetics, and even vehicles upon reaching milestones. The great thing is that you have so many things to do that you’ll be swimming in rewards in the first couple of minutes and still have several objectives to tackle as you see the seasons go by in Japan.
Last but not least, there’s the state-building mechanic, which, while nice, just wasn’t my cup of tea. Admittedly, it’s great to be able to purchase your house and build your personal racing track with all types of decorations, including my personal favorites: giant dinosaur models. I do think many players will find enjoyment in this as a side thing to do, especially since the controls to decorate are amazing, but I preferred to spend most of my time on the road.
A Vehicle for Every Occasion
And now, the true stars of the show: the vehicles. As many of you may know, Forza Horizon 6 launches with more than 500 vehicles in its catalog, all from well-known brands, different styles, classes, and more.
Even as someone who isn’t a huge vehicle enthusiast, I was playing Forza Horizon 6 as a collectathon. Each time I had to purchase a new car, I took it, whether it was from the store or out there in the streets, where you can find conveniently placed vehicles before starting an event that needed a car of that type.
At first, though, I was burning through my funds like a compulsive buyer on Black Friday, and then I started saving up to actually purchase the right vehicle for a race or focused on my favorite ones. There’s really a vehicle for every type of player, and even some surprising ones that, even if you don’t want them, you can give them away through barn find gifts.
Another highlight for me, at least in terms of vehicles, was Treasure Cars, which are vehicles hidden in specific parts of the map that you can claim if you find them. Once you approach an area, you’ll get a clue from Mei and a picture that sends you on a scavenger hunt. I enjoyed this system way more than I thought I would, and it often led me to some classical and fancy vehicles that I ended up parading around Japan.
When it comes to driving, believe it or not, it feels even better and more immersive than in Forza Horizon 5. Visual and audio feedback from every vehicle is even better than before, with cars having unique engine sounds and some POVs offering more details, such as when steering. I always prefer looking at my vehicle while driving, but those who love the cockpit view will have a blast with these new, little yet impactful details.
On top of that, I noticed that weather conditions, which vary greatly by region, affect your driving even more. I remember that in Mexico, I never really struggled during rainy days or muddy tracks, but here it was the opposite. Some races forced me to fine-tune my vehicle before the event to find the right traction to make it through some of the trickier curves. And even if muddy or snowy tracks were the bane of my existence, I loved racing through all of them, especially with the gorgeous weather effects that Playground Games cooked up.
Lastly, there are several new ways to customize your vehicles if you’re into that. I always go with the usual paint jobs with no decals, but I dabbled with some of the new options and was pretty surprised with just how detailed customizing a vehicle is now.
Staying At the Top of the Podium
At first glance, it may seem like Forza Horizon 6 is more of the same, but it isn’t. It is more beautiful, nuanced, and smoother than ever, with even better driving mechanics, an excellent progression system, and the best catalog of vehicles at launch that you can use in some of the most impressive and mind-blowing events in the series.
Once again, Playground Games proves that it is the benchmark when it comes to racing games, and it manages to raise the bar once more with this installment. I’m genuinely excited to see where Forza Horizon 6 goes after its launch, because even after reaching some of the festival’s highest spots, there are still many vehicles I want to take out for a spin.
Forza Horizon 6 (Xbox Reviewed)
Playground Games has once again set the gold standard for racing games, surpassing all it did with Forza Horizon 5, and making the sixth installment a benchmark not only for the genre, but for open-world driving experiences as a whole.
Pros
- Gorgeous visuals
- Excellent driving and progression mechanics
- The best Forza Horizon game to date
Cons
- It can get a bit grindy at times
