After years of rumors, wishlist discussions, and endless speculation from racing fans, Forza Horizon 6 has finally arrived — and Playground Games may have delivered the strongest entry in the franchise so far.
This time, the Horizon Festival heads to Japan, a setting players have been requesting for more than a decade. Judging by both critic reviews and community reactions, the wait was worth it.
Most early reviews agree on one thing: Forza Horizon 6 doesn’t completely reinvent the formula, but it refines almost everything that made the series great in the first place.
Japan Completely Changes the Feel of Horizon
The biggest reason the game feels fresh is obviously the new setting.
Instead of the deserts and open landscapes seen in previous entries, Forza Horizon 6 takes players through crowded Tokyo streets, mountain passes, countryside villages, forests, highways, and coastal roads. The variety of environments makes driving feel far more dynamic than in Forza Horizon 5.
Many reviewers described the map as the most immersive and visually impressive world Playground Games has ever created. From neon-lit city streets to peaceful rural roads near Mount Fuji, the game constantly gives players a reason to keep exploring.
What also helps is that Japan naturally fits car culture. Drift roads, touge racing, JDM legends, street racing vibes, and nighttime city driving all feel perfectly matched with the Horizon formula.
The Gameplay Is Familiar — But Better
At its core, Forza Horizon 6 still plays like a Horizon game.
You’ll race across open-world events, unlock new vehicles, complete side activities, and slowly build your garage. However, several smaller improvements make the overall experience feel more polished this time around.
The handling has reportedly been improved, especially for players using steering wheels or simulation settings. Some longtime fans even say the driving physics feel more realistic than previous Horizon titles.
The progression system has also been adjusted. Instead of instantly flooding players with supercars, the game pushes you through different vehicle classes more naturally, which gives a stronger sense of progression early on.
There are also new activities focused on Japanese car culture, exploration challenges, delivery-style missions, drift events, and expanded customization systems.
Not Everything Is Perfect
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, players have already pointed out several problems.
One of the biggest complaints involves AI drivers. Some players say higher difficulty races still suffer from inconsistent AI balancing, with certain opponents feeling unrealistically fast compared to the rest of the field.
Others feel the formula is beginning to show its age. While Japan adds a massive visual upgrade, parts of the game still feel structurally similar to older Horizon entries.
Still, even critics who mentioned those flaws admitted the overall experience remains extremely addictive.
PS5 Players Are Still Waiting
At launch, Forza Horizon 6 released on Xbox Series X|S and PC, but a PlayStation 5 version is reportedly planned for later this year.
That alone has generated huge attention online, since the Horizon franchise has traditionally been strongly associated with Xbox platforms. A PS5 release could easily bring millions of new players into the series.
Considering the game has already broken several player-count records on Steam during launch week, the momentum around the title is clearly massive right now.
One of Xbox’s Biggest Wins in Years
Xbox has struggled recently with inconsistent first-party releases, canceled projects, and criticism surrounding exclusives. Because of that, many reviewers see Forza Horizon 6 as a major win for Microsoft.
The combination of stunning visuals, polished gameplay, huge content variety, and the long-awaited Japan setting has helped the game become one of the highest-rated racing releases in recent years.
More importantly, it reminds people why the Horizon series became so popular in the first place: it makes driving fun.
And in a gaming industry increasingly obsessed with live-service mechanics and endless monetization systems, that simplicity feels refreshing again.
By Tom Tam
Updated on 24th May 2026