Forza Horizon 5 brought us to the jungles and beaches of Mexico. Now, with the newest entry in the series, Forza Horizon 6 takes us to Japan. Let’s do this thang.
Story and Gameplay
The biggest talking point in Forza Horizon 6 is undoubtedly the revamped progression system. In previous entries, the series featured a standard leveling and prestige system that ultimately felt inconsequential as you could unlock nearly any car you wanted as long as you had the credits. That has changed, and I believe it's for the better, though some players may feel differently.
The shift also addresses one of Forza Horizon 5's biggest issues: within days of playing, you could easily buy the fastest and most sought-after cars, and credit glitches only made the problem worse. That undermined the entire point of progressing through the game. In Forza Horizon 6, you have to genuinely earn your garage, and with hundreds of vehicles available at launch, with more arriving at a steady pace through seasonal updates, there's real incentive to keep racing and expanding your collection. Speaking of which, you now have your own customizable garage, which is a welcome addition that adds a personal touch to the experience.
Graphics and Audio
Another major highlight here, especially for high-end PC users is just how stunning this game looks and how well it runs. On an RTX 5070 paired with a Ryzen 9 9900X, I had every setting maxed out with DLSS sharpening enabled, and the results were breathtaking bordering on photorealistic at times. From the intricate detailing on vegetation and environmental textures to the reflections and surface work on the cars themselves, Playground Games absolutely knocked it out of the park.
I expect the game to be well-optimized on consoles, too. Players on those platforms should have no issues and can look forward to a visually impressive experience in its own right.
Feedback and Verdict
After Forza Horizon 5's Mexico setting, which was visually impressive in its own right, players were ready for a breath of fresh air, and Japan delivers exactly that. The massive new map, combined with the overhauled progression system, gives the series a renewed sense of purpose and excitement.
I'm hopeful that ongoing updates and patches will keep credit exploits to a minimum, preserving the integrity of the new earn-it-yourself philosophy. With a huge roster of cars to chase, seasonal content on the horizon, and a world that's a joy to explore, Forza Horizon 6 feels like a meaningful step forward for the franchise.
As the game stands now, major updates and add-ons roll out in the coming months, we'll keep you informed on what's changed and where the experience goes from here.
