Forza Horizon fans have been asking for Japan for years. Not months. Years. Every rumor cycle, every wishlist post, every community discussion somehow circled back to one thing: “When is Horizon going to Japan?”
With Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games finally delivers that dream and, for the most part, it absolutely lives up to the hype.
Set in a massive open-world version of Japan, Forza Horizon 6 is bigger, more detailed, and more packed with activities than any previous Horizon game.
The racing itself remains incredibly fun, the car selection is huge, and simply driving around can sometimes feel better than participating in events.
But while this is arguably the strongest Horizon package yet, it also carries some familiar flaws that keep it from feeling like a complete reinvention of the series.
A Beautiful Open World for Car Lovers
Japan isn’t recreated as a strict one-to-one map. Instead, Playground Games seeks to capture the country’s feeling and automotive culture. That decision works in the game’s favor.
Tokyo is packed with neon lights and highways, while mountain roads offer perfect spaces for drifting and Touge-inspired racing.
Rural areas provide a calmer atmosphere with scenic roads, forests, and open landscapes. Seasonal changes also return, but they feel more meaningful here because they fit naturally into Japan’s environment.
Cherry blossom-covered roads are likely going to become screenshot material for players very quickly.
The biggest surprise is how enjoyable free roaming feels. There were moments where driving with no destination was more fun than entering races.
Driving Still Feels Amazing
The Horizon series has always sat in a sweet spot between arcade fun and realism, and Forza Horizon 6 continues that formula.
Cars feel responsive without becoming overly technical. You can jump into a supercar and immediately enjoy it, but players who like tuning and more advanced handling options still have enough depth available.
A new simulation steering option gives you more control if you want a greater challenge, although the game never forgets that Horizon is meant to be fun first.
Drifting through mountain roads, blasting through city highways, and launching across dirt paths remains ridiculously entertaining.
The Car Culture Focus Works
The car list launches with over 550 vehicles, and the game leans heavily into Japanese car culture. iconic street cars, drifting legends, and community car-meet experiences that feel like natural additions rather than gimmicks.
Progression is also more flexible this time around. You can focus on traditional racing, exploration, or multiplayer activities instead of being pushed down one path.
That freedom fits Horizon perfectly because different players enjoy the series in completely different ways.
The Formula Is too Familiar
This is where Forza Horizon 6 loses a few points.
Despite the new setting and additional activities, longtime players will quickly recognize that the overall structure hasn’t changed much.
You still jump between races, side activities, collectibles, and festival progression in ways that feel very familiar.
Some NPC traffic behavior can feel strange, and occasional visual issues remind you that the series is still using an aging engine in certain areas. Dialogue also continues Horizon’s habit of sounding overly energetic at times.
None of these problems ruins the experience, but they stop the game from feeling like a major evolution.
Performance and Technical Side
On Xbox Series X, you can choose between a native 4K quality mode at 30 FPS or a performance mode targeting 60 FPS. PC players also get additional visual features, including ray-traced lighting and reflections.
The game also supports Xbox handheld devices and has Steam Deck verification at launch.
Performance appears stable overall, which is important in a game where speed and responsiveness matter so much.
Verdict
Forza Horizon 6 doesn’t completely reinvent the Horizon formula, but it probably didn’t need to.
Playground Games finally delivers the Japan setting fans wanted and fills it with enough activities, cars, and visual variety to make it one of the most enjoyable entries in the franchise.
The driving remains excellent, the world is gorgeous, and the sense of freedom is stronger than ever.
Veteran players may notice that some of the structure feels too familiar, but the incredible world design and sheer amount of content easily outweigh those issues.
TechGamesNews Score: 9/10
