Is Forza Horizon 6 the best reason to own an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S in 2026? After spending more than 30 hours tearing through its Japanese cityscapes and mountain passes, I can say it’s an easy buy for anyone who wants a massive open-world playground. The festival has finally landed in Japan, and it’s the exact move the series needed to find its edge again. It’s a game that puts exploration first, dropping you into a stylized version of Japan that captures the vibe of the local car culture perfectly.
Forza Horizon 6 is for the fans who’ve spent years asking for Tokyo’s tight streets and the winding downhill runs of Mount Haruna. You’re getting a game that blends the structured rank-climbing of the early games with the freedom of a modern sandbox. Whether you’re a long-time fan or someone just looking for a high-speed road trip, Forza Horizon 6 hits the mark. It defines what a next-generation racer should look and act like. But does this version of Japan in Forza Horizon 6 actually justify the years of waiting? Let’s take a closer look.
Forza Horizon 6 details
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X
Developer(s): Playground Games
Publisher(s): Xbox Game Studios
Genre: Open-world Racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
If that already has you imagining the neon streets of Tokyo and the mountain runs ahead, you don’t have to wait for launch—select Best Buy stores across Canada are hosting hands-on demos where you can get behind the wheel of Forza Horizon 6 early.
Check out the full Forza Horizon 6 in-store demo event details.
A massive and packed take on Japan
The star of this game is undoubtedly the location. Playground Games didn’t try to build a 1:1 map. Instead, they captured the energy of Japan across ten distinct regions. Tokyo City is the massive urban centre fans have been waiting for, and it’s roughly five times larger than Guanajuato from Forza Horizon 5. I spent my first few hours just getting lost in the suburbs and industrial docks. The night cycle is where the visuals truly pop as the streetlights reflect off your bodywork.
You’ll find world-famous landmarks like Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower, but the magic is in the variety of the biomes. One minute you’re zipping along a coastal bridge in the Ito region. The next, you’re driving the snow-capped peaks of the Japanese Alps. There are 72 micro-seasons in this game. The frozen winters change the driving conditions enough that you’ll want to keep a set of snow tires ready for the northern mountain roads.
Looking at Forza Horizon 6’s world design, it’s the most vertical space the team has ever built. I found myself constantly pulling over to use the photo mode by pressing up on the d-pad, especially when Mount Fuji was lingering in the background. The countryside feels just as important as the city. It features bamboo groves and golden ginkgo trees that change as the weeks go by. It’s a world that rewards you for exploring every nook and cranny rather than just rushing to the next event.
Climbing the festival ranks with wristbands
If you felt like the last few Forza Horizon games lost their sense of order, you’ll be happy to see the return of the Horizon Festival wristbands. You start from the bottom as a tourist with a yellow band and work your way up to the gold legend status. Each tier requires you to own and drive faster, more powerful cars. This gives the progression a structure that was missing before. I loved the sensation of actually being a “friend” of the festival who had to prove themselves again.
The way Forza Horizon 6 handles your progress is split into two paths through the Collection Journal: the Horizon Festival and Discover Japan. The Festival side is all about the direct competition and races. Discover Japan rewards you for the activities that define the local car scene. You’re getting a constant drip feed of rewards like Barn Finds and new Treasure Cars for just seeing the sights. It makes the roughly 25 to 30 hours it takes to complete all the races on the map feel consistently valuable.
You can master two paths in the Collection Journal
The Horizon Festival path is your bread and butter, focusing on Road, Dirt, and Cross Country racing. You need to win races to earn the points required for your next wristband, which keeps the pressure on. When I was pushing for my intermediate blue band, the game forced me to switch from my favourite tuner to a heavier off-road truck for a series of hill climbs. This kept the gameplay from getting stale.
Discover Japan is more about the culture. This is where you’ll find the Stories and jobs like the RakuRaku Express food delivery missions. You’ll also hunt down food-based mascots like Onigiri and Dango hidden across the regions. It’s a low-key history lesson that teaches you about the importance of cars in the Japanese market while you play.
Touge Battles and anime-style chases
The racing itself, in Forza Horizon 6, has seen a major upgrade in the handling department. It feels as if the physics from 2023’s Forza Motorsport have been brought over. Every surface acts differently, whether you are on gravel or pavement. Mastering a drift through a tight Tokyo corner while catching the road just right is exhilarating. There are over 550 cars at launch. Each one has updated steering animations and engine audio that make the experience feel more authentic.
Forza Horizon 6’s new race types add a lot of variey to the game. Touge Battles are 1v1 downhill battles at night, inspired by the mountain racing culture of icons like Initial D. These are dangerous runs through places like Hakone and Mount Haruna where one wrong turn means you’ve lost the plot. Then there are the Showcases, which are massive visual shows like the one where you chase a giant Gundman-style mech through downtown.
Taking on Horizon Rush and Street Racing
Horizon Rush events are technical obstacle courses designed to test your car control rather than just your top speed. Your car is usually chosen for you. This forces you to adapt your driving style to score the best time. One mission at the rocket launch site had me hitting big air and quick-fire turns, and it feels way more like “carkour” than a standard race. It’s a great change of pace when you want to test your mettle.
Street Racing also feels distinct because it’s part of the public road scene. These races happen at night with flares marking the route instead of the usual festival barriers. Traffic is still on the road. You’ll need to stay sharp to avoid a head-on collision that ruins your run. It captures the essence of the local street scene perfectly.
Building an Estate and finding Aftermarket bargains
Playground Games has heavily invested into the social and creative side of things. The new Estate mode gives you a massive country hideaway with an outdoor area where you can build almost anything. You can clear out the rubble and start placing building props to create a personal racetrack or a garden to chill with friends. It costs credits to place objects. You get a full refund if you remove them, which allows for a lot of experimentation.
The Garage Customizer is another big addition, letting you edit the showroom layout of every home you own. You can pick your favourite display cars to show off your collection and then share your designs with the wider community. To expand your garage and show off more of your 550 cars, you just need to purchase more houses by completing your Discover Japan items.
The thrill of Aftermarket Cars and Barn Finds
Collecting your favourite rides has a new routine with Aftermarket Cars. These are discounted vehicles that spawn dynamically near landmarks and your homes. They are always cheaper than the Autoshow and sometimes come pre-modified with unique liveries or tuning setups. It’s a “Pokemon-but-for-cars” experience that encourages you to roll up to a landmark just to see what’s for sale that day.
There are also 15 Barn Finds to uncover, including the legendary Mazda 787B race car that you unlock once you reach the Gold Stamp. Finding these classics and waiting for your team to restore them is still a highlight of the series. I suggest checking the waterfront near Tokyo City for Treasure Cars like the old Nissan Figaro. It’s a retro city car that’s easy to miss if you’re just speeding by.
Forza Horizon 6 performs great with massive quality of life upgrades
Playing Forza Horizon 6 on Xbox Series X, you have a choice between a 4K Quality mode at 30 FPS or a Performance mode that targets 60 FPS. I highly recommend the Performance mode. The quick response of the 60 FPS makes a huge difference when you’re weaving through Shibuya traffic. It uses dynamic resolution, and the image stays clear enough that you’ll barely notice the shift. If you’re playing on Xbox Series S there is a 1080p 60 FPS option, which is a big win for the console.
The quality-of-life improvements are where Forza Horizon 6 really proves it’s been refined. You can now mow down most trees without losing your speed or ruining your skill multipliers. In previous games, a stray tree was a meat grinder for your combo. Now you can just push through them. Fast travel has also been overhauled, with your eight garages spread across Japan doubling as fast travel points, so you’re never locked behind buying a specific house to get around.
New accessibility and social features make the world feel alive
Forza Horizon 6’s accessibility options is one of the most complete in the industry. High Contrast Mode is a major addition that helps you identify important objects on the screen, and it’s fully customizable. There’s also an Auto Drive feature that uses ANNA to take you to your destination while you relax and take in the scenery. Proximity Radar is another handy tool that highlights cars in your blind spots, which helps keep your racing clean.
Socially, the game is more seamless than ever. Drag Meets and Car Meets are placed directly on the shared map with zero loading screens, so you can just pull up and start participating. You can jump into a convoy with friends and tackle Time Attack circuits together, or compete on the new Series Leaderboards that track your wins over a whole month. It makes the world feel like a living community rather than just a series of menu icons.
Forza Horizon 6 is an incredible trip to Japan
Playground Games has steered the series in a great direction with Forza Horizon 6. The move to Japan provides the most significant and diverse sandbox they’ve ever built. The return of a structured festival makes the journey feel purposeful again. While the ending on Legend Island can feel a bit flat after all the hype, the 25 to 30 hours of racing and exploration leading up to it are some of the best in the genre.
| Pros | Cons |
| The condensed Japan map is packed and incredible to explore. | Parts of Tokyo City look a little flat during some daylight cycles. |
| Returning Horizon Festival wristbands add a needed sense of structure to your progression. | Earning your way to Legend Island can feel like a grind. |
| New handling routines and deep physics make every car a joy to drive. | Reaching the Legend Island destination is a bit anticlimactic after all the hype. |
| You get high-speed 60 FPS options on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. | |
| Being able to mow down most trees prevents your skill multipliers from being ruined. |
Forza Horizon 6 respects its roots while fixing the few valid criticisms of the past. Forza Horizon 6 looks and performs great on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The way these cars handle now makes every single one fun to drive.
If you’re looking to bring a bit of the Horizon Festival into your setup, the Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition Xbox wireless controller adds a bold Japan-inspired design with diamond-textured grips and cross-device compatibility. Pair it with the Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition Xbox wireless headset for immersive spatial audio and all-day comfort built for longer sessions in the festival.
Overall assessment of Forza Horizon 6
Gameplay: 5/5
Graphics: 4.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5
Lasting Appeal / Replayability: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.6/5 (92%)
Forza Horizon 6 represents the ultimate expression of the series’ formula. It’s an effective, content-rich package that gives you the freedom to have fun your way against one of the most requested backdrops in gaming history. Whether you’re here for the neon-lit street races of Tokyo or the mountain Touge Battles, Forza Horizon 6 is easily one of 2026’s essential day-one purchases.
