Last updated on May 28, 2026
There are games you launch just to take a quick look, and they end up consuming your nights without warning. Forza Horizon 6 is absolutely one of them. After more than 40 hours spent tearing up tarmac on PC (Ultra settings, ray tracing fully enabled), the verdict is clear: Playground Games has done it again. While this new entry comfortably builds on the arcade spectacle DNA that defined the franchise, it propels us this time into a breathtaking open-world Japan that stands as one of the finest racing sandboxes ever created.
The setting is fresh, the interface has been reworked for better flow, and the Japanese archipelago brings a welcome energy to the series. While not everything lands perfectly, particularly in the urban areas, Forza Horizon 6 checks almost every box a modern racing game needs to check.
Special thanks to our partner BeeFun for this review.
A Dream Version of Japan: Next-Gen Showcase and Visual Poetry
The true star of this entry is the open world. Japan has been modelled with obsessive care, delivering a genuine wow moment from the very first kilometres. The art direction is exceptional, constantly tempting you to take every winding road just for the pleasure of discovery. Biome variety is exemplary: from twisting mountain passes perfect for drift enthusiasts, to traditional countryside roads and muddy forest tracks, the map is a permanent invitation to explore.
Honestly, it is one of the most beautiful open worlds in recent years. On PC the graphics engine is exceptional: reflections on bodywork, volumetric lighting and dynamic weather turn every race into a technical showcase.
The one weak spot is the urban area. In a Forza set in Japan, you expect a vibrant megacity buzzing with neon and nocturnal energy. While visually acceptable, the city feels hollow. It lacks life, density and atmosphere, creating a stark contrast with the masterful natural environments surrounding it.
A Confident Tone, Less Kitsch Than Before
Another pleasant surprise is the overall tone. Forza Horizon keeps its festival spirit rooted in fun and freedom, but the narrative and presentation have shed the almost forced, overly kitsch veneer of its predecessor. Everything feels more restrained, more coherent and far more enjoyable to follow.
The game still makes no pretence of pure realism. You will still cut across fields at 250 km/h to chain events together. But Japanese culture provides a visual and sonic identity that grounds the experience far more effectively. The festival has finally found its maturity.
Arcade Racing at Its Best: Accessible Yet Deep
With a DualSense in hand the sensations are exhilarating. The driving stays true to the series philosophy: fluid, immediate and precise. Playground maintains that delicate balance between broad accessibility for newcomers and genuine depth for purists. The weight and personality of each vehicle are perfectly conveyed.
The sense of speed is visceral on long straights, while the drift mechanics feel completely natural. Whether you are shredding asphalt on a circuit, battling through mud in rallycross or sliding along a mountain road, the physics respond exactly as you want them to. The game guides you if you want that, but gives seasoned drivers all the space they need to fine-tune every detail in their garage.
An Almost Overwhelming Amount of Content
After 40 hours, the completion bar is still far from 100%. The content on offer in Forza Horizon 6 is simply enormous. Street races, circuit championships, trail events, speed challenges, barn finds, the map is literally overflowing with icons. Yet somehow the experience never feels overwhelming, thanks to excellent pacing. The game alternates terrains and objectives brilliantly, avoiding any sense of repetition.
Most importantly, the game respects your time. There is no punishing grind here. Progression feels organic and every session, whether ten minutes or three hours, rewards you with new cars or credits. The desire to complete your collection is the engine that keeps this addiction running.
Technically Flawless on PC
A well optimised PC launch is rare enough to be worth mentioning. My experience was completely smooth. On Ultra settings with ray tracing maxed out, the framerate held at a solid 75 FPS throughout, with no stuttering, no game-breaking bugs and no crashes.
The sound design is equally outstanding. Engine sounds are spatialised with precision, and the eclectic soundtrack perfectly matches the mood at every moment, deepening the sense of immersion throughout.
Verdict: Evolution Without Revolution
Forza Horizon 6 surpasses its predecessor, carried by a majestic open world, a more refined tone and rock-solid technical performance. That said, the formula is beginning to crystallise. The DNA is so deeply embedded that the game takes very few structural risks. It is the price of a recipe that works perfectly, but for an inevitable seventh entry, one hopes Playground Games will dare to shake its own foundations a little more.
What We Loved
- A stunning and transportive Japanese archipelago
- Arcade driving sensations that remain unmatched
- An enormous amount of varied content
- Excellent PC optimisation
- A more mature and cohesive overall atmosphere
- Every car feels genuinely distinct to drive
What Could Be Better
- The urban environment feels lifeless and underwhelming
- The game plays it very safe structurally
- The map can feel visually overwhelming at first
Final Score: 9/10
I’m passionate about books and video games. These two great passions represent, for me, a boundless universe where I can “escape” from reality whenever I need or want to. There are so many stories, worlds, and landscapes where I can instantly teleport that I don’t think a whole lifetime would be enough to explore them all (though it would be my greatest dream to be able to).
