With Forza Horizon 6, Microsoft’s racing game series takes us to Japanese roads for the first time. Our writer Jesko has already had a chance to test-drive it—but some questions remain unanswered until launch.
A few days ago, I was at the gas station and couldn’t believe my eyes. 2.34 euros for a liter of diesel. Driving isn’t fun for me anymore, because even the slightest tap on the gas pedal feels like it’s burning a hole in my wallet. That’s where an arcade racing game likeForza Horizon 6comes in handy. Fuel consumption, insurance, and vehicle inspections are foreign concepts here. Instead, the focus is on driving fun and exploring a massive open world.
After pit stops in Scotland and Mexico, the Horizon seriesheads to Japan for the first time in Part 6. The island nation in the Far East is currently all the rage: With over 40 million tourists, Japan was recently one of the most visited countries on Earth. No wonder the gaming industry is also trying its hand at this setting—AC: ShadowsandGhost of Tsushimahave already successfully shown how it’s done. Now Microsoft is following suit with the new Forza Horizon.
The Forza developers have big plans for the sixth installment: The game is supposed to be more beautiful, bigger, and more extensive than any previous entry in the series. I’ve already had a chance to play it and ask the developers at Playground Games a few questions about the new setting. In this preview, you’ll find out what it’s like to drive in Tokyo and where there are still some question marks.
Oh, how beautiful is Tokyo
My Japanese racing career is getting off to a very humble start in a suburb of Tokyo. I’ve just landed in Japan with nothing but my suitcase and am crashing on my friend Mei’s couch for a few nights. She told me about the Horizon Festival, which is currently taking place in Japan.
As a motorsports enthusiast, I obviously can’t miss this, so I flew headlong to Tokyo to snag a spot in this event. At the start of the game, however, I’m a complete nobody and don’t even have my own car. I borrow one from my friend Mei for now. And then it’s off to the streets. But be careful:In Japan, they drive on the left.
The map of Forza Horizon 6 isthe largest map in the series to date. However, it doesn’t correspond to a specific real-world region; rather, according to the developers, it’s meant to represent “the essence of Japan”—essentially a “best of” selection of landmarks and typical landscapes.
And it actually works pretty well. In Tokyo, I zoom across the famous Rainbow Bridge, drift through the iconic Shibuya Crossing, and race past Tokyo Tower. Compared to the real metropolis, Forza Tokyo isn’t actually that big; but for the racing game series, it’s still the largest city ever featured in a Horizon title.
There’s plenty to see outside the capital, too: On the way to Mount Fuji, I race against a Shinkansen bullet train; in the mountains, I admire the breathtaking Nachi Waterfall; and on the southern coast, a rocket awaits launch at the Irokawa Spaceport. If sightseeing isn’t your thing, you can of course just tear across the rice fields.
Since Japan is also very mountainous in real life, the individual landscapes in the game are separated from one another by mountain ranges and ridges. The many slopes with their long, winding hairpin turns practically invite you to drift. I quickly realize: Virtual Japan has a lot to offer in terms of scenery.
What did we play?
Through the Xbox Insider Program, we were able to play a limited preview version of Forza Horizon 6 in advance. While we could move freely in the open world, the number of races was limited to the prologue and three qualifying rounds for the Horizon Festival (about an hour and a half of pure gameplay). The vehicle pool, tuning options, and base building were restricted. Multiplayer and seasonal changes were not available.
Career and Sightseeing
Whether the new Forza is a good fit for you as a driver depends first and foremost on what kind of player you are. Horizon 6 is, after all, primarily an arcade racer. Driving fun takes precedence over realistic simulation here. But the game definitely has a lot to offer.
For racing enthusiasts, the Horizon Festival offers a classic bottom-up career mode once again. I start as an amateur and have to earn my stripes—or rather, my festival wristbands—first. To qualify, I first complete four qualifying rounds—which is exactly what I was able to play in the preview version.
Joy of Driving
Just driving around the area in Horizon 6 is a ton of fun because almost everything is rewarded. A little drift here, a few guardrails knocked down there; even discovering new roads in the open world earns me XP. This makes my exploration trips through Japan feel wonderfully motivating.
Fans of Japanese car culture will also get their money’s worth: On mountain passes (Japanese: Touge), I put my skills with rear-wheel drive and the handbrake to the test in special drift challenges. The Japanese tuning scene is also represented in the game: Car meetups take place regularly at three parking lots in the game world, where I can admire and download other players’ models or showcase my own car creations. One of these meeting spots is the famous Daikoku Parking Lot in Tokyo.
The handling and driving feel of the cars in the preview build already have me wanting more. The controller’s controls are pleasantly precise, and the individual cars also feel authentically different. My freshly tuned Honda Civic Type R handles corners differently than a beat-up Toyota drift rocket.
AI Pain Point
Theinconsistent opponent AIwas a recurring source of criticism in previous Forza games. Either the racing opponents are all slowpokes, or they zoom off right after the start like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen in Formula 1. There really wasn’t anything in between. And although the developers emphasized in an interview that they had “comprehensively overhauled” the artificial intelligence, I recognize this basic pattern inForza Horizon 6.
Even on the medium difficulty setting, I’m struggling to make any headway with the cars available in the preview.The opponents always stick perfectly to the ideal line. On the next lower difficulty setting, however, I leave the computer rivals in the dust because they all take their foot off the gas. And even other players’ Drivatars rarely behave in a believably human way, but still largely follow the tame ideal driving style.
Tuning and the New Aftermarket Cars
Through tuning, I can compensate for the disadvantages of my standard vehicles and thus at least partially catch up to the powerful AI opponents—though always only in a specific direction: For example, if I specifically increase the road grip of my Honda Civic with a rear spoiler, the car sticks reliably to the asphalt even in sharp turns. But I can forget about drift races with it.
I also keep coming across so-called aftermarket cars on the map; these are used cars that already come equipped with some modifications and are available for sale at a low price. According to the developers, this isn’t a shop with fixed prices. The game suggests cars to me based on my current campaign progress and upcoming races.
In addition, there are two further categories of rare cars: Treasure Cars and Barn Finds. In total, the developers promise an impressive 550 models.
Technology that (doesn’t) impress (yet)
Technically, I can’t say much about the preview version shown yet. The game looks outrageously sleek—but then, the Forza games always have. What’s particularly impressive this time are the lighting effects and reflections in puddles and on car paint, which are even more realistic thanks to the move away from last-gen consoles.
There are also more particle effects: when I’m tearing through a cherry tree-lined avenue at 180 km/h, individual petals are atmospherically swirled up by my tires.
The team at Playground Games still has time to optimize the game untilMay 19, 2026. That’s when Forza Horizon 6 officially launches for the Xbox Series X/S and PC. However, buyers of the Premium Edition can hit the road as early as May 15 via Early Access. Starting on launch day, Forza Horizon 6 will also be playable via Game Pass.
The developers, however, do not yet want to announce a release date for the PlayStation 5 version. It is coming later this year—but only once it is ready.
Editor’s Verdict
In the preview version, Forza Horizon 6 impresses above all with its fantastic driving experience and a massive open world that invites you to explore. As someone who has actually driven on Japan’s highways and country roads in a Toyota Corolla, I can say: Forza comes damn close to capturing the atmosphere of real-life Japan.
The map design, with its colorful mix of landmarks and diverse landscapes, gives you a good sense of what makes Japan special.
However, there’s still a lot I haven’t been able to see yet. The first four races of the campaign are barely enough to get a feel for the career mode. I haven’t been able to play the new Rush events; nor have I been able to take a closer look at the multiplayer or the new player estate, “The Estate.”
And so my impression remains limited more to the external atmosphere than to the inner qualities of the new Forza. The gorgeous graphics and a driving soundtrack featuring groovy Eurobeat tracks already have me craving more. However, the unbalanced enemy AI and the hardware demands of the preview version still leave me with major concerns. One thing is certain, though: At a price of 70 euros, Horizon 6 is significantly cheaper than a full tank of gas.
