Forza Horizon 6 represents the most ambitious racer from Playground Games yet, with a fully explorable Japan. After playing through the prologue and first three race events, it's clear the developer is pulling out all the stops to make Japan a wonderful place to explore and drive.
The game is drop-dead gorgeous, even running at a locked 30fps on Xbox Series X. Tokyo's vibrant city streets, elevated roads, farmland, and mountains create a stunning backdrop. This is the biggest city Playground Games has created for the series, with over 600 unique roads to discover.
My favourite moments came from tearing through Shibuya Crossing with Tokyo Tower in view, beating CPU Drivatars in head-to-head sprints. The setting itself feels like the main character, with cherry blossom-fuelled beauty and personality in surrounding areas, especially at night.
The three core races—Cross Country, Road, and Trail—get the adrenaline pumping. Cross Country stood out, letting me tear up mud tracks in a 1970 GMC Jimmy, with vehicles handling differently on water-logged grass, mud hills, and coastal sand dunes.
Returning challenges like Danger Signs, Trailblazers, and Speed Traps encourage exploration beyond Tokyo's suburbs. Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be another confident driving experience that makes you feel like a racing god, with Japan as the perfect sandbox.
