» Watch video: Forza Horizon 6: Official Launch Trailer
The race for Game of the Year 2026 has a new frontrunner.
The gaming year 2026 has its new king – and he comes from Xbox Game Studios. That on Forza Horizon 6 will be released on May 19th has taken the international trade press by storm and catapulted itself to the top of the annual charts with a Metacritic rating of 92. This means it overtakes the previous critics’ favorites Pokémon Pokopia and Resident Evil: Requiem, both of which have a rating of 89. The racing game was also convincing across the board in our test (source: Metacritic).
Forza Horizon 6 delights critics
The main reason for this overwhelming success is the location that fans have been waiting for for almost a decade: Japan. Developer Playground Games has one breathtaking and lively game world ranging from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the historic alleys of Kyoto to scenic coastal roads and mountain passes. Critics unanimously praise the attention to detail and the authentic atmosphere, which give the feeling of really being there.
But it’s not just the setting that is convincing across the board. Particularly highlighted is the extremely dynamic weather system, ranging from sudden typhoons to gentle snowfall, which directly influences driving behavior.
Combined with graphics that set new standards on the Xbox Series
GTA 6 needs to dress warmly
With this dream rating, Xbox is sending a clear message to the competition, especially Rockstar Games. After all, Grand Theft Auto 6, probably the most hyped game of all time, is coming this fall as a sure candidate for Game of the Year is traded.
The phenomenal start of Forza Horizon 6 now makes the race for the industry’s most coveted award open again, because Rockstar now has to overcome this considerable hurdle.
It remains to be seen whether the Xbox racer can actually prevail here, but at least the success of Forza Horizon 6 could mean the end of an embarrassing dry spell for Xbox Game Studios.