In our test of the Xbox version, Forza Horizon 6 takes you to Japan, fulfilling a long-held wish of the community. Playground Games sees the new scenario not just as a pretty backdrop, but also consistently weaves it into the gaming experience. Between flickering neon signs, winding mountain roads and vast flower landscapes, an open-world racer unfolds that plays pleasantly familiar and yet seems fresher than its predecessor. However, Forza Horizon 6 doesn’t take any major gaming risks.
Marco Tito Aronica (Own opinion):
Conclusion on Forza Horizon 6
For me, Forza Horizon 6 delivers exactly what makes a good racing game: fun driving physics, a varied game world, a driving soundtrack, a diverse selection of vehicles and all of this wrapped up in pretty graphics. Anyone who likes racing games and Japanese car culture can access it without hesitation.
The sixth part of the series again doesn’t dare to do much, but instead focuses on proven strengths and expands on them. Japan works fantastically as a setting and is the deciding factor why Forza Horizon 6 is the best offshoot of the series for me.
One can certainly argue about long-term motivation. After a while you repeat the same few events over and over again and the special festival races against giant robots or airplanes only surprise series veterans to a limited extent. All in all, Forza Horizon 6 offers a damn strong overall package.
- + Japan delivers the most beautiful, largest and most varied game world in the series to date.
- + Extensive vehicle list with a focus on Japanese models fulfills almost every car dream.
- + Optimized light and shadow effects take the already beautiful graphics to a new level.
- + fantastic soundtrack with new Japan radio, matching the setting
- – terrible German dubbing
- – Cars sometimes cast very unsightly, angular shadows.
- – The big gameplay revolution is missing again.
9/10
The most beautiful game world in the series
Forza Horizon 6 invites you to take idyllic tours through Japan and even conveys a bit of history along the way. As you drive through rural regions, you will come across traditional houses in the Gassho Zukuri style, old temples and small villages that stand out from the usual festival hustle and bustle. The card appeared surprisingly compact in the first screenshots, but this impression is misleading. The game world is cleverly structured and consists of several clearly defined biomeswhich differ greatly not only visually but also in terms of driving.
In the north, snow-covered mountains with narrow hairpin bends and slippery roads await. Further south we go through dark Touge forests, which create a dense, almost mystical atmosphere, especially at night. Afterwards, wide, colorful flower fields open up before you finally arrive in the big city. From the famous Shibuya Crossing you race over the fast Shuto Expressway to the tight curves of the well-known motorway rings.
Japan seems more lively and varied as Mexico from Forza Horizon 5 or Great Britain from Forza Horizon 4. The world feels lived in, not just a race track. The diary “Discover Japan” also contributes to this. You collect discoveries, photographs, mascots or special places and use them to fill your personal travel diary.
No surprises during the game
Otherwise everything is as usual: you complete events, activities and tours to collect Horizon points. With this you unlock new festival events, receive bracelets and stamps and thus access to more and more content. Progress feels motivating and gives a clear framework for free exploration.
In addition to the well-known circuits and sprint races through different terrain, there are now Touge Battlesconsidered the birthplace of Japanese drift and street culture. In fast-paced 1-on-1 races, you drive down narrow, winding mountain roads. There are also numerous stories to discover throughout Japan. So you help the famous tuner Yuji get a rare Nissan Gloria, which he pimps up for you.
Greater focus on Japanese car culture
Forza Horizon 6 celebrates Japanese car culture with palpable passion. A special highlight is the tour to the Daikoku Parking Area. This iconic meeting place should be familiar to every car enthusiast. In general, there are several such places in Japan where you Organize car meets online with other players can. You can show off your dream car, view other players’ jewelry, or connect with them. Cars are supposed to be fun and Forza Horizon 6 creates this feeling better than almost any other racing game.
The new radio station Gacha City Radio also accompanies your rides with classic Eurobeat from the 80s and 90s. As is typical for the racing game series, the soundtrack is excellent this time too. From pop to metal to hip-hop and classical music, there should be the right background music for every musical taste.
Used cars and your own property
There is a lot to discover in Japan. The idea with aftermarket cars is particularly brilliantwhich you always see standing on the side of the road. These are already tuned vehicles that you can buy at a discounted price. This not only feels authentic, but also fits the setting perfectly.
As in previous games, you can buy houses all over the map. This time you have a special property at your disposal that you can expand yourself. You’ll have to clear the driveway of items, move objects as desired, or redesign the entire garage with a variety of furniture and decorations. Put your most beautiful cars in the garage and invite other players to your home.
As usual, precise control and extensive tuning
The driving experience seems a bit more realistic than before. If a car has too much power, the tires spin noticeably and you can hardly move for the first few meters. Especially with rear-wheel drive, you have to drive much cleaner than in Forza Horizon 5. Nevertheless, the game remains accessible and Thanks to the versatile driving aid settings, it never loses its relaxed character.
No matter whether cruising or at top speed: Driving is just fun. The mix of arcade and realism is again perfect. Fans of games like Need for Speed or The Crew feel just as welcome as those who lean more towards Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo. Drive types and tires play an important role and make a noticeable difference, whether on the road or off-road.
When it comes to tuning, however, hardly anything has changed. The system is familiar and still works excellently, but offers few innovations. In addition to complete body kits, you can add turbos to your dream cars or swap engines. Unfortunately, there is still no way to visually customize the interior or to clamp other tailpipes under the car. These are little things that I would have liked for a sixth offshoot of the series.
Graphically on another level
Graphically, Forza Horizon 6 has noticeably improved. Reasons for an even more realistic backdrop include improved lighting and shadow effects. The skyscrapers of Tokyo are reflected in high resolution on the paint, trees cast realistic shadows on cars and in the cockpit view, realistic reflections ensure more immersion. Everything seems less plastic than in its predecessor.
The only visual weak point is created by the cars themselves. Oversized rear spoilers or other attachments sometimes cast very angular shadows. These flicker unpleasantly and are particularly noticeable when you look at the road from the inside of the vehicle from the driver’s perspective.
What about a PlayStation release?
Forza Horizon 6 is more than just another open-world racing game, especially thanks to the extraordinary game world. It’s a love letter to Japan’s car culture. But at the same time it is a very safe sequelwhich relies heavily on proven strengths and avoids major playful risks.
Whether Forza Horizon 6 will also be released for the PlayStation 5 can currently only be assumed. Looking at the sales figures for Forza Horizon 5 on the PS5, the chances are good, but official confirmation is still pending. After all, there were over five million copies on Sony’s console sold. Regardless, it’s clear that Forza Horizon 6 once again raises the bar for arcade racing games, even if there are no real surprises. Fans of the series can access it without hesitation.