Microsoft; PC, Xbox Series X/S (PS5 coming soon)
The latest installment in the beloved Forza Horizon series delivers a breathtaking open-world racing experience set against the picturesque backdrop of Japan. This iteration masterfully blends the franchise’s signature dramatic flair with the raw excitement of high-end driving. Players will find themselves immersed in the country’s stunning natural beauty, from dense forests to majestic vistas. A standout moment is the occasional glimpse of Mount Fuji in the distance, a hazy yet awe-inspiring vision that perfectly encapsulates the game’s blend of natural wonder and driving spectacle.
Fans have eagerly anticipated a Forza Horizon title set in Japan, and this game delivers on that promise, presenting the entire country as a remixed and repackaged driving paradise. At its core, Forza Horizon 6 continues the series’ established formula: players participate in a festival-style driving competition, navigating a vast map filled with diverse races and challenges. By excelling in these events, players earn reputation, which is then used to acquire new vehicles for their ever-growing garage.
This time around, there are some noteworthy refinements. Players begin as a rookie, not an established legend, necessitating qualification to enter the main festival. Playground Games has also reintroduced a sense of progression by requiring players to unlock successive competition tiers. This element echoes the early titles in the series, fostering a rewarding journey from humble beginnings. Initially, players will be maneuvering slower C-class vehicles on easier circuits, gradually working their way up to compete against iconic supercars like the Ferrari J50 or Lamborghini Huracán.
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Microsoft; PC, Xbox Series X/S (PS5 coming soon)
The Forza Horizon games have always been about drama. This isn’t just the tension and excitement of racing, but also the sensory impact of the natural environment – the sun rising over a dense city, rain clouds hovering above a valley floor. There are moments in this game – perhaps after emerging from a dense forest, or coming up from an underpass – where Mount Fuji briefly appears in the distance, hazy yet majestic, the Platonic ideal of a volcano – and it almost takes your breath away. Fans of this series have been waiting years for Japan and now here it is, the whole country, reduced, remixed and repackaged as a driving paradise. In many ways, Forza Horizon 6 is a continuation of what this series has always been about. You enter a festival-style driving competition then drive around a vast map splattered with various races and challenges, earning reputation by competing well and buying new vehicles for your extensive garage. There are slight changes this time – you start as a rookie not an established legend, so you have to qualify to enter the festival, and Playground has re-introduced the need to unlock successive levels of competition bringing back the sense of progression from the earliest titles in the series. You start out clattering about in slower C-class vehicles on easier circuits and have to work hard to start lining up against super cars such as the Ferrari J50 or Lamborghini Huracán.