A completely new Japanese racing game that breaks the mold
Honestly, I didn't expect Forza Horizon 6 to bring this level of ambition. The game launched on May 19, 2026 on Xbox Series X and S and Windows PC, and it also surprised me by coming to PlayStation 5 — a decision the development team had never made before. This isn't just another racing game that slaps a new map on the same formula and calls it done. We're talking about a full journey into the heart of Japan.
From tourist to racing legend
The game's core concept starts simple but it's clever: you arrive in Japan as an ordinary tourist, then you step into the world of the famous Horizon festival. But that's not where the story ends. The game focuses on building and exploration way more than just racing alone.
You can construct your own estate in a valley, buy stunning houses scattered across the map, and customize entire garages to showcase your car collection. This means the game actually gives you a genuine sense of ownership over the world around you — not just mashing the gas pedal and winning races.
550 real cars and an open world worth exploring
That number isn't just a stat. I drove completely different cars — from old-school classic Japanese vehicles to modern luxury sports cars — and each one feels unique. The physics in the game aren't complicated enough to be frustrating, but they're not too easy either.
The Japanese map itself deserves exploration even if you're not in the mood to race. Mountain roads, bustling cities, peaceful countryside — each area has its own character. I noticed the development team actually cared about real cultural details, and that gave the game an authenticity you don't feel in other racing games.
Multiplayer and genuine creativity
You can join your friends on exploration runs, attend car meetups across Japan, and most importantly: use the EventLab tool to create your own races from scratch. Horizon CoLab lets you build content with other players, and this isn't just some side feature — it's a real part of the game.
What did the critics say?
Reviewers gave it a 90 out of 100, and I get why. The game is balanced: it doesn't try to be an overly difficult realistic sim and it's not a dumbed-down arcade racer either. It's smartly in the middle.
Who's this actually for?
If you love serious racing games without excessive complexity, and you want a genuinely beautiful real world to explore instead of just recycled race tracks, this game is for you. Same if you love building car collections and customizing them — there's plenty of room to do that here.
But if you're hunting for pure, ruthless Olympic-level racing, you might feel like the game is distracting you with too many options. And if you're a PlayStation-only player without Xbox or PC, thank goodness they finally brought the port.
I recommend it to anyone who wants a racing game that respects their intelligence and respects their time too.
