We've spent quality time with an early build of Forza Horizon 6, Playground Games' upcoming open-world racing entry set in Japan. Snow-covered mountains, coastal highways, Tokyo streets, and over 550 cars at launch. Here's what works — and what doesn't.
The moment you leave the city and hit the Japanese countryside, Horizon 6 delivers. The diversity of terrain — snowy hills in the north, temperate forests, balmy coastal roads — is exactly what the series needed after the somewhat monotone expanses of Mexico in Horizon 5.
The topography is varied, the roads are interesting, and the visual fidelity of the natural landscapes is genuinely impressive. This is the best-looking Horizon to date.
But Tokyo itself feels undercooked. The Shibuya Crossing is present, but emptier than it should be. There are narrow passages, but they don't capture the energy of a real metropolis. Some roads are inexplicably American-wide — fine for pickup trucks, wrong for the kei cars that define Japanese car culture. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown arguably does urban density better.
Forza Horizon 6 will launch with over 550 cars, according to Playground. The highlight: a new generation of models built from the ground up, including a Nissan Silvia S15 with Rocket Bunny body kit — one of three cars gifted at the start alongside a lifted GMC and modified Toyota Celica.
These new models look genuinely next-gen. Engine sounds have been re-recorded to match the fresh renders, and the detail on the wide-body Sativas is a clear step forward.
The problem: many other cars are clearly ported from prior games. Race against a fleet of 1990s Japanese sports cars and the mismatch between new-gen and old assets becomes obvious — strange proportions, dead-eyed headlights, lower detail. If you've played Horizon 4 or 5 extensively, you'll notice. Newcomers might not.
Horizon 6 introduces several new mechanics:
Forza Horizon 6 delivers exactly what you expect: a gorgeous Japanese open world with hundreds of cars and accessible, fun driving. Japan as a setting is the right call, and the countryside is spectacular.
The concerns are real though: a persistent quality gap between new and ported cars, a Tokyo that doesn't quite capture the city's energy, and a familiar gameplay loop that doesn't feel transformative.
If you're a Horizon fan, you'll likely enjoy this. If you were hoping for a generational leap, you might leave disappointed.
Horizon 6 is expected to release in late 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and PC. We'll have a full review closer to launch.