The initial wave of Forza Horizon 6 reviews is now fully out, with the open-world racing game currently ranked as the highest-rated title of 2026. Forza Horizon 6 is also the third game released this year to debut with an OpenCritic average score of 90 or higher.
Forza Horizon 6 is scheduled for release on May 19, though Premium Edition owners have been able to play it since May 15. The game’s review embargo lifted one day earlier, on May 14.
Forza Horizon 6 Neglects 1 Major Car Brand and Fans Aren’t Happy
The launch version of Forza Horizon 6 features more than 550 cars, but some fans are disappointed by the limited presence of one world-famous brand.
Forza Horizon 6 Debuts to Rave Reviews, Outshining Pokemon Pokopia
Two days later, the first wave of Forza Horizon 6 reviews is now fully live, casting Playground Games’ latest open-world racer in an overwhelmingly positive light. The game has earned a “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic, with a 91 average score and a 100% recommendation rate. Those figures are especially notable given the size of the sample, with OpenCritic currently listing 103 professional reviews. That reception makes Forza Horizon 6 the highest-rated game of 2026 so far, ahead of Omega Force’s acclaimed sandbox Pokemon Pokopia and Big Egg’s cozy hidden-object adventure Lost and Found Co., both of which have average scores of 90.
Top 10 Highest-Rated Games of 2026 Right Now, According to OpenCritic
|
# |
Game |
Avg. Score |
Recomm. % |
Platform(s) |
Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Forza Horizon 6 |
91 |
100% |
PC, XSXS |
May 19 |
|
2. |
Lost and Found Co. |
90 |
100% |
PC |
Mar 6 |
|
3. |
Pokemon Pokopia |
90 |
98% |
NS2 |
Mar 5 |
|
4. |
Resident Evil Requiem |
89 |
95% |
PC, PS5, XSXS, NS2 |
Feb 27 |
|
5. |
Hermit and Pig |
89 |
100% |
PC |
Feb 5 |
|
6. |
Mewgenics |
89 |
94% |
PC |
Feb 10 |
|
7. |
Esoteric Ebb |
88 |
100% |
PC |
Mar 3 |
|
8. |
Opus: Prism Peak |
87 |
95% |
PC, NS, NS2 |
Apr 16 |
|
9. |
Saros |
87 |
91% |
PS5 |
Apr 30 |
|
10. |
Mixtape |
87 |
91% |
PC, PS5, XSXS, NS2 |
May 7 |
Looking at the substance behind that critical consensus, many reviewers have praised Forza Horizon 6 for refining nearly every major part of the franchise, including progression, world design, and car customization. As with previous entries, the driving model remains one of the game’s core strengths, offering an accessible light racing sim experience supported by granular settings that can make the handling more or less realistic based on personal preference. Forza Horizon 6 has also drawn high praise for adding more variety to its progression curve, allowing meaningful progress across a wide range of activities. Whether chasing photo opportunities, completing deliveries, entering traditional races, or simply exploring, the game has been widely described as excellent at making even short 10-minute gameplay sessions feel worthwhile.
Nine entries on OpenCritic’s list of the top 10 highest-rated 2026 games are available on PC, while the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S have three each. The Switch 2 is the second most-represented platform on the list, with access to four of the top 10 games. Sony’s latest console will join it before long, as Forza Horizon 6 has already been confirmed for the PS5 even though it’s skipping it at launch. Its PlayStation port is currently targeting a late 2026 debut but still lacks a firm release date.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
In the meantime, PC and Xbox Series X/S players who are currently considering the $120 edition of Forza Horizon 6 should bear in mind that early access is only one small benefit of purchasing it. The Premium Edition also includes two expansions, a couple of car packs, and a Car Pass with 30 exclusive vehicles added at a rate of one per week, among other perks. If DLC pricing for the previous entry in the franchise is any indication, buying the Premium Edition of Forza Horizon 6 will be at least slightly cheaper than purchasing all of its contents individually.
- Released
-
May 19, 2026
- ESRB
-
Everyone / Mild Lyrics, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Publisher(s)
-
Xbox Game Studios
